F22B35/004

Controlling a power output of a nuclear reaction without control rods

A nuclear power system includes a reactor vessel that includes a reactor core mounted therein. The reactor core includes nuclear fuel assemblies configured to generate a nuclear fission reaction. The reaction vessel does not include any control rod assemblies therein. The nuclear power system further includes a riser positioned above the reactor core, a primary coolant flow path, a primary coolant that circulates through the primary coolant flow path to receive heat from the nuclear fission reaction and release the received heat to generate electric power in a power generation, and a control system communicably coupled to the power generation system and configured to control a power output of the nuclear fission reaction independent of any control rod assemblies.

Controlling a power output of a nuclear reaction without control rods

A nuclear power system includes a reactor vessel that includes a reactor core that includes nuclear fuel assemblies configured to generate a nuclear fission reaction. A representative nuclear power system further includes a riser positioned above the reactor core and a primary coolant flow path that extends from a bottom portion of the reactor vessel, through the reactor core, and through an annulus between the riser and the reactor vessel. A primary coolant circulates through the primary coolant flow path to receive heat from the nuclear fission reaction and release the heat to a power generation system configured to generate electric power. The nuclear power system further includes a control rod assembly system positioned in the reactor vessel and configured to position control rods in only two discrete positions.

Passive containment cooling system including multiple condensing stages and catalyst

A passive containment cooling system (PCCS) condenser, for reducing some non-condensable gases in the PCCS, includes a first and a second stage condenser that each include channels in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet header. The inlet header of the first stage condenser is configured to receive a fluid mixture through a first inlet opening. The channels are configured to condense water from the fluid mixture flowing through the channels from the inlet header to the outlet header, respectively, of the first and second stage condenser. The PCCS condenser includes a catalyst in at least one of the outlet header of the first stage condenser or the inlet header of the second stage condenser. The catalyst catalyzes a reaction for forming water from hydrogen and oxygen in the fluid mixture. The outlet header of the second stage condenser is in fluid communication with a combined vent-and-drain line.

STEAM-GENERATING UNIT OF DUAL CIRCUIT REACTOR WITH PURGE AND DRAIN SYSTEM

The steam generating unit of dual circuit reactor with blowdown and drain system is implemented in the close loop, without any conventional blowdown expansion tanks and is designed for maximum pressure of the steam generator (SG) working medium. The SG blowdown water is combined into a single line, cooled down in the regenerative heat exchanger, then in the blowdown aftercooler and drain cooling line and taken out of the tight shell. Out of the tight shell, the SG blowdown water is supplied for treatment to the SG blowdown water treatment system designed for maximum pressure of the steam generator (SG) working medium. After treatment, the water returns to the tight shell and, via the regenerative heat exchanger, to the feed pipelines of each SG. The invention provides increased SG blowdown that leads to the accelerated chemical condition normalization even with considerable deviations.

COOLANT CLEANUP AND HEAT-SINKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME
20210090753 · 2021-03-25 ·

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.

PASSIVE CONTAINMENT COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING MULTIPLE CONDENSING STAGES AND CATALYST, AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

A PCCS condenser may include a first and a second stage condenser. Each of the first and second stage condensers may include channels in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet header. The inlet header of the first stage condenser may be configured to receive a fluid mixture through a first inlet opening. The channels may be configured to condense water from the fluid mixture flowing through the channels from the inlet header to the outlet header, respectively, of the first and second stage condenser. The PCCS condenser may include a catalyst in at least one of the outlet header of the first stage condenser or the inlet header of the second stage condenser. The catalyst may catalyze a reaction for forming water from hydrogen and oxygen in the fluid mixture. The outlet header of the second stage condenser may be in fluid communication with a combined vent-and-drain line.

COOLING FACILITY IN A REACTOR VESSEL AND ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

An in-vessel cooling and power generation system according to the present disclosure may include a small scale reactor vessel, a heat exchange section provided inside the reactor vessel, and formed to supply supercritical fluid to receive heat from a reactor coolant system in the reactor vessel, an electric power production section comprising a supercritical turbine formed to produce electric energy using the energy of the supercritical fluid whose temperature has increased while receiving heat from the reactor coolant system, a cooling section configured to exchange heat with the supercritical fluid discharged after driving the supercritical turbine to shrink a volume of the supercritical fluid, wherein the supercritical fluid that has received heat from the reactor coolant system in the heat exchange section is formed to circulate through the electric power production section, and the cooling section. The in-vessel cooling and power generation system according to the present disclosure may be continuously operated not only during a normal operation but also during an accident to perform in-vessel cooling, and produce emergency power, thereby improving the system reliability. In addition, the in-vessel cooling and power generation system according to the present disclosure may facilitate the application of a safety class or seismic design with a small scale facility, thereby improving the reliability due to the application of the safety class or seismic design.

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DEFENSE-IN-DEPTH SAFETY APPARATUS HAVING DIVERSITY
20200082952 · 2020-03-12 ·

The present invention relates to a nuclear power plant defense-in-depth safety apparatus having diversity, comprising: an analog type first control unit for generating an operation signal for a safety system; a digital type second control unit for generating an operation signal for the safety system; and a device interface module for receiving the operation signal of the first control unit and the operation signal of the second control unit and applying the operation signal of the first control unit to the safety system as a top priority.

Cooling medium generating apparatus using steam of nuclear power plant and cooling method therefor
10557627 · 2020-02-11 ·

The present invention relates to an apparatus for efficiently and economically generating a cooling medium by using high-temperature and high-pressure steam generated in a nuclear power plant, and cooling method therefor. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling medium generating apparatus provided in a containment vessel of a nuclear power generation facility so as to generate the cooling medium can comprise: a nuclear reactor for heating a coolant by using heat included in the heated coolant; a cooling module for generating the cooling medium by using the steam generated in the steam generator; and a cooling medium supplying pipe of which the end portion is connected to the outside of the containment vessel so as to supply the cooling medium, having been generated in the cooling module, to the outside of the containment vessel.

CONTROLLING A NUCLEAR REACTION
20200027592 · 2020-01-23 ·

A nuclear power system includes a reactor vessel that includes a reactor core mounted within a volume of the reactor vessel, the reactor core including one or more nuclear fuel assemblies configured to generate a nuclear fission reaction; a containment vessel sized to enclose the reactor vessel such that an open volume is defined between the containment vessel and the reactor vessel; and a boron injection system positioned in the open volume of the containment vessel and including an amount of boron sufficient to stop the nuclear fission reaction or maintain the nuclear fission reaction at a sub-critical state.