Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2013: Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition

GT2013
June 3-7, 2013, San Antonio, Texas, USA

GT2013-94990

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOLAR THERMAL BRAYTON CYCLES OPERATED

WITH HELIUM OR ARGON

Karsten Kusterer, René Braun, Takao Sugimoto, Kazuhiko Tanimura

Norbert Moritz Kawasaki Heavy Industries, LTD.
B&B-AGEMA GmbH 1-1 Kawasaki-Cho
Jülicher Strasse 338 673-8666 Akashi City, Japan
D-52070 Aachen, Germany sugimoto_t@khi.co.jp
kusterer@bub-agema.de

Dieter Bohn
RWTH Aachen University
Templergraben 55
D-52056 Aachen, Germany
dieter.bohn@rwth-aachen.de

ABSTRACT
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants often use Rankine KEYWORDS
cycles operated with water/steam as energy conversion cycles. CSP, Brayton cycle, solar thermal gas turbine, Helium,
Since the solar central receiver technology could provide Argon
receiver fluid outlet temperatures higher than 900°C, open and
closed gas turbine technologies become a promising alternative. NOMENCLATURE
Closed solar Brayton cycles operating with appropriate fluids DB [m] reference diameter
can reach similar or higher thermal efficiencies than P [MW] power
water/steam Rankine cycles but have the advantage of less Q [MW] thermal heat
consumption of fresh water. R [J/(kg*K) specific gas constant
This paper presents the results of a comparative T [K] temperature
thermodynamic and process study of closed solar thermal 𝑉̇ [m³/s] volume flow
Brayton cycles operated with Helium or Argon as working Z compressibility factor
fluids. The main components of the cycles are two axial a [m/s] sonic velocity
compressors with an intercooler, a recuperator and one axial cm [m/s] velocity in meridian section
turbine. The solar heat is fed in by a central receiver cP [J/(kg*K) specific heat capacity
technology. It is assumed that the transferred heat to the cycles h [kJ/kg] specific enthalpy
is constant and the turbine inlet temperature is 900°C. kV isentropic volume exponent
A first one-dimensional design approach for both cycles is kT isentropic temperature exponent
performed based on the results of the thermodynamic 𝑚̇ [kg/s] mass flow
considerations. The major parameters like stage types, number nV polytropic volume exponent
of stages, rotational speed, etc. are determined and discussed. p [kg/m²] static pressure
The thermodynamic and process investigation results for the s [kJ/(kg*s)] specific entropy
described closed Brayton cycles show that thermal efficiencies u [m/s] circumferential velocity
over 46% can be established for both fluids. The design v [m³/kg] specific volume
considerations show that both cycles are feasible, but with yp [J/(kg K)] polytropic head
respect to design dimensions the Argon based cycle can be built δM machine diameter number
up with fewer stages and more compact, if compared to the η efficiency
Helium cycle. ηp static polytropic efficiency

