GTHTR300 design and development

In Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), successful development and operations of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) are coordinated by programs to study applied systems of the promising reactor technology. One such program being carried out from 2001 to 2007 is the design and development for the Gas Turbine High Temperature Reactor of 300 MWe nominal capacity (GTHTR300), aiming at demonstration of a prototype plant in 2010s in Japan. GTHTR300 features an original design of fuel cycle based on improved HTTR fuel element and of greatly simplified plant system in pursuit of economical performance with minimal development requirements. The fuel cycle characterizes on high burnup, low power peaking factor, and extended refueling interval. The plant system incorporates salient design simplification including conventional steel reactor pressure vessel, non-intercooled power conversion cycle, horizontal single-shaft turbomachine, and distributed modular maintenance of the overall plant. Planned research and development supporting detailed design efforts include performance tests of subscale components and control system. This paper describes the GTHTR300 reference design and related R&D activities in JAERI.