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Study on load variation rates of the SCO2 Brayton cycle under the inventory control strategy

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  • Zhao, Quanbin
  • Xu, Jiayuan
  • Chong, Daotong
  • Meng, Xin
  • Chen, Weixiong
  • Yan, Junjie

Abstract

The fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR) coupled with the SCO2 Brayton cycle (SCBC) system is a highly promising energy and power system. Therefore, in this study, the operational flexibility of the FHR-SCBC system is investigated. The load variation rate under the inventory control strategy is studied, using the temperature change rate as a constraint. The results show that significant changes in the thermophysical properties of SCO2 in the low-temperature recuperator (LTR) limit the flexibility of the system. In the load variation range from 100 % FP to 50 % FP, the maximum load reduction rate and maximum load increase rate are both 3 % FP/min. To address the issues of low load variation rate and large temperature fluctuations, split ratio (SR) control and reactor cold leg temperature control are proposed. The maximum load reduction rate is increased by 9 % FP/min, and the maximum load increase rate is increased by 8 % FP/min. On this basis, further investigations are conducted for load variation ranges and multiple temperature change rate constraints. It is observed that the flexibility of the system decreases significantly under low-load conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Quanbin & Xu, Jiayuan & Chong, Daotong & Meng, Xin & Chen, Weixiong & Yan, Junjie, 2026. "Study on load variation rates of the SCO2 Brayton cycle under the inventory control strategy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:344:y:2026:i:c:s0360544226001301
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2026.140028
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