Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164

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Progress in Nuclear Energy

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pnucene

Experimental study on performance of helium low pressure compressor of T

HTR-10GT
Liang Ming, Xiaoyong Yang, Youjie Zhang∗, Jie Wang
Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, The Key Laboratory of
Advanced Reactor Engineering and Safety, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100084, China

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Helium Gas Turbine System (HGTS) has compact and simple configuration, and can make full use of high
High temperature gas-cooled reactor temperature heat source to achieve high power generation efficiency. It will be the desirable power conversion
Closed Brayton cycle system for the Modular High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (Modular HTGR) in the future. But there are some
Helium compressor technical challenges to be solved for HGTS, including helium compressor and active magnetic bearings, etc.
Performance test
Helium compressor is key component for HGTS. Its aerodynamic performance had direct influences on the
efficiency of the HGTS. Its features are different from those of conventional air compressors or gas turbines due
to the different working fluids. The experimental and theoretical studies on helium compressors were very
limited. In this paper, a performance test system for HTR-10GT project was established for the full-stage and full-
scale helium compressors. Performance of low-pressure compressor (LPC) of HTR-10GT was tested and in-
vestigated on this test system. The pressure ratio and efficiency of the LPC were obtained at rated conditions and
at different rotating speed, different inventory level. Surge and block boundaries of LPC were also explored. The
results showed that the performance of LPC satisfied the design requirements. And the experimental study in the
paper verified the validity and effectiveness of the design methods of the helium compressors at the LPC con-
ditions, and provided the key aerodynamic performance data for further studies, such as off-design conditions,
inventory control and load rejection control.

1. Introduction
Helium Gas Turbine System (HGTS) based on Closed Brayton Cycle
(CBC) has compact and simple configuration, and can make full use of
high temperature heat source to achieve high power generation effi-
ciency. The HGTS is of great significance to the fourth-generation nu-
clear power system. In the six candidate reactors of the generation IV
nuclear power system, the most promising Modular HTGR and the Gas-
cooled Fast Reactor both plan to use the helium turbine system as the
Power Conversion Unit (PCU) (Irwanto et al., 2017. Syarifah et al.,
2016). The helium turbine system can take advantage of the high
temperature of helium out of the reactor core and achieve the efficient
power generation, and promote the economic competitiveness of the
nuclear energy system. Several projects to couple the HGTS with HTGR
are under development in USA, Russia (Mohammadkhani et al., 2014),
Japan (Yan et al., 2014) and China (Zhu and Shi, 2012).
The previous studies on the CBC indicates that the aerodynamic
performance of the helium compressors has a crucial effect on the ef-
ficiency of the cycle (Gad-Briggs et al., 2017a). How to develop the
helium compressor with high performance is one of the challenges for
the CBC. Inside a compressor, the direction of gas flow is opposite to the
direction that pressure gradient decreases. It is naturally difficult to
stabilize the gas flow. Furthermore, the properties of helium are far
different from those of air. The molecular mass of helium is quite low
and difficult to be compressed; the specific heat of helium is high so that
the flow rate is low. Thus, the helium compressors have more stages,
larger tip-hub ratio, high rotating speed and smaller blade height than
those of air compressors (Gad-Briggs et al., 2017b). Design of helium
compressors based on the common design methods of air compressor,
aero-engines and conventional gas turbines, but its validity needs to be
verified (Tournier and El-Genk, 2010) by experiments. Meanwhile, the
accurate and complete aerodynamic performance of the helium com-
pressors, which is obtained from experimental studies, is necessary for
the design and development of the HGTS.
There were few experiences of helium compressors around the
world. Several projects of demonstration or experimental studies were
carried out on performance of helium compressor.

∗
Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: 909877361@qq.com (L. Ming), zhangyj@tsinghua.edu.cn (Y. Zhang).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.11.008
Received 20 May 2018; Received in revised form 10 October 2018; Accepted 10 November 2018
0149-1970/ © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
L. Ming et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164

Nomenclature γ Pressure Ratio

P Pressure
Abbreviations η Isentropic Efficiency
k Heat Capacity Ratio
HGTS Helium Gas Turbine System T Temperature
HTGR High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor G Flow Rate
CBC Closed Brayton Cycle R Gas Constant
PCU Power Conversion Unit A Sectional Area
HPC High-pressure Compressor N Rotating Speed
LPC Low-pressure Compressor Re Reynolds Number
HTR-10 10 MW High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Test ρ Density
Module v Speed
AMB Active Magnetic Bearing l Characteristic Length
μ Dynamic Viscosity
Subscript out Parameters at Outlet
np Reduced Parameters
W Total Parameters d Design Parameters
L Static Parameters
in Parameters at Inlet