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 Π pressure ratio
σM rotational speed number
φ flow coefficient
ψh stage loading number
ψyM machine loading number
SUBSCRIPTS
C combustor
F working fluid
R receiver
T turbine
th thermal
ABBREVIATION
CSP Concentrating Solar Power
DLR German Aerospace Center
LEC levelized electricity costs
SABC Solar Thermal Argon Brayton Cycle
SHBC Solar Thermal Helium Brayton Cycle
TDT Thermodynamic Design Tool
INTRODUCTION
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) becomes more and more
attention in the field of solar thermal power plant technologies.
For regions with high solar radiation CSP technologies, which
include parabolic trough, central receiver, Fresnel multi-facet
reflector and solar dish systems, offer a high potential for a
sustainable power production.
Parabolic trough systems have already been installed and
operated on a commercial level for several years [1]. The
Andasol 3 power plant, build up in the south of Spain, started
its operation in 2011. The energy conversion cycle is based on a
water/steam Rankine cycle and a thermal efficiency of 40% is
expected for operation in peak load [2]. Disadvantages of
parabolic trough systems are the limited process temperatures
of the operation fluids, which are usually thermal oils, and the
pressure and heat losses within the duct systems.
CSP plants using central receiver technologies concentrate
the solar radiation to a solar receiver, often installed at the top
of a tall tower (power tower system). Within the receiver the
solar heat is then transferred directly or indirectly to a thermal
cycle, which is usually a water/steam Rankine cycle.
In a molten-salt power tower (e.g. the GEMASOLAR
power tower [3, 4]), liquid salt (40 % potassium salt, 60 %
sodium nitrate) circulates between a cold and a hot storage
tank. The molten salt is pumped from a cold salt storage tank at
290°C through the receiver and back to the hot storage tank.
Inside the solar receiver the salt is heated up to 565°C. The hot
molten salt is used in a heat exchanger to heat up and boil the
water of the Rankine cycle. Due to higher operating
temperatures compared to the parabolic trough system, thermal
efficiencies of 42 % and higher are expected [5]. A further
advantage of this type of CSP technology is the possibility of
heat storage without any expensive storage medium by using
the molten salt. At the GEMASOLAR power tower plant, the
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storage capacity is designed for an operation of the steam cycle
for 15 hours without additional feed-in of solar heat. A
disadvantage of CSP plants using Rankine cycles is the need of
a certain amount of fresh water.
As the availability of fresh water is often limited in regions
of high solar radiation, the application of gas turbines (open
Brayton cycles) in CSP power plants, where the compressed air
is heated up in a pressurized air receiver, becomes more and
more attention in the R&D of power tower systems. Another
reason for application of gas turbines is due to the
thermodynamic laws of thermal cycles. Due to the Carnot
thermal cycle efficiency law, the increase in the upper
temperature level of the process is of advantage. Such higher
temperatures can be applied in the case of the gas turbine cycle.
The investment costs of solar thermal power tower plants
are very high (e.g. the heliostat field) and dominate the
financial attractiveness for investors. High thermal cycle
efficiencies reduce significantly these costs, in particular for the
expensive heliostats as less of them are needed for a designated
installed power capacity. For the ideal solar heat engine
efficiency also the black body radiation of the receiver has to be
taken into account as explained by Dickey [6].
As the open Brayton cycle is limited in its efficiency by the
ambient conditions, the combined cycle approach with a
bottoming Rankine cycle provides advantages to reach higher
thermal efficiencies and to make use of the increased upper
temperature level.
Heide et al. [7] have investigated such kind of cycles, with
respect to design and operational aspects. In their concept
studies they referred to the THM1304 gas turbine because of its
suitability for solar hybrid operation, which means operation by
solar heat and additional fuel. To increase the cycle efficiency
the implementation of a water/steam Rankine cycle is intended
within the study. Different cycle configurations, with respect to
the parameterization of high solar share gas turbine systems,
have been investigated by Heide et al [8]. They have shown that
combined cycle application including an ORC offer an
additional potential for the improvement of the cycle efficiency.
Kusterer et al. [9] have investigated a 2 MW class gas
turbine with ORC for application in solar power towers.
Hybrid gas turbine operations for small engines in the range
of 100 kW to 250 kW have already been performed
successfully in the projects SOLGATE [10] and SOLHYCO
[11,12] funded by the European Commission.
Presently, the SOLUGAS project [13], which is also funded
by the European Commission, aims to apply a modified
MercuryTM 50 gas turbine for the solar hybrid operation. The
expected thermal efficiency of the cycle is 38.5 % and future
plans include also an additional Rankine cycle for the
demonstration of the combined cycle operation. Fluctuations of
the solar input have to be considered for operation scheme of
the solar-thermal gas turbine systems. The use of variable guide
vanes in solar-powered gas turbines allows a degree of
flexibility as it has been investigated by Kitzmiller and Miller
[14].
2 Copyright © 2013 by ASME
 Closed Brayton Cycles
As mentioned above the general advantages of Brayton
cycles are the low water consumption and the high upper
process temperature level. Closed Brayton cycles can combine
those general advantages with the benefits of special
thermodynamic properties of selected process fluids, e.g.
Helium or Argon. Muto et al. [15] have shown in their work on
the application of a supercritical carbon dioxide gas turbine that
their cycle can produce power at high thermal cycle efficiency
of 43.4 % even at comparable low temperature of 650 C. Turchi
et al. [16] have shown that thermal efficiencies of even 51%
