Energy, Climate, & Infrastructure Security (ECIS)
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Nuclear Energy Systems Laboratory (NESL) / Brayton Lab

Nuclear Energy Systems Laboratory (NESL) / Brayton Lab

Nuclear Energy Systems Laboratory (NESL) / Brayton Lab

Sandia National Laboratories has opened a first-of-its-kind nuclear power conversion test facility that provides world class testing infrastructure and support for private interests seeking to develop new thermal-to-electric power conversion technology.  A primary focus of the facility is closed Brayton cycle power generation technology development.

Our services include:
  • Project development and test definition support
  • Test architecture design and development
  • Test execution support including experienced engineers and technologists
  • Data acquisition, analysis, and delivery
  • Purchasing
  • Contracts development
NESL capabilities include:
  • 1 MW of heating
  • 0.8 MW of heat rejection
  • Maximum Allowable Working Pressure with existing hardware up to 15.2 MPa
  • Maximum operating temperature with existing hardware up to 811 K
Current NESL hardware include:
S-CO2 Closed Brayton Cycle Test Assembly

S-CO2 Closed Brayton Cycle Test Assembly

  • 2 Turbo-Alternator-Compressors (TACs) rated for operation at 75,000 rpm and 125 kWe net power generation
  • 6 shell-in-tube heaters rated at 130 kW each (780 kW total)
  • 1 Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) rated at nominally 2.2 MW
  • 2 PCHE’s rated at nominally 0.6 MW
  • All components have connection fittings, making the testing architecture highly versatile
  • 0.6 MWe load bank
  • Capability to deliver generated electricity (> 0.6 MWe) to the local grid

 

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Last Updated: October 10, 2012
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