The system design of the sCO2-HeRo was performed and the components are specified to integrate the sCO2-HeRo into the glass model loop. This includes the major components as well as minor components like valves, pipes, the control system including the consideration of safety requirement like risk analysis etc. The SUSEN and SCARLET loop are prepared for the component tests to run individual tests for the heat exchangers and the turbo-machine. Within both loops, the component tests have been successfully accomplished and valuable input data has been provided for the design and validation of the numerical simulations which vice versa supports the design. All components are delivered and integrated into glass model. The sCO2-HeRo project had to experience a force majeure event at GfS: on 10th June 2018, at about 4am due to a heavy rain event, a flood caused severe damage to GfS buildings, offices and, unfortunately, to the power supply of the glass model (located at the cellar). Therefore, the tests of sCO2-HeRo cycle cannot be performed as foreseen in the work plan. The new task was to simulate a combined SBO and LUHS scenario using the full scope simulator at GfS for the BWR unit of 3840 MWth (Gundremmingen). The simulator provides a 1:1 copy of the control room of the aforementioned BWR, used for training purposes of reactor personnel. For the purpose of sCO2-HeRo, several operational and transient simulations were successfully performed and demonstrated the capability of the sCO2-HeRo system to handle different accident scenarios.
The status of the project and its objective was presented on conferences and on the “1st and 2nd European supercritical CO2 conference” chaired and organized also by the members of the sCO2-HeRo team. Journalists interviewed the team at the glass model and a TV spot was published on the website. Students and PhD students supported the project with their work and energized the discussion about the nuclear industry.
