PROJECT OF THE GT-MHR HIGH-TEMPERATURE HELIUM REACTOR WITH GAS-TURBINE

In February 1995, MINATOM of Russia and General Atomics (USA) signed t he Agreement for the development and design of the GT-MHR facility wit h a modular helium reactor and a gas turbine intended to be constructe d in Russia. This Agreement was subsequently expanded by the participa tion of Framatom and Fuji Electric. The GT-MHR facility is designed fo r burning weapons-grade plutonium and utilization of the heat produced in the direct gas-turbine cycle with electricity production efficienc y of about 50%. In future such facilities with uranium fuel will be pr oposed for use as commercial NPPs. A GT-MHR prototype and fuel product ion facility are intended to be constructed at the Siberian Chemical C ombine in Seversk (Tomsk-7). In accordance with the Agreement, a conce ptual design of the GT-MHR should be developed in September 1997. As a part of the conceptual design, a reactor module with a power conversi on system is being designed and plutonium fuel is being developed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.