(1) HHT in Germany (Bammert and Deuster, 1974. Weiskopf and
Noack, 1979): In the 1970s, large-scale helium systems of turbines
and compressors were constructed and tested in Germany. The HHT
project consisted of a 2-stage turbine with the power of 45 MW and
an 8-stage compressor with the power of 90 MW. The project was
the first experiment taking HTGR as research objectives. The He-
lium compressor was tested for 325 h. The main purpose of the
study on the helium compressor was to verify the feasibility. Effi-
ciency of the compressor did not meet the requirements. In order to
achieve efficient and compact power generation, helium com-
pressor need to further study with modernized methods.
(2) HTTR-GT/H2 and GTHTR300C helium compressor test model in
Japan (Takizuka et al., 2004. Yan et al., 2018): HTTR-GT/H2 is
under developing to demonstrate feasibility of GTHTR300C for
electricity and hydrogen cogeneration in Japan. With details ad-
justed, the helium compressor technology of the program was still
based on 1/3 scale helium compressor test in 2004. The test model
was a 1/3-scale, 4-stage compressor to simulate the first four stages
of the 20-stage axial helium compressor in GTHTR300C. The
experimental research studied the aerodynamic performance of two
types of blade profiles and the influence of various Re number. The
results of the research were not published.
(3) Test of model stage for HTR-10GT helium compressor in China (Zhu
et al., 2009; Ming et al., 2015): In the HTR-10GT project, experi-
mental researches on the model stage of helium compressor were
conducted to verify the design methods. The model stage consisted
of inlet guide vanes, rotor blades and stationary blades. In the ex-
perimental study, the pressure ratio of the model stage was over
1.05 and the efficiency was over 84% at the rated condition. The
results verified that the design method based on the air compressors
was reasonable to develop helium compressors and provided a va-
luable research experience for the future study of the full-stage
compressors.
In summary, the experimental studies of helium compressor were
limited, especially for the full-scale helium compressor, and most of
testing results was unavailable. It is necessary to implement the ex-
perimental study on aerodynamic performance of the full-stage helium

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of HTR-10GT.

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L. Ming et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164

compressors of HTR-10GT after tests of model stage. Table 1

In this paper, the aerodynamic performance of the LPC in HTG- Main parameters of HTR-10GT.
10GT was investigated in a closed test loop. It can provide guidance for Parameters Value
further research and optimizing work of the helium compressors, which
lays the foundation for the realization of the CBC of HTR-10GT and Thermal Power (MW) 10
Electric Power (MW) 2.1
future commercial Modular HTGR.
Mass Flow Rate (kg/s) 4.72
Pressure of Reactor at Inlet/Outlet (MPa) 1.53/1.50
2. Introduction of HTR-10GT Temperature of Reactor at Inlet/Outlet (°C) 330/750
Rotating Speed (rpm) 15000
In 10 MW High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor Test Module (HTR- Pressure Ratio of Turbine 2.2
Pressure of Turbine at Inlet/Outlet (MPa) 1.50/0.68
10), INET demonstrated the inherent safety of Modular HTGR. HTR-
Temperature of Turbine at Inlet/Outlet (°C) 750/501
10 GT is the next phase of HTR-10. It plans to replace the steam turbine Pressure Ratio of HPC/LPC 1.58/1.58
system of HTR-10 by HTGS system. The PCU of HTR-10GT, as shown in Temperature of HPC at Inlet/Outlet (°C) 35.5/108.7
Fig. 1, is a typical inter-cooling, recuperated CBC. In HTR-10GT, the Temperature of LPC at Inlet/Outlet (°C) 35.2/108.3
working fluid, helium, flows in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 2 is
temperature-entropy graph of HTR-10GT.
The HGTS in HTR-10GT is a vertical uniaxial integrative system. Table 2
Main parameters of the LPC.
The generator, the turbine and the compressors are connected with one
rotor which is supported by the active magnetic bearings (AMB) at both Parameters Value
ends. The working fluid flows through paths formed by every structure,
Rotating Speed（rpm） 15000
and remolding is needed to modify the HPC into a testing machine. The
Mass Flow Rate（kg/s） 4.72
main parameters of the HGTS of HTR-10GT are shown in Table 1. Now Pressure at Inlet/Outlet（MPa） 0.669/1.057
the HTR-10GT project is still under developing. Temperature at Inlet/Outlet（°C） 35.2/108.3
Isentropic Efficiency（%） 84.5
No. of Stages 7
3. Helium LPC of HTR-10GT
Inner Diameter（mm） 422.50
Outer Diameter at Inlet（mm） 460.00
Helium compressors are key components of the CBC. The aero- Outer Diameter at Outlet（mm） 453.94
dynamic performance of the helium compressors has significant impact No. of Rotor Blades per Stage 97
on the efficiency of the HGTS. The HGTS of HTR-10GT takes helium as No. of Stator Blades per Stage 130

