G21D1/00

Method for decommissioning nuclear facilities

A method of decommissioning a nuclear facility, including: exposing the plurality of upper penetration holes by removing the plurality of sandboxes; enlarging an upper space of the cavity by cutting an upper portion of the biological shield concrete that is disposed between the plurality of upper penetration holes and between the plurality of upper penetration holes and the cavity; and separating the nuclear reactor pressure vessel from the biological shield concrete.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STEAM REHEAT IN POWER PLANTS
20230096162 · 2023-03-30 ·

Steam generators in power plants exchange energy from a primary medium to a secondary medium for energy extraction. Steam generators include one or more primary conduits and one or more secondary conduits. The conduits do not intermix the mediums and may thus discriminate among different fluid sources and destinations. One conduit may boil feedwater while another reheats steam for use in lower and higher-pressure turbines, respectively. Valves and other selectors divert steam and/or water into the steam generator or to other turbines or the environment for load balancing and other operational characteristics. Conduits circulate around an interior perimeter of the steam generator immersed in the primary medium and may have different cross-sections, radii, and internal structures depending on contained. A water conduit may have less flow area and a tighter coil radius. A steam conduit may include a swirler and rivulet stopper to intermix water in any steam flow.

METHOD, APPARATUS, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY

Electric An Electric Power Generation System generates electric power by capturing energy released from transmutation/conversion of one or more chemical element(s) into one or more other element/s, using any one or more elements of the periodic table. The captured energy is converted into electricity in a rector. The system preferably includes a transmutation reactor and an energy capturing system coupled to the reactor that converts captured energy into electricity, and connecting the electric energy to the electric grid or uses it on site power generation. In particular, the energy released in the of transmutation process is directly converted into electric power. Preferably, transmutation products that emerge in the form of charged particles, X-rays and heat, release energy removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter.

Method for decommissioning nuclear facilities

A method for decommissioning a nuclear facility includes: separating a nuclear reactor pressure vessel from biodegradable concrete; decommissioning a concrete structure; covering the biodegradable concrete; and decommissioning the biodegradable concrete.

Method of operating a nuclear power plant
11476008 · 2022-10-18 · ·

The present relates to the integration of the primary functional elements of graphite moderator and reactor vessel and/or primary heat exchangers and/or control rods into an integral molten salt nuclear reactor (IMSR). Once the design life of the IMSR is reached, for example, in the range of 3 to 10 years, it is disconnected, removed and replaced as a unit. The spent IMSR functions as the medium or long term storage of the radioactive graphite and/or heat exchangers and/or control rods and/or fuel salt contained in the vessel of the IMSR. The present also relates to a nuclear reactor that has a buffer salt surrounding the nuclear vessel. During normal operation of the nuclear reactor, the nuclear reactor operates at a temperature that is lower than the melting point of the buffer salt and the buffer salt acts as a thermal insulator. Upon loss of external cooling, the temperature of the nuclear reactor increases and melts the buffer salt, which can then transfer heat from the nuclear core to a cooled containment vessel.

Austenitic stainless steel and reactor internal structure

An austenitic stainless steel includes a mixed grain structure composed of a columnar crystal having an average crystal grain size of 20 μm or less and an equiaxed crystal having an average crystal grain size of 5.0 μm or less, in which an area proportion of the columnar crystal in the mixed grain structure is 20% or more, and an average crystal grain size of the whole mixed grain structure is 5.0 μm or less. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a material having excellent irradiation resistance and mechanical properties.

MULTISTAGE ANNULAR LINEAR INDUCTION PUMP FOR NUCLEAR REACTORS

A liquid metal-cooled nuclear reactor includes, within a reactor pressure vessel having a reactor core, a multistage annular linear induction pump (ALIP) configured to circulate liquid metal coolant through the reactor core. The multistage ALIP includes multiple sets of induction coils that at least partially define separate, respective stages of the multistage ALIP. The multiple sets of induction coils are configured to be electrically connected to separate, respective polyphase power supplies, such that the stages of the multistage ALIP are configured to be controlled independently of each other to adjustably control a flow of liquid metal coolant through the reactor core based on independent control of the multiple polyphase power supplies.

METHOD OF OPERATING A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
20230111998 · 2023-04-13 ·

The present relates to the integration of the primary functional elements of graphite moderator and reactor vessel and/or primary heat exchangers and/or control rods into an integral molten salt nuclear reactor (IMSR). Once the design life of the IMSR is reached, for example, in the range of 3 to 10 years, it is disconnected, removed and replaced as a unit. The spent IMSR functions as the medium or long term storage of the radioactive graphite and/or heat exchangers and/or control rods and/or fuel salt contained in the vessel of the IMSR. The present also relates to a nuclear reactor that has a buffer salt surrounding the nuclear vessel. During normal operation of the nuclear reactor, the nuclear reactor operates at a temperature that is lower than the melting point of the buffer salt and the buffer salt acts as a thermal insulator. Upon loss of external cooling, the temperature of the nuclear reactor increases and melts the buffer salt, which can then transfer heat from the nuclear core to a cooled containment vessel.

Closed-vessel molten salt fission reactor

A closed-vessel molten salt reactor (cvMSR) is described herein. A cvMSR may comprise a suspended container, such as a metallic container, within a trench surrounded by a concrete enclosure and a concrete cover having a number of channels. The suspended container may be hollow and a solution of fissile materials and salt materials may be provided within the suspended container. The solution may be capable of undergoing a chain reaction nuclear fission process once a threshold temperature is reached. Heat generated by the solution may heat a fluid surrounding the suspended container. The heated fluid may be transported, through the number of channels of the concrete cover, to an external location where the heated fluid may be used in distributing heat and/or electricity generation.

ENERGY PRODICUTION DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

An energy production device may include a core and a heat exchanger positioned over the core. The core may include one or more fuel rods. The core may further include a heat transmission fluid configured to flow through natural convection upwards through the one or more fuel rods and collect heat therefrom. The core may also include a reaction control device including a neutron-absorbing material. The heat exchanger may be configured to receive the heat transmission fluid and transfer the heat to an energy harnessing device positioned on an opposite side of the heat exchanger from the core.