<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV><FONT size="3"><BR> </FONT><DIV align="center"><FONT size="3" color="#FF0000"><B>Symposium on<BR> Next Generation Power Systems:<BR> The Supercritical CO2 Brayton Power Cycle<BR> </B></FONT><FONT size="3"> to be held<B> at MIT on March 6,2007</B>.<BR> </FONT></DIV><FONT size="3"> Gas turbine cycles have attracted attention within the nuclear community because of their high efficiencies. For example, the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor under development in South Africa uses a helium Brayton cycle. Because helium Brayton cycles require high temperature, above about 800°C, to achieve high efficiencies, their applicability is limited to reactor concepts with very high core outlet temperatures. Recently, a supercritical CO2 (SCO2) power cycle has attracted increased international attention, because of its ability to achieve high efficiencies (e.g. 45%) at moderate temperatures (e.g. 550°C) that match the temperature ranges of existing reactor technologies. In addition, the SCO2 cycle equipment is even more compact than that of helium power cycle, which is already more compact than a steam cycle.<BR> <BR> The purpose for holding this symposium is to:<BR> <UL> <LI>Review the status of worldwide research activities on the SCO2 power conversion system and its key components, </LI><LI>Examine the potential of this power cycle in comparison with alternative energy conversion systems, </LI><LI>Develop insights among experts from industry, national laboratories and academia about the major challenges for the development of this cycle, and </LI><LI>Attract funding agencies and or venture funds to participate in the development of this promising technology. </LI></UL><BR> Topical areas that will be addressed include cycle description, its application potential to fossil and nuclear power plants and comparison with other cycles, design considerations priorities of key components, such as heat exchangers, turbomachinery and bearings, materials issues, cycle operational and transient considerations and the major R&D needs.<BR><BR> Agenda and more details on the registration and location are at<BR> <B> <A href="http://web.mit.edu/canes/symposia/sco2/overview.html" eudora="autourl"> http://web.mit.edu/canes/symposia/sco2/overview.html</A></B> <BR><BR></FONT></DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>