working fluid, which is different from that of conventional gas turbines

and aero engines. Thus, the properties of helium and the requirements
Table 2, and the 3D structure of the LPC is shown in Fig. 3.
of pressure ratio of the cycle influence the features of compressors. In
Common design methods for conventional air compressors and gas
the helium compressors, the number of stages is limited by the AMBs
turbines were used to develop the helium compressors of HTR-10GT.
and the rotor dynamics reaches the upper limit of the constraints of
The performance of helium compressors should be investigated and
rotor dynamics, the high tip-hub ratio is higher, and blade height is
tested to check the validity of common design methods. In this paper,
shorter than air compressors. The blade design of helium compressors
the aerodynamic performance of the LPC was tested in a closed loop. In
was developed from the traditional blade profile, and the flow passage
order to match the test loop, the LPC had to be modified into a testing
design adopts the method of equal inner diameter and repeated stages.
machine. A new inlet casing and an outlet volute are mounted with the
The parameters of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) are listed in

Fig. 2. Relationship between temperature and entropy for the closed Brayton cycle.

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PW , out
Pressure Ratio:γ =
PW , in (1)
k−1
γ k −1
Isentropic Efficiency:η = TW , out
TW , in
−1 (2)

PL
Mass Flow Rate:G = ×A× (PW − PL) × 2
RTw (3)

Fig. 3. The 3D structure of the LPC.
LPC. The measure points of total temperature, total pressure and static
pressure are also added on the casing of the LPC. Meanwhile, the rotor
is redesigned to be supported by mechanical bearings instead of active
magnetic bearings. The testing machine of the LPC is shown in Fig. 4.
4. Closed Testing System and method
4.1. Closed testing conditions
In the experimental study of aerodynamic performance on the LPC
of HTR-10GT, the testing machine was driven by an electromotor. The
requisite power of the electromotor was beyond the capacity range
when helium was used as the working fluid. By using air as the working
fluid under the equivalent test condition, the requisite power could be
reduced, and meanwhile, the challenges in the leak-proof structure and
the gas replenishing system were both eliminated.
Between helium and air, the properties were different, so the
equivalent test conditions were acquired from the similarity theory.
According to the previous research (Ming et al., 2015; Sun et al., 2005),
the similarity theory was based on the conservation differential equa-
tions in this paper, and the parameters of the design points of the testing
machine are shown in Table 3.
4.2. Closed Testing System
Pind Tin
Reduced Mass Flow Rate:Gnp = G × ×
Pin Tind (4)
N Tind
Reduced Rotating Speed:Nnp = ×
Nd Tin (5)
Where, γ stands for Pressure Ratio, P stands for Pressure with unit Pa , η
stands for Isentropic Efficiency, k stands for Heat Capacity Ratio, T
stands for Temperature with unit °C , G stands for Mass Flow Rate with
unit kg / s , R stands for Gas Constant, A stands for Sectional Area with
unit m2 , N stands for Rotating Speed with unit / s . And subscript w
stands for the total parameters, subscript tL stands for the static para-
meters, subscript in stands for the parameters at inlet, subscript out
stands for the parameters at outlet, subscript np stands for the reduced
parameters, and subscript d stands for the design parameters.
The measure points at inlet and outlet section and the measure point
of rotating speed are shown in Fig. 6. Stability of the flow in the LPC is
one of the factors on the aerodynamic performance, which could be
speculated from the pressure rise in each stage. Measure points of static
pressure are set up behind each row of the stator blades, as shown in
Fig. 7.
In the tests, for most of the instruments including the rotating speed
and the pressure, the measurement accuracies were ± 0.2%. For the
temperature, which was collected from thermal resistances, the mea-
surement accuracy was ± 0.5K. From Equations (1)–(5), the un-
certainty of reduced rotating speed, mass flow rate, pressure ratio and
isentropic efficiency is shown in Table 4. The measurement accuracies
of the test system were sufficient to estimate the design methods and to
obtain the performance maps of the compressors by the experimental
studies of the LPC.

