The authors propose a type of combined cycle, advanced nuclear helium reactor/solid oxide fuel cell which will help to mitigate some of the concerns re: global warming, rising oil costs, threats to national security, low thermal efficiency, escalating demands for energy, etc.. Moreover, it is claimed that the adoption of this proposal may help to reinvigorate the nuclear power industry while providing a practical method to foster the development of a hydrogen economy.

Utilisation of helium reactor technology verses the current pressurised water reactor technology is perceived to be safer and more efficient. Pressurised Water Reactors operate on the Rankine Cycle while the proposed helium reactor technology operates on the Brayton Cycle. Thus, the helium reactor cycle is more efficient and becomes even more efficient when combined with a solid oxide fuel cell. The paper describes the authors’ development of the Palmer/Kumar cycle which offers a large increase in efficiency over the conventional pressurised water reactor cycle. The inclusion of a fuel cell in the combined cycle is important as it supplements safe, clean, reliable, readily available and conditioned power and, once the fuel cell is up and running, it has the ability to operate independently of the system.

The overall cycle efficiency, with the inclusion of the advantages associated with utilisation of the high temperature exhaust from the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, gives efficiencies between 55-65% for different power levels and configurations which is well above today's conventional pressurised water reactor efficiencies of 37%.