Y02E30/00

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING POWER
20230103983 · 2023-04-06 ·

Systems and methods are described for providing power. A system comprising a generator, an inverter, and a battery can be used to provide power. The system can also comprise a transfer switch. The system can provide power to another device.

HIGH TEMPERATURE HYDRIDE MODERATOR ENABLING COMPACT AND HIGHER POWER DENSITY CORES IN NUCLEAR MICRO-REACTORS

A reactor core block is disclosed including a fuel channel, a heat pipe, a primary moderator matrix configured to encompass the fuel channel and the heat pipe, and a secondary moderator channel configured to at least partially surround the fuel channel, the heat pipe, and the primary moderator matrix. The secondary moderator channel is comprised of metal hydride.

Nuclear-power-plant computer-based procedure display device, safety control and monitoring system, and plant operation monitoring system

A nuclear-power-plant computer-based procedure display device is disposed in a main control room of a nuclear power plant, and includes a operating procedure storage unit that stores a computer-based procedure in which plant operation procedures of the nuclear power plant are divided into procedure steps and listed, a operating procedure display unit that displays the computer-based procedure, and a operating procedure display control unit that controls display of the computer-based procedure. In a case where the procedure step displayed on the operating procedure display unit is selected by an operator, the operating procedure display control unit displays an indication that the procedure step is selected, on the operating procedure display unit.

Computer-Based Simulation Methods for Boiling Water Reactors (BWR)

A computer-implemented simulation method of predicting local concentrations of constituents in coolant water anywhere along fuel rods within any fuel assembly mechanical design of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) potentially resulting in crud deposits on said fuel rods. The method is based on a sub-channel approach of predicting local mass fluxes of vapor and liquid in coolant water anywhere along fuel rods within any fuel assembly mechanical design of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) for given steady-state or transient boundary conditions. The sub-channel approach is based on the solution of mass, momentum and energy conservation equations for the vapor phase and the liquid phase, the liquid phase is represented by more than one field variable, and is specifically represented by three fields, with the vapor phase as a fourth field, consisting of droplets, a liquid base film, and disturbance waves. The method comprises:

simulating steady-state or transient boundary conditions, such as inlet coolant water flow into said sub-channels, the coolant water flow may have a predetermined flow velocity variation,

analyzing predefined parameters of said disturbance waves and base film, including wave velocity, wave frequency and base film thickness, and

analyzing liquid base film thickness between consecutive passing disturbance waves, to calculate local instantaneous impurity concentrations based on said simulated boundary conditions, the calculation is made for each fuel rod of the fuel assembly, wherein, for each fuel rod, the method further comprises comparing said calculated local instantaneous impurity concentration to a crud compound precipitation limit, and during the time said concentration is higher than said precipitation limit, crud is considered to have occurred. In a related simulation method also base film dryout, clad temperature increase, and drop entrainment from waves, may be determined.

NUCLEAR WASTE RETRIEVABLE DISPOSAL DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD
20230146481 · 2023-05-11 ·

A waste material depositing system for depositing waste material into a sub-seabed sediment of an ocean floor. There is a penetrator including a first disposal stage and a second disposal stage. The first disposal stage having an outer shell disposed about a cavity, the cavity being shaped and sized to receive a waste disposal canister. The second disposal stage being removably coupled to a top end of the first disposal stage by an automatic disengagement device, and having: an outer cylinder, a plurality of second disposal fins disposed along a length of the outer cylinder, and an arrestor system coupled to a top portion of the outer cylinder.

COOLANT CLEANUP AND HEAT-SINKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME
20230142980 · 2023-05-11 ·

Combined cleanup and heat sink systems work with nuclear reactor coolant loops. Combined systems may join hotter and colder sections of the coolant loops in parallel with any steam generator or other extractor and provide optional heat removal between the same. Combined systems also remove impurities or debris from a fluid coolant without significant heat loss from the coolant. A cooler in the combined system may increase in capacity or be augmented in number to move between purifying cooling and major heat removal from the coolant, potentially as an emergency cooler. The cooler may be joined to the hotter and colder sections through valved flow paths depending on desired functionality. Sections of the coolant loops may be fully above the cooler, which may be above the reactor, to drive flow by gravity and enhance isolation of sections of the coolant loop.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY CONVERSION USING AN ANEUTRONIC NUCLEAR FUEL
20230147092 · 2023-05-11 ·

A nuclear fuel cell includes a net neutron-producing material, a neutron-consuming material, and a neutron-moderating material. Upon exposure of the net-producing material, the neutron-moderating material, and the neutron-consuming material to a neutron source, a ratio of the net neutron-producing material to (i) the neutron-consuming material and (ii) the neutron-moderating material is operable to convert neutrons into charged particles without producing net neutrons.

Three-way valve operational to both transfer steam to a decontamination water tank under one accident situation and discharge the steam to atmosphere under a different accident situation

Disclosed herein is a nuclear power plant main steam system that reduces the atmospheric discharge of radioactive materials generated in an accident. The system includes: a decontamination water tank containing decontamination water; and a connection pipe for connecting the decontamination water tank to a main steam pipe which connects a steam generator and a turbine. A main steam safety valve or a connection valve is provided as a three-way valve configured to discharge the generated steam to the atmosphere when an accident occurs within a design basis and to transfer the generated steam to the decontamination water tank when an accident involving damage to nuclear fuel occurs. The main steam system reduces discharge of radioactive materials to the atmosphere when a containment bypass accident (e.g., a steam generator tube rupture caused by high-temperature steam) occurs.

Multipurpose common-pool based flooding-type management system for small modular reactors

Disclosed herein is a reactor including a reactor vessel and a containment vessel configured to surround the reactor vessel. The containment vessel includes a thermal radiation shield disposed on an inner wall, and a gap between the reactor vessel and the containment vessel is in an atmospheric pressure and air atmosphere state.

MACHINE LEARNING IN FUSION REACTORS

A method of controlling a plasma in a nuclear fusion reactor. The nuclear fusion reactor comprises sensors and plasma control inputs. An initial control model is provided, relating readings of at least a subset of the sensors to control of the plasma control inputs. A control loop is performed, comprising: operating the plasma control inputs in dependence upon the sensors according to the control model; determining correlations between readings of each of the sensors, and/or between readings of the sensors and states of the plasma control inputs; and adjusting the control model based on the determined correlations.