In order to proceed the experimental study on aerodynamic per- 4.3. Testing conditions
formance of the LPC, a closed testing loop was designed and fabricated,
as shown in Fig. 5. Helium compressors in CBC would not only be operated in rated
The whole system included a power driving system and an LPC, a condition, but also in transient conditions, including start/stop of CBC,
gas loop, an anti-surge device, a gas storage tank and a gas cooler. The off-design conditions and accident conditions. So, the inlet temperature,
power driving system consisted of an electromotor, a converter, a re- inlet pressure, rotating speed of compressors could be deviated from the
duction gear, a lubrication system. The testing machine, LPC, was design values during the transient conditions. It was important to
driven by the variable frequency motor to achieve different rotating
speeds. In the gas loop, gas flowed in the direction of the arrows. The
anti-surge valve was design to prevent damages of the LPC during the
tests. When the LPC was closed to surge boundary, the anti-surge valve
would be switched on as quick as possible, and the gas out of the LPC
would be bypassed to the flow stabilizer directly. With the help of the
anti-surge device, the experimental study could obtain a complete
aerodynamic performance from the surge boundary to the block
boundary.
The efficiency of the CBC is influenced by the pressure ratio and the
isentropic efficiency of the helium compressor significantly. Thus, the
targets of tests were to obtain the performance maps including these
influence factors in the LPC. That was, the pressure ratio, the isentropic
efficiency, the reduced mass flow rate and reduced rotating speed
should be measured and calculated during the tests. The pressure ratio
and the isentropic efficiency of the LPC could be calculated by the total
temperature and the total pressure at inlet and outlet as shown in
Equations (1) and (2). The reduced mass flow rate and reduced rotating
speed could be calculated by Equations (3)–(5). Fig. 4. Testing machine of the LPC.

