MOBILE HEAT PIPE COOLED FAST REACTOR SYSTEM

• US 20160027536A1
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRIAD National Security, LLC
• Original Assignee: Los Alamos National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: MCCLURE, Patrick Ray, DIXON, David Duff, POSTON, David Irvin, KAPERNICK, Richard J., REID, Robert Stowers, DASARI, Venkateswara Rao
• Granted Patent: US 10,643,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 1/02 Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator ; Metal cooled reactors; Fast breeders
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 15/257 using heat-pipes in general F28D, F28F
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 5/02 Reactor and engine structurally combined, e.g. portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A mobile heat pipe cooled fast nuclear reactor may be configured for transportation to remote locations and may be able to provide 0.5 to 2 megawatts of power. The mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor may contain a plurality of heat pipes that are proximate to a plurality of fuel pins inside the reactor. The plurality of heat pipes may extend out of the reactor. The reactor may be configured to be placed in a standard shipping container, and may further be configured to be contained within a cask and attached to a skid for easier transportation.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of heat pipes comprising coolant; and

a plurality of fuel pins containing nuclear fuel, the plurality of fuel pins positioned proximate to the plurality of heat pipes, wherein

the heat pipes extend outward from a reactor core through a block and are configured to transfer heat away from the reactor core.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of heat pipes comprises:

a sealed tube comprising volatile liquid; and

a wick that uses capillary forces to draw condensate of the volatile liquid back toward the reactor core, wherein

a shape of the wick imposes order on the volatile liquid by forming menisci between the condensate and the vapor and allowing the condensate to flow toward the reactor core.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the volatile liquid comprises potassium or sodium.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of control drums and a reflector.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a primary heat exchanger configured to recover heat from nuclear reactions; and

a decay heat exchanger configured to recover heat from nuclear decay.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a Brayton cycle power conversion system configured to;

compress a working fluid using a compressor,

pass the working fluid through at least one of the primary and decay heat exchangers, and

release the working fluid through a turbine to do work.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reactor core comprises a plurality of separate, thermally and mechanically isolated, but neutronically connected, sections.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein there are more fuel pins than heat pipes.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein there are two fuel pins for every heat pipe.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each fuel pin comprises:

nuclear fuel;

an upper and lower axial reflector positioned above and below the nuclear fuel, respectively, the axial reflectors configured to scatter neutron and gamma radiation; and

a fission gas plenum positioned below the lower axial reflector.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an Al₂O₃ reflector that surrounds the reactor core.

12. The system of claim 1, further wherein the plurality of heat pipes, the plurality of fuel pins, and the reactor core are part of a mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a combustion engine; and

a turbine configured to receive, and be driven by, a working fluid heated by the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor and the combustion engine, wherein

the system is configured to drive the turbine via the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor when the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor is connected, and via the combustion engine when the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor is not connected.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the turbine is configured to be driven by working fluid heated by both the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor and the combustion engine.

15. A system, comprising:

a mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor;

a cask housing the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor;

a skid comprising rollers or tires; and

a cradle operably attached to the skid, wherein

the cradle is configured to secure the cask in place to transport the mobile heat pipe cooled fast reactor using the skid.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a pair of impact absorbers configured to cover ends of the cask.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the impact absorbers comprise a plurality of openings configured to provide shield cooling flow.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a personnel barrier that at least partially surrounds the cask and is configured to shield personnel from radiation.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a containment vessel surrounded by a neutron shield, the neutron shield surrounded by an air gap;

a gamma shield that defines an outer boundary of the air gap, the air gap providing cooling for the gamma shield; and

an outer wall that covers the gamma shield.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is configured to be transported by aircraft, by truck, or both.