and higher can be reached by closed Brayton cycles using
direct supercritical CO2 receiver, which generate fluid outlet
temperatures of 700°C. Disadvantages of such kind of cycles
are high operating pressures up to 25 MPa [16] and the reaction
of CO2 with component materials at temperatures higher than
650°C. The dissociation of CO2 is not critical in those
temperature ranges, but has to be considered.
Kusterer et al. [17] have shown that thermal efficiencies of
more than 46% can be achieved with closed Brayton cycles
using Helium as working fluid. Thereby Helium is heated up in
a pressurized solar receiver to 900°C. Advantages of Helium
are its ideal gas behavior as well as its excellent
thermodynamic fluid properties. There has been huge
experience with Helium as working fluid in closed cycles, in
particular for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. A review of
the Helium gas turbine technology for that application is given
by No et al. [18]. The typical temperatures at the turbine inlet of
such Helium Brayton Cycles are in the range of 850 – 950 °C,
which are ideal for CSP plant application and which fit to actual
achievable fluid outlet temperatures of pressurized air
receivers.
But because of the very small molecular weight and density
of Helium and with respect to the actual limited pressure level
of pressurized solar receiver, the scale of the power conversion
system is large compared to Helium based systems at operation
pressures higher than 3 MPa. The scale of the conversion
system can be reduced significantly by using Argon as working
fluid. The heat capacity of Argon is lower but the density higher
compared to the properties of Helium.
PRESSURIZED AIR RECEIVER
Receivers for pressurized air for use in solar Brayton cycles
are being continuously developed and tested in several projects.
Conceptual designs and basic features of receiver
configurations for usage in a Helium or Argon Brayton Cycle
are given by a pressurized volumetric air receiver and a
pressurized air metal tube receiver, Figure 1 shows examples of
both.
Metal tube receivers have obtained air outlet temperatures
of approximately 800°C, as experiences have shown [7, 19].
For higher temperatures the volumetric receiver is preferred. To
withstand high temperatures, the absorber of the volumetric
receiver is built as ceramic foam of SiC. The absorber is
mounted with a fiber-reinforced alumina-based construction.
Experiences with those receivers are made within the REFOS
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project. Thereby, a cluster of one volumetric receiver as a high
temperature module and two metal tube receivers for low
temperatures has been implemented. Heller et al. [10] reported
that a permanent outlet temperature of the cluster of 800 °C in
the first test phase and a maximum outlet temperature of 960 °C
during test phase 2 were obtained. The efficiency of the REFOS
receiver cluster was in the range of 76 % to 80 % during the
first test phase.
The construction of the receiver cluster of the SOLGATE
[19] project was based on the experiences made in the REFOS
project. There a low and a medium temperature module (both
pressurized air metal tube receivers) as well as a high
temperature receiver (pressurized volumetric air receiver) are
combined in a honeycomb-like arrangement.
Current R&D projects using volumetric air receivers aim for
outlet temperatures higher than 1000 °C at a pressure of
1.6 MPa [7, 20].
Metal Tube Receiver
Secondary Quartz
Concentrator Window
Isolation
Inlet
Outlet
Absorber Vessel
Concentrated
Solar radiation
Volumetric Receiver
Figure 1: Pressurized Air Receiver [19]
Hischier et al. [21] offered an alternative study of receiver
technology by indirect solar irradiation. The design consists of
annular reticulate porous ceramic foam bounded by two
concentric cylinders. The solar radiation is introduced by a
small aperture on the inner cylinder. A test case has shown a
thermal efficiency of 78 % and an outlet air temperature of
1000 °C at a pressure of 10 bars.
3 Copyright © 2013 by ASME
 A concept discussed by Wilson and Baker [22] provides a used for the compression approach therefore the following
direct combination for the heat flux of solar radiation within a parameters:
permanently rotating regenerator as a third section. This offers
an optimization of the heat exchange in the gas turbine cycle. Isentropic volume exponent kv:
Especially for low pressure ratio a high efficiency of the heat v  p 
exchanger is necessary for high thermal cycle efficiencies. kv     (1)
p  v  s
Due to the high achievable outlet air temperature of
Isentropic temperature exponent kT:
pressurized volumetric air receivers and the test experiences,
1 (2)
those kinds of receivers should be considered for a Helium or kT 
Argon Brayton Cycle. Values of actual receiver efficiencies, p  T 
1   
offer a range from 80 %, e.g. Romero et al. [23], to higher than T  p  s
90 %. Polytropic volume exponent nv:
Above receiver developments are for open cycles using Air
n v  1 k v  1 1  p k T  1
as heat transfer medium. The heat transfer properties from   (3)
gases depend on the molecular weight and the molecular shape. nv kv p kT
Lighter molecules and monoatomic molecules have better heat Polytropic temperature exponent nT:
transfer properties. Thus, to achieve the same receiver gas n T  1 ZR  1   p  k T  1
outlet temperatures for Helium and Argon, the temperature of   (4)
nT c p   p  kT
the ceramic foam of the volumetric receiver will be different.
The temperature difference between the ceramic foam of the Here v denotes the specific volume, Z the compressibility
receiver and the receiver outlet gas temperature will be in the factor and  p is the static polytropic efficiency defined by
same level for Air and Argon. As the heat transfer properties of p2
Helium are much better, because of its low molecular weight,
the difference of the ceramic foam and the Helium gas
 v dp
p 
p1
(5)
temperature will be smaller than for Argon or Air. Thus, the h 2  h1
temperature of the ceramic foam of a Helium volumetric
and is assumed as given. Using these definitions the following
receiver is on a lower lever than for an Argon or Air volumetric
expressions can be dreived:
receiver.
Polytropic head yp:
THERMODYNAMIC CALCULATIONS
n v  nv 
n v 1

