Nuclear-heated gas turbine power systems

There is an interesting little thread over at the The Oil Drum discussing gas turbines for nuclear energy systems, and the engineering challenges associated with the same, for example the pros and cons of different gases which may be used.

Given that Brayton-cycle powerplants are certain to play an important part of the development of modern nuclear energy technology, (irrespective of whether you’re interested in LFTRs or PBMRs or any one of a dozen different types of reactor technology, they can all usefully be combined with gas turbine energy conversion) it’s a very interesting area to keep abreast of.

There’s also another, longer, more heated recent thread debating nuclear energy in general on TOD, which started off as a post on seawater uranium, which has degenerated a little bit into a familiar Sisyphean argument about nuclear power, but it’s there all the same, if you want to have a look.

Anti-nuclear quote of the day…

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3877#comment-334713

With concentrated solar, high temperature electrolysis of hydrogen is more than 100% efficient. Nuclear reactors for making hydrogen have temperature limitations.

Emphasis is mine. I’m sure there have to be a few TOD readers who aren’t going to let that stand unchallenged.