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L. Ming et al.
Table 3
Main parameters of the testing machine.
Parameters Value
Rotating Speed（rpm） 4685
Mass Flow Rate（kg/s） 4.08
Pressure at Inlet/Outlet（MPa） 0.243/0.353
Temperature at Inlet/Outlet（°C） 16.5/55.6
obtain the performance data at different conditions for the safety con-
trol and operation of the compressors.
So, the experimental studies on performance of the LPC could be
divided into two parts as shown in Table 5. The first part was to obtain
performance data with the different rotating speed under the 100%
inventory. It could simulate the processes of start-up, shut-down and
load rejection accidents, etc. The second part was to obtain perfor-
mance data with the different inventory under the 100% rotating speed.
It could simulate the processes of power regulation.
Besides the adjusting of the rotating speed and the inventory, the
tests followed the same procedures in each step. At first, the inventory
and the rotating speed of the LPC were controlled to the required va-
lues. Then the mass flow rate was adjusted by flow rate regulated valve.
The opening of valve would be reduced gradually. The maximum
opening represented the block boundary of the LPC, and minimum
opening to cause the surging of the LPC represented the surge boundary
of the LPC. At different opening, the data of loop and compressor such
as temperature and pressure were collected as the LPC reached its
steady state. Finally, the mass flow rate, pressure ratio, efficiency and
rotating speed at each condition could be calculated by the measuring
data. By changing the inventory or the rotating speed and repeating the
above steps performance map of the LPC could be obtained.
5. Results and discussions
5.1. Rated conditions test
The experimental data compared with the design values of the LPC
at the rated condition were shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8-a and Fig. 8-b pre-
sented the relationship of the pressure ratio, the isentropic efficiency
Fig. 5. Structure chart of the closed testing system.
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Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164
and mass flow rate respectively at the rated conditions. The data were
all convert into relative value compared to the design values of the
design condition in this paper.
It was shown that the experimental results of the LPC at the rated
operating condition was close to the design values of the LPC. The
experimental pressure ratio was 99.45% of the design value and the
experimental isentropic efficiency was 102.41% of the design value at
the design point. The design values of pressure ratio and efficiency were
speculated from the previous experiences of air compressors, if the
compressors were at the ideal state. The approximation of the test re-
sults and the design values represented that the flow field in the LPC
was in the ideal state. The geometric dimensions and the blade de-
signing from design methods of air compressors met the requirement of
the helium compressors.
The state of the flow field could also be verified indirectly from the
profile of static pressure as shown in Fig. 9. The measure points of static
pressure were placed on the casing behind each stationary stage of the
LPC to get the pressure difference. The similar increment of static
pressure could represent similar increment of work, and to represent
the comparability of the internal flow in each stage of the compressor.
In Fig. 9, the increments of static pressure in each stage were all around
15 KPa. The internal flow of the LPC was not disorganized, and there
was no obvious deterioration of static pressure. The rationality and
effectiveness of the design method of the LPC at the rated operating
condition was verified. The results of the rated conditions test showed
that the helium LPC achieved the design value, and the design method
was verified feasible for the LPC indirectly.
5.2. Variable rotating speed tests
The aerodynamic performance of the LPC was close to the design
values at the design point. The design methods of the helium com-
pressors based on air compressors were proved valid at rated conditions
of the LPC. The helium compressors in HTR-10GT would not work at
the rated conditions all the time, and the would be operated at different
rotating speeds at the start-up, shut-down, load rejection or other
transient processes of HTR-10GT. The variable rotating speed test could
obtain the aerodynamic performance of LPC at various rotating speeds
for the safety of the operation and controlling of the HTR-10GT.
L. Ming et al.
Fig. 6. Measure point of pressure, temperature and rotating speed.
Fig. 7. Measure points of static pressure behind stator blades.
The performance tests of the LPC at different rotating speeds are
shown in Fig. 10. Four different rotating speeds, including 105%, 100%,
80% and 50% of rated speed, were tested. And the surge boundary and
the block boundary were obtained by the relationship of pressure ratio
and mass flow rate, as shown in Fig. 10-c.
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Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164
Table 4
Uncertainty of the experimental study.
Parameters Uncertainty
Reduced Rotating Speed 0.23%
Mass Flow Rate 0.42%
Pressure Ratio 0.28%
Isentropic Efficiency 0.29%
c. Surge Boundary and Block Boundary of the HPC
As shown in Fig. 10, the trend and the distribution of curves showed
that aerodynamic performance of the LPC at various rotating speeds
corresponded the regulation of conventional air compressors. It re-
presented that the LPC could fulfil the purpose of compressing the
working fluid for HTR-10GT.
In Fig. 10-a and Fig. 10-b, the aerodynamic performance of the LPC
included the typical working conditions from 50% rotating speed to
105% rotating speed. At the same mass flow rate, the pressure ratio and
the efficiency increased as the rotating speed increased, and the pres-
sure ratio increased about 1% as the rotating speed increased 1%. At the
same rotating speed, the pressure increased and the efficiency followed
the trend of downward parabolas. The mass flow rate decreased about
1% as the rotating speed decreased 1% to get the same efficiency. The
partial derivatives of both pressure ratio and efficiency for mass flow
rate were reducing at all rotating speeds, and all curves in Fig. 10-a and
Fig. 10-b were upward convex.
L. Ming et al. Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164

Table 5
Main content of the experimental study.
Content Method

100% Inventory Change the Rotating Speed from 105% to 50%

100% Rotating Speed Change the Inventory and Pressure Level from 100% to
40%

Fig. 8. the aerodynamic performance of the LPC at the rated operating condi-
tion.

Fig. 10. Aerodynamic performance of the LPC at various rotating speeds.

Fig. 9. The increment of static pressure in each stage.