Thermodynamic Design Tool (TDT)
The thermodynamic calculations of the closed Brayton
Cycles have been performed by a “Thermodynamic Design
Tool” (TDT) application, developed by B&B-AGEMA. TDT
supports the design and calculation of single and combined
energetic processes based on a 1D thermodynamic approach,
using different fluids selected by the user. Also combined
cycles can be investigated. It comprises real gas behavior of
several fluids and mixtures (e.g. CO2, hydrogen, water/steam,
air, helium, toluene etc.). The thermodynamic processes can be
visualized in parametric thermodynamic diagrams, e.g.
enthalpy/entropy, temperature/pressure, including precisely
tabled thermodynamic values. The calculation method for
compression and expansion processes under real gas behaviour
is based on Lüdtke [24] and shortly explained in the following
section.
Once the thermodynamic properties can be determined
precisely by using direct equations or their inversion, methods
to determine the change of properties during processes are
needed in order to calculate more accurately a compression or
expansion process. Lüdtke proposed a model to estimate the
outlet (index 2) temperature (T 2) and the polytropic head (y)
according to inlet (index 1) temperature (T 1), inlet pressure (p1)
and outlet pressure (p2). As described in [24], he derived and
y p  Z1 RT1   1 (6)
n v  1  
Outlet Temperature T2:
n T 1
T2  T1 nT (7)
whereby the pressure ratio  is given by   p 2 p1 . In
order to make full use of this approach, TDT divides every
compression partial process (or expansion process) into
multiple substeps and performs for each one the above given
calculations.
Cycle configuration
The principle cycle configuration for the comparative study
of the solar thermal Brayton cycles is shown in Figure 2. The
design of the cycle is equal for Helium and Argon and consists
of two compressors and one turbine (2C-1T). As boundary
condition the lower process temperature and thus the fluid
temperature at the intake of the two compressors have been
assumed with 35 °C. Thus, the gas is cooled down in an
intercooler between the two compressors.
The compressed gas is preheated within a recuperator,
which uses the residual heat of the expand fluid downstream of
the turbine, before it enters the receiver. Within the receiver the
gas is heated up to the upper temperature level of the process
(turbine inlet temperature). After the recuperator the gas is

