Review

Research and development of helium-xenon Brayton cycle technology: A review

¹ State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
² Key Laboratory of Nuclear Reactor System Design Technology, Nuclear Power Institute of China, Chengdu 610200, China

^* Corresponding author (email: yanjj@mail.xjtu.edu.cn)

Received: 27 December 2023
Revised: 14 March 2024
Accepted: 31 March 2024

Abstract

Helium-xenon Brayton cycle systems have significant potential as the energy conversion system for small-scale reactors in remote land, deep-sea, and space applications due to a range of advantages, including high cycle efficiency, compact system structures, and chemical stability. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the helium-xenon Brayton cycle system based on the projects and researches. First, the basic information and development history are introduced, and a series of typical designs are summarized. Then, the system configurations, cycle parameter analysis and optimization are discussed. Next, the key components are classified, such as turbine, compressor, and heat exchanger. Moreover, the dynamic processes and control strategies are introduced in different conditions. Finally, the deficiency and prospect of current research are presented. The review covers the representative helium-xenon Brayton cycle systems, which could provide a reference for promoting the development of energy conversion systems.