Optimal study of swordfish fin microchannel heat exchanger for the next generation nuclear power conversion system of lead-based reactor

Abstract The Lead-based Reactors employ the supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle, which is now considered as the most suitable power conversion system for the high operation temperature scenario in Gen IV nuclear system. The microchannel heat exchangers are widely used as the high or low temperature recuperators in S-CO2 Brayton cycle for the Lead-based Reactors. Specifically, reducing the flow resistance while maintaining the high heat transfer efficiency of recuperators is important. In this work, the optimal analysis of the swordfish fin microchannel heat exchanger for the power conversion system of Lead-based Reactor is performed. Specifically, the thermal–hydraulic performance of swordfish fin design is compared with that of traditional commercial Zigzag microchannel heat exchanger. The results show that the swordfish fin microchannel heat exchanger is effective and suitable for the next generation power conversion system for lead-based reactor with a relatively low flow resistance and high heat transfer efficiency.