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 cooled down to compressor inlet temperature to closes the loop
of the cycle. SHBC and SABC thermodynamic comparative study
The pressure losses and the turbine inlet temperature of
closed thermal cycles have a major influence on the
performance of the cycles, which can be indicated by the
thermal cycle efficiency. The cycle shown in Figure 2 has been
analyzed with Helium and Argon as working fluid and the
parameters of pressure losses and the turbine inlet temperature
have been varied for both fluids.
Table 1: Results of the comparative study

Helium
QR [MW] 38 38 38 38
Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 950 1000 1100
ΔPheat exchangers % 1 1 1 1
.
mHelium [kg/s] 20 19.1 18.3 16.8
ηth % 46.7 47.9 49.3 51.6
QR [MW] 38 38 38 38
Figure 2: Flow scheme Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 950 1000 1100
ΔPheat exchangers % 2 2 2 2
In the comparative study, the compressors have been .
mHelium [kg/s] 20.6 19.8 19 17.5
assumed with a polytropic efficiency of 86% and the turbine
ηth % 44 45.5 46.9 49.3
with 89% [25]. The recuperator is assumed conservative with
an effectiveness of 90%. QR [MW] 38 38 38 38
The heat and pressure losses of the ducts are not taken into Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 950 1000 1100
account within this study, as it depends strongly on the ΔPheat exchangers % 4 4 4 4
construction of the whole system (tower, place of components, .
mHelium [kg/s] 22.7 21.6 20.7 19.05
etc.). In the case of a best practice design of the system, these
ηth % 37.8 39.4 41.1 43.8
influences should have only minor effect on the thermal cycle
efficiency.
The thermal efficiency of the cycle is defined by: Argon
QR [MW] 38 38 38 38
(ℎ −ℎ )−(ℎ −ℎ )−(ℎ −ℎ )
𝜂𝑡ℎ = (8) Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 950 1000 1100
(ℎ −ℎ )
ΔPheat exchangers % 1 1 1 1
where h is the specific enthalpie of the process state (see Figure .
mArgon [kg/s] 166 158.5 151.8 140
2). The solar heat QSolar,, which has to be provided by the solar
field, is the defined by the equation: ηth % 46.1 47.6 49.2 51.9
QR [MW] 38 38 38 38
𝑄𝑅 = 𝜂𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝐹𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 ∗ 𝜂𝑅𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟 ∗ 𝑄𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑟 = 𝑚̇𝐹 (ℎ6 − ℎ5 ) (9)
Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 950 1000 1100
QR is the transferred heat into the cycle. To achieve a ΔPheat exchangers % 2 2 2 2
comparability of the calculated Solar Helium Brayton Cycles .
mArgon [kg/s] 171 163.5 156.4 149.2
(SHBC) and the Solar Argon Brayton Cycles (SABC), the
ηth % 43.9 45.7 47.3 50.7
transferred heat QR has an equal value of 38 MW in all
calculations. QR [MW] 38 38 38 38
The pressure ratio for the SHBC calculations is 1.6 for each Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 950 1000 1100
compressor at a 1st compressor inlet pressure of 0.15 MPa, ΔPheat exchangers % 4 4 4 4
which is based on the investigations of Kusterer et al. [17]. The .
mArgon [kg/s] 182.5 174 166.5 153.5
pressure ratio for the SABC calculations is 1.85 for each
ηth % 39.5 41.4 43.1 46.2
compressor at a 1st compressor inlet pressure of 0.12 MPa. The
upper pressure levels and the pressure ratio of the turbines
depend on the pressure losses of the heat exchangers As a result a wide range of thermal efficiencies as a function
(intercooler, recuperator, cooler) of the cycle. The variation of of the pressure losses and turbine inlet temperature has been
the pressure losses in these components is part of the obtained. Table 1 provides an overview of the main results. It
thermodynamic comparative study. can be seen that for a turbine inlet temperature of 900°C a
range of the thermal efficiency of 37.8 – 46.7 % for the cycle

