G21D9/00

Nuclear reactor integrated oil and gas production systems and methods of operation
12140000 · 2024-11-12 · ·

Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.

Nuclear reactor integrated oil and gas production systems and methods of operation
12140000 · 2024-11-12 · ·

Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.

MUON-CATALYZED FUSION ON THIN-ATMOSPHERE PLANETS OR MOONS USING COSMIC RAYS FOR MUON GENERATION
20180047464 · 2018-02-15 ·

In various units, a coating of chips or pellets comprising a deuterium-containing micro-fusion fuel material produce energetic reaction products and/or EM radiation in the presence of an ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons generated from the cosmic rays. The chips may contain solid Li.sup.6D or encapsulate liquid or frozen D.sub.2O. Micro-fusion reactions proceed via muon-catalyzed fusion, particle-target fusion, or both. These may produce usable heat for a space heater to heat surrounding spaces directly or communicate via circulating fluid with a heat exchanger located for more remote heating of spaces away from the generator. EM radiation can be converted to electricity, either directly or via heating of a circulating liquid and thermoelectric conversion. Mechanical work may also be performed by the energetic reaction products, wherein a coated panel mounted on a transport vehicle may serve as a propulsion unit, the energetic reaction products directly providing horizontal thrust or providing electricity via heating (as before) to drive the vehicle. Other mechanical devices include paddle wheels coated with the chips to generate rotary motion, and levers coated on one lever arm to produce a beneficial force at the other lever arm.

Thermal energy storage system connected to both a nuclear reactor and a power generator

An integrated energy system includes a nuclear thermal plant situated on a nuclear site. The nuclear thermal plant produces thermal energy that is transported to a thermal energy storage system located outside the nuclear site. The thermal storage system is thermally coupled to a power generation system which is also remote to the nuclear site. By this arrangement, the nuclear thermal plant is isolated and decoupled from the power generation system. The nuclear thermal plant may supply thermal energy upwards of 800 C. or more to be stored at the thermal energy storage system until needed such as for industrial heat, power generation, or other uses. The thermal storage system is source agnostic, and one or more additional thermal energy generators, such as additional nuclear reactors, solar thermal plants, or other thermal energy generators can be coupled to a common thermal storage system and power generation system.

Thermal energy storage system connected to both a nuclear reactor and a power generator

An integrated energy system includes a nuclear thermal plant situated on a nuclear site. The nuclear thermal plant produces thermal energy that is transported to a thermal energy storage system located outside the nuclear site. The thermal storage system is thermally coupled to a power generation system which is also remote to the nuclear site. By this arrangement, the nuclear thermal plant is isolated and decoupled from the power generation system. The nuclear thermal plant may supply thermal energy upwards of 800 C. or more to be stored at the thermal energy storage system until needed such as for industrial heat, power generation, or other uses. The thermal storage system is source agnostic, and one or more additional thermal energy generators, such as additional nuclear reactors, solar thermal plants, or other thermal energy generators can be coupled to a common thermal storage system and power generation system.

Method, System, and Apparatus for the Thermal Storage of Nuclear Reactor Generated Energy

A method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy including diverting a selected portion of energy from a portion of a nuclear reactor system to an auxiliary thermal reservoir and, responsive to a shutdown event, supplying a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to an energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system.

Method, System, and Apparatus for the Thermal Storage of Nuclear Reactor Generated Energy

A method, system, and apparatus for the thermal storage of nuclear reactor generated energy including diverting a selected portion of energy from a portion of a nuclear reactor system to an auxiliary thermal reservoir and, responsive to a shutdown event, supplying a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to an energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system.

NUCLEAR COGENERATION PLANT HAVING A REACTOR WITH AN INDIRECT THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE WITHOUT EXTRACTION OR DISCHARGE OF LIQUID WATER FROM/TO THE ENVIRONMENT

The invention essentially consists in using in combination a thermal storage loop, arranged between the primary circuit and secondary circuit of a reactor, with a dry-air cooling device connected to the condenser of the secondary circuit.

NUCLEAR COGENERATION PLANT HAVING A REACTOR WITH AN INDIRECT THERMODYNAMIC CYCLE WITHOUT EXTRACTION OR DISCHARGE OF LIQUID WATER FROM/TO THE ENVIRONMENT

The invention essentially consists in using in combination a thermal storage loop, arranged between the primary circuit and secondary circuit of a reactor, with a dry-air cooling device connected to the condenser of the secondary circuit.

Nuclear fuel decay heat utilization system
12191042 · 2025-01-07 · ·

A system uses nuclear fuel decay heat to heat a building. The system includes a plurality of fluidly-isolated but thermally-coupled heat removal flow loops that operate in tandem to absorb thermal energy originating from water in a spent nuclear fuel pool located in the building. The thermal energy is transferred in a cascading manner from a first flow loop to a final flow loop which has an external heat sink located outside the building. The heat sink can transfer heat to an ambient environment. A controller regulates the intake and flowrate of cooling water into the final flow loop. The controller also monitors fuel pool water temperature and air temperature inside the building. The controller can regulate the flowrate to maintain a predetermined building air temperature by allowing the fuel pool water temperature to rise to near a maximum permissible limit.