Patent Number: 047568739
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a single loop nuclear power plant for electrical power generation, and more paprticularly to a plant with helium cooled high temperature reactor utilizing spherical fuel elements. The plant has a gas turbine aggregate made up of a gas turbine and a two-stage compressor, with a heat exchanger apparatus exhibiting radiators, intermediate radiators and a recuperator, together with gas carrying lines between components of the loop. 2. Description of the Related Technology The installation described in DE Nos. 22 41 426 and 24 04 843 have a gas turbine aggregate located in a horizontal tunnel below the high temperature reactor installed in the center cavity of a prestressed pressure vessel. The heat exchange apparatuses are located in vertical shafts, arranged on a partial circle around the center cavity. The known single loop nuclear power plants are desired for higher capacities and require much space in spite of their compact layout. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to develop a plant suitable for an output of 1 to 5 MWe and requiring a small amount of space. The object may be attained by a single loop nuclear power plant for electric current generation with a helium cooled high temperature reactor charged with spherical fuel elements. A gas turbine aggregate or assembly of a gas turbine and a two-stage compressor with heat exchange apparatus is utilized. The heat exchange apparatus comprise radiators, intermediate radiators and a recuperator, together with gas carrying lines between the circulation components. The plant is housed in two releasably connected pressure vessels placed above each other. The pressure vessels are separated in a gas tight manner. The lower pressure vessel contains the high temperature reactor and is charged with the primary gas. The upper pressure vessel is filled with a protective gas and contains the circulation components. The gas turbine, radiators, low pressure compressor, intermediate radiators, high pressure compressor, and the generator are arranged above each other in sequence and aligned with the high temperature reactor. The recuperator may be located laterally from the other circulation components and connected to the gas turbine and the radiators by approximately horizontal gas lines. The installation is arranged for upward helium flow through the high temperature reactor. Thereafter the helium is conducted through a gas conduit directly to the inlet of the gas turbine. The two pressure vessels are preferably cylindrical and made of steel. The spherical fuel elements forming the reactor core remain in the high temperature reactor until their final burnup. If power production requirements are for a limited time period, use of a plant according to the invention is favorable. The installation may be laid out against external effects, such as for example earthquakes due to its compact configuration. The generator may be installed in the upper pressure vessel or in its own container set upon the upper pressure vessel. The gas turbine aggregate may be bearingly supported in either dry or magnetic bearings. Single loop nuclear power plant according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the generator may advantageously be a high speed generator without topping gear and equipped with magnetic bearings. The protective gas for the upper pressure vessel may be helium or nitrogen. Any decay heat may be removed by natural convection through the radiators. Advantageous further developments of the invention will become apparent from the description below of an embodiment with reference to the schematic drawing.