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 operated with Helium and of 39.5 – 46.1 % for Argon has been
calculated for a range of pressure losses within the heat
exchangers of 1 – 4 %. This means a difference in efficiency of
approximately 9 %pts. for a Helium and 6.5 %pts. for a Argon
based cycle for the same thermal input.
Thus, the SABC is less prone to a decrease of the thermal
efficiency in dependency of higher pressure losses than the
SHBC. An increase of the thermal efficiency in consequence of
an increase of the turbine inlet temperature shows also further
advantages .In Figure 3 the thermal cycle efficiency is plotted
against the turbine inlet temperature for each fluid and for
different pressure losses. For low pressure losses the Helium
and Argon cycles behave more or less similar and efficiencies
higher 46 % are calculated, but for increasing pressure losses
the Argon cycle shows a much better performance as the
Helium cycle.
DESIGN CONSIDERATION FOR SHBC AND SABC
The thermodynamic consideration of the SHBC and SABC
have shown that the Argon based cycles are preferable in case
of pressure losses higher than 2% in the heat exchangers of the
cycle, but the acquisition costs of Argon are higher than for
Helium. Thus, the question is, if a closer benchmark for the
choice of the working fluid can be made. Therefore a design
consideration of the compressors and the turbine for a 2C-1T
cycle configuration has ben performed for Helium and Argon,
so that the scale of the machine dimensions can be compared in
a first estimation.
For the design consideration of the SHBC and SABC the
case of 1 % pressure loss and 900°C as turbine inlet
temperature has been chosen, in regard to previous published
investigations [16]. Table 2 shows again the thermodynamic
results for this case. Additionally the volume flow and the sonic
velocity at the intake of the 1st compressor are given.
Table 2: Cycle conditions for the design
consideration

Helium Argon
QR [MW] 38 38
Tturbine inlet [°C] 900 900
ΔPheat exchangers % 1 1
a1st compressor inlet [m/s] 1025 312
.
m [kg/s] 20 166
.
V [m³/s] 84 87
ηth % 46.7 46.1

Figure 3: Performance of SHBC and SABC As first, a simple 1D design approach has ben performed by
calculating the characteristic machine parameters ψyM, δM and
The results of the thermodynamic comparative study show σM. The characteristic machine parameters are defined as:
that for the choice of the working fluid the performance of the
heat exchanger modules within the cycle have to be taken into ( )𝑅𝑇(𝜋 −1)
account. As typical pressure losses in heat exchangers are 𝜓𝑦𝑀 = (10)
𝑢
within a range of 2-3 %, Argon as working fluid would be
preferable from the thermodynamic point of view. |𝜓 |
𝛿𝑀 = (11)
Nevertheless, also the availability of Argon and Helium and the ̇
permanent leakage (especially in a Helium cycle) have to be | |

considered in the choice of the working fluid. Indeed Argon is

the most abundant inert gas on earth with 0.934 vol. % of the
atmosphere, but the extraction of Argon is only possible by
extraction out of the atmosphere. Helium, the second most
abundant inert gas on earth, can be extracted from atmosphere
and from natural gas. Natural gas has a volume percentage of
up to 7vol. % of Helium. A view on the market prices for both
fluids shows that the prices for Argon are below than for
Helium. But in relation with the total costs of a solar thermal
power plant, the costs of the working fluids are not as relevant
as for example the investment costs for the cycle components.
Thus, a more important decision point (besides the cycle
efficiency) is the feasibility of the cycles and the dimensions of
the components.
̇
| |
𝜎𝑀 = (12)
|𝜓 |
Based on the characteristic machine parameters a first
assumption of stage types and numbers can be defined for the
compressors and turbines by using the Cordier diagram and by
variation of the reference diameter and the rotational speed.
Figure 4 shows the final parameters within the cordier diagram.
The cordier diagram presents ranges of machine
characteristic parameters and is based on empirical data of real
single stage machines. The diagram has been developed by O.
Cordier in 1953 [26]. The Cordier diagram and the definitions

