Steam generators in power plants exchange energy from a primary medium to a secondary medium for energy extraction. Steam generators includes 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.

A nuclear power generation system and related power cycle are disclosed, in one embodiment, the system includes primary coolant circulation through a hydraulically interconnected reactor containing nuclear fuel and a steam generating vessel collectively defining a steam supply system. Liquid secondary coolant for the power cycle flows through the steam generating vessel and is converted to steam by the primary coolant to drive a low pressure turbine of a turbine-generator set. Steam exiting the turbine is condensed and heated prior to return to the steam supply system, thereby completing a secondary coolant flow loop. In one embodiment, a majority of the secondary coolant heating occurs within the steam generating vessel via heat exchange with the primary coolant rather than externally in the secondary coolant flow loop. This creates a temperature differential between the primary and secondary coolant sufficient to create natural thermally induced convective circulation of the primary coolant.

A nuclear power generation system and related power cycle are disclosed, in one embodiment, the system includes primary coolant circulation through a hydraulically interconnected reactor containing nuclear fuel and a steam generating vessel collectively defining a steam supply system. Liquid secondary coolant for the power cycle flows through the steam generating vessel and is converted to steam by the primary coolant to drive a low pressure turbine of a turbine-generator set. Steam exiting the turbine is condensed and heated prior to return to the steam supply system, thereby completing a secondary coolant flow loop. In one embodiment, a majority of the secondary coolant heating occurs within the steam generating vessel via heat exchange with the primary coolant rather than externally in the secondary coolant flow loop. This creates a temperature differential between the primary and secondary coolant sufficient to create natural thermally induced convective circulation of the primary coolant.

A hybrid power generation system in one embodiment comprises a green boiler containing a thermal mass composition operable to store thermal energy, a solar energy collection system which absorbs solar energy to heat a first working fluid and in turn the thermal mass composition, and a power generation system comprising a steam turbine coupled to an electric generator to produce electricity and a nuclear steam supply system which convert a second working fluid comprising water from liquid to steam. Steam output by the nuclear steam supply system flows through the green boiler and is heated by absorbing heat from the thermal mass composition to increase the enthalpy of the steam and concomitantly electric power output from the turbine-generator. The nuclear steam supply system and green boiler may be retrofit to replace existing fossil fuel steam generation systems while retaining the energy conversion part of the fossil power plant.

A hybrid power generation system in one embodiment comprises a green boiler containing a thermal mass composition operable to store thermal energy, a solar energy collection system which absorbs solar energy to heat a first working fluid and in turn the thermal mass composition, and a power generation system comprising a steam turbine coupled to an electric generator to produce electricity and a nuclear steam supply system which convert a second working fluid comprising water from liquid to steam. Steam output by the nuclear steam supply system flows through the green boiler and is heated by absorbing heat from the thermal mass composition to increase the enthalpy of the steam and concomitantly electric power output from the turbine-generator. The nuclear steam supply system and green boiler may be retrofit to replace existing fossil fuel steam generation systems while retaining the energy conversion part of the fossil power plant.

A hybrid power generation system in one embodiment comprises a green boiler containing a thermal mass composition operable to store thermal energy, a solar energy collection system which absorbs solar energy to heat a first working fluid and in turn the thermal mass composition, and a power generation system comprising a steam turbine coupled to an electric generator to produce electricity and a nuclear steam supply system which convert a second working fluid comprising water from liquid to steam. Steam output by the nuclear steam supply system flows through the green boiler and is heated by absorbing heat from the thermal mass composition to increase the enthalpy of the steam and concomitantly electric power output from the turbine-generator. The nuclear steam supply system and green boiler may be retrofit to replace existing fossil fuel steam generation systems while retaining the energy conversion part of the fossil power plant.