Power conversion cycles (Subcritical Steam, Supercritical Steam, Open Air Brayton, Recuperated Air Brayton, Combined Cycle, Closed Brayton Supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂), and Stirling) are evaluated for land-based nuclear microreactors based on technical maturity, system efficiency, size, cost and maintainability, safety implications, and siting considerations. Based upon these criteria, Air Brayton systems were selected for further evaluation. A brief history of the development and applications of Brayton power systems is given, followed by a description of how these thermal-to-electrical energy conversion systems might be integrated with a nuclear microreactor. Modeling is performed for optimized cycles operating at 3 MW(e) with turbine inlet temperatures of 500 °C, 650 °C and 850 °C, corresponding to: a) sodium fast, b) molten salt or heat pipe, and c) helium or sodium thermal reactors, coupled with three types of Brayton power conversion units (PCUs): 1) simple open-cycle gas turbine, 2) recuperated open-cycle gas turbine, and 3) recuperated and intercooled open-cycle gas turbine. Aeroderivative turboshaft engines employing the simple Brayton cycle and two industrial gas turbine engines employing recuperated air Brayton cycles are also analyzed. These engines offer mature technology that can facilitate near-term deployment with a modest improvement in efficiency.

功率转换循环（亚临界蒸汽、超临界蒸汽、露天布雷顿、回热空气布雷顿、联合循环、封闭布雷顿超临界 CO ₂ (sCO ₂）和斯特林）根据技术成熟度、系统效率、尺寸、成本和可维护性、安全影响和选址考虑对陆基核微反应堆进行评估。基于这些标准，选择了 Air Brayton 系统进行进一步评估。简要介绍了布雷顿电力系统的发展和应用，然后描述了这些热电能量转换系统如何与核微反应器集成。对在 3 MW(e) 下运行的优化循环进行建模，涡轮机入口温度为 500 °C、650 °C 和 850 °C，对应于：a) 快速钠，b) 熔盐或热管，以及 c) 氦或钠热反应堆，加上三种类型的布雷顿功率转换单元 (PCU)：1) 简单的开式循环燃气轮机，2) 回热式开式循环燃气轮机，和 3) 回热式和中冷式开式循环燃气轮机。还分析了采用简单布雷顿循环的航改涡轮轴发动机和采用回热空气布雷顿循环的两个工业燃气涡轮发动机。这些引擎提供了成熟的技术，可以促进近期部署并适度提高效率。