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 of the characteristic machine parameters are only defined for
single stage compressors and turbines, but they are useful to get
a first impression of the needed stage numbers, the reference
diameters and the rotational speed of compressors and turbines.
For the SHBC and SABC Table 3 shows the results of the firs
1D-aproach based on the characteristic machine parameters.
The first approach shows that a SABC can be designed with
much fewer stages and with a rotational speed which
corresponds to the European grid frequency. The Helium cycle
needs much more stages and a doubled rotational speed.
coefficient ψh have been calculated. The parameters are defined
as:
h (13)
h  2 1
u 2
c (14)
  m
u
where u is the circumferential velocity of the blade outlet, c m
the velocity of the flow in the meridian section and ∆h the
difference of the specific enthalpy between outlet and inlet of
the stage.
Table 4 shows the calculated maximum and minimum
values of the characteristic parameters. It can be seen that the
values are within a normal range for axial compressors and
turbines. The table also shows the maximum and minimum
length of each compressor and turbine blade. The calculated
contours of the SHBC and SABC compressors and turbines are
shown in Figure 5 and 6. In these figures the radius of the
meridian section, the casing and the hub section are plotted for
every stage.
Table 4: Stage characteristic parameters

Helium Argon
1. Comp. 2. Comp. Turbine 1. Comp. 2. Comp. Turbine
max 0.7 0.87 2.9 0.79 0.52 3.6
ψh min 0.67 0.62 2.6 0.66 0.43 3.1
max 0.71 0.78 0.65 0.6 0.46 0.6
φ min 0.67 0.69 0.55 0.59 0.45 0.58
Blade max 0.1 0.1 0.24 0.15 0.07 0.29
length [m] min 0.072 0.068 0.16 0.11 0.05 0.14

Figure 4: Cordier diagram

Table 3: Design dimensions of a first 1D design

approach

Helium Argon
1. Comp. 2. Comp. Turbine 1. Comp. 2. Comp. Turbine
reference diameter [m] 1.225 0.98 1.45 1.5 1.2 1.8
rotational speed [1/s] 100 100 100 50 50 50
number of stages
stage type axial
9
axial
14
axial
8
axial
3
axial
3
axial
2
Figure 5: Contours of compressors

As mentioned, the design on the basis of the characteristic

machine dimensions is only a first approach. Thus, also the
characteristic stage dimensions have to be calculated to be sure
that these values are also in acceptable ranges for every stage.
Therefore the stage flow coefficient φ and the stage load

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Figure 6: Contours of turbines
CONCLUSION
A comparative study for closed solar thermal Brayton cycles
operated with Helium or Argon has been performed. In a
thermodynamic study it has been shown, that for both working
fluids high thermal cycle efficiencies can be achieved compared
to other conventional solar thermal cycles. As a result of the
thermodynamic study it has been shown that for increasing
pressure losses in heat exchanger modules solar thermal Argon
Brayton cycles offer higher potential than Helium based cycles.
In a second step the feasibility and the machine dimensions
have been evaluated and compared. Argon, as working fluid,
requires much fewer stages for the compressors and the turbine.
Thus a SABC can be designed more compact, which offers the
possibility to build up the system within the tower, whereas this
option may not be possible for a SHBC because of its larger
dimensions. An additional disadvantage of the SHBC, as
designed in this study, is the necessity of a reduction gear to
reduce the shaft rotational speed for the generator.
Nevertheless both inert gases offer high potential as
operation gases within a closed Brayton cycle for solar thermal
application.
The thermodynamic analysis has also considered turbine
inlet temperatures up to 1100°C and has shown the potential for
an increase of the thermal cycle efficiency. Nevertheless,
turbine inlet temperatures higher than 1000°C require an
internal cooling or higher quality materials for the first turbine
stage and the upstream flow path to the solar receiver.
Furthermore the solar receiver has to gain such high outlet
temperatures, which means even higher temperatures within the
receiver. Those receivers do not exist, but actual R&D efforts of
solar receiver are looking forward to provide solar receivers
which can operate at those conditions in the future. Thus, the
thermodynamic investigation have present the positive effect
which higher turbine inlet temperatures have on closed solar
Helium or Argon Brayton cycles.
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