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In Fig. 10-c, the surge boundary and the block boundary were both
decreased as the mass flow rate decreased, and the surge boundary
decreased faster than the block boundary. It represented that the stable
operation range was decreasing as the mass flow rate decreased.
Compared with the stable operation range at the rated rotating speed,
the relative stable operation range of pressure ratio changed from 114%
to 28% and the relative stable operation range of reduced mass flow
rate changed from 102% to 55% as the relative rotating speed changed
from 105% to 50%. When the HTR-10GT was at the start-up, shut-down
or load rejection processes, every module would have its stable op-
eration range, and attention should be paid to keep the LPC in the
appropriate working conditions for the safety of the HGTS.
The complete aerodynamic performance with the surge boundary
and the block boundary of the LPC could provide guidance for opera-
tion and adjustment of the HGTS, and were helpful for understanding
the system performances at transient conditions, such as starting,
shutdown and load rejection conditions. The LPC still had room for
improvement, such as the efficiency and the operation range. The re-
sults could be the basics for further studies.
5.3. Variable inventory tests
In the HGTS, one of the power regulation methods of the CBC is
inventory control. In the ideal inventory control, the temperature, the
reduced rotating speed of the LPC should stay constant, and the reduced
aerodynamic performance should stay unchanged for the safety of the
system. In the variable inventory Tests, the conditions of the LPC in
inventory control would be tested. In the variable inventory tests, the
reduced mass flow rate Gnp remained unchanged according to Equation
(6), which was listed in Chapter 4.2, for the mass flow rate G varied
with the pressure level P proportionally.
study, further studies on the effect of inventory on the LPC would be
carried out in the future study. The rationality and effectiveness of the
design method of the LPC at different inventory was verified, and se-
curity of the regulating work of HTR-10GT was guaranteed. The con-
clusions could make a contribution to designing the inventory control
method to achieve the high efficiency at off-design conditions.
6. Conclusions
In this paper, the aerodynamic performance of the LPC of HTR-
10GT was tested in a closed test loop. Air was used as working fluid
instead of helium, under the experimental conditions based on the si-
milarity theory. The following conclusions were obtained:
(1) The aerodynamic performance of the LPC in the rated condition
was close to the design values. The internal pressure in the LPC
increased steadily. The flow field in the LPC was verified indirectly
in the ideal state. The pressure ratio of the LPC was 99.45% of the
design value, and the efficiency of the LPC was 102.41% of the
design value. The LPC could meet the requirements of the HGTS.
(2) The complete aerodynamic performance of the full-stage and full-
scale helium compressors including the block boundary and the
surge boundary was obtained. When the test system was at the
rated inventory, the rotating speed was adjusted from 50% to 105%
of the design value, and the mass flow rate was increased from the
block boundary to the surge boundary in each rotating speed state.

Pind Tin
Gnp = G × ×
Pin Tind (6)

So, in Equation (7), the Reynolds Number (Re ) was proportional to

the inventory. The variation of inventory was the variation of Re .
ρvl
Re =
μ (7)

Where Re stands for Reynolds Number, v stands for Speed, l stands for
Characteristic Length, μ stands for Dynamic Viscosity.
When the inventory changed, the Re might be out of the stable
range. The variable inventory tests were carried out for the effects of
inventory. With various inventory, the aerodynamic performance of the
LPC at rated rotating speed is shown in Fig. 11.
In Fig. 11, when inventory of the LPC was regulated from 100% to
40%, the Re changed proportionally. The aerodynamic performance of
the LPC remained fairly unchanged, especially at rated reduced mass
flow rate. The relationships of pressure ratio, the efficiency and the Re
at rated reduced mass flow rate are shown in Fig. 12.
As shown in Fig. 12, when the Re decreased from 100% to 40%, the
pressure ratio of the LPC changed no more than 2%, and the efficiency
of the LPC changed no more than 1%. It represented that when the
inventory decreased to 40%, the aerodynamic performance of the LPC
was not significantly affected. The design value of the Re of the HPC at
the inlet was 1.84 × 105, which meant that the minimum of the stable
range of the Re is lower than 0.74 × 105 .
When the CBC was adjusted by the inventory, the aerodynamic
performance of the compressors was necessary to be considered, and
the stable range of every module should also be obeyed. The aero-
dynamic performance of the LPC stayed unchanged as the inventory
changed from 100% to 40% of the design value. It represented that the
HGTS could be regulated with inventory at least from 100% to 40% of
the design value. Confined by conditions and aims, the minimum of the
stable range of the Re of the LPC was not reached in the experimental Fig. 11. Aerodynamic performance of the LPC at various inventory.

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L. Ming et al.
Fig. 12. Aerodynamic performance of the LPC at rated reduced mass flow rate.
The stable operation range from the surge boundary to the block
boundary was decreasing as the rotating speed reduced. It provided
important basis for the future study on the cycle and the analysis of
the transient processes or accident conditions.
(3) When the test system was at rated rotating speed, the aerodynamic
performance of the LPC stayed unchanged as the inventory changed
from 100% to 40%. It provided significant evidences for the in-
ventory control process in the CBC.
The experimental study showed that the common design method of
conventional air compressors or gas turbines could still be applied in
design of helium compressor. The experimental study on aerodynamic
performance of the helium LPC would provide support and reference
for the further study of helium compressors.
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Progress in Nuclear Energy 111 (2019) 156–164
Conflicts of interest
No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript, and
manuscript is approved by all authors for publication. I would like to
declare on behalf of my co-authors that the work described was original
research that has not been published previously, and not under con-
sideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part.
Acknowledgements
This paper is jointly supported by the National S&T Major Project
(Grant No. 2011ZX069) and the National Hi-tech R&D Program of
China (Program 863) (Grant No. 2014AA052701).
Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2018.11.008.
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