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
- 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