POWER PLANT SYSTEM

• US 20200135345A1
• Filed: 09/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terrestrial Energy USA, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Terrestrial Energy USA, Inc.
• Inventors: KUTSCH, John H., RODENBURG, Anthonius Cornelis
• Granted Patent: US 11,101,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/065 having a Rankine cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0039 with stratification of the heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/021 the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0047 using molten salts or liquid metals
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0078 Heat exchanger arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 1/22 using liquid or gaseous fuel
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 1/324 wherein the heat exchanger is disposed beneath the core
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 3/54 Fused salt, oxide or hydroxide compositions
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 1/00 Details of nuclear power plant control G21D3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 5/06 with engine working medium circulating through reactor core
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 9/00 Arrangements to provide heat for purposes other than conversion into power, e.g. for heating buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

The power plant system includes a molten salt reactor assembly, a thermocline unit, phase change heat exchangers, and process heat systems. The thermocline unit includes an insulated tank, an initial inlet, a plurality of zone outlets, and a plurality of gradient zones corresponding to each zone outlet and being stacked in the tank. Each gradient zone has a molten salt portion at a portion temperature corresponding to the molten salt supply from the molten salt reactor being stored in the tank and stratified. The molten salt portions at higher portion temperatures generate thermal energy for process heat systems that require higher temperatures, and molten salt portions at lower portion temperatures generate thermal energy for process heat systems that require lower temperatures. The system continuously pumps the molten salt supply in controlled rates to deliver the heat exchange fluid supply to perform work in the corresponding particular process heat system.

Claims

1. A power plant system, comprising:

a molten salt reactor assembly having a molten salt supply at a first temperature and being comprised of a molten salt outlet and a salt return line;

a thermocline unit being in fluid connection with said molten salt reactor assembly,

wherein said thermocline unit comprises;

an insulated tank with a top end and a bottom end;

an initial inlet in fluid connection with said molten salt outlet of said molten salt reactor assembly;

a plurality of zone outlets arranged from said top end to said bottom end of said insulated tank; and

a plurality of gradient zones within said insulated tank, each zone outlet defining a corresponding gradient zone, said gradient zones being stacked between said top end and said bottom end;

wherein each gradient zone has a molten salt portion at a portion temperature;

a plurality of phase change heat exchangers, each phase change heat exchanger being in fluid connection with a corresponding zone outlet and a corresponding gradient zone,

wherein each phase change heat exchanger is in fluid connection with an adjacent phase change heat exchanger and said molten salt reactor assembly,

wherein each phase change heat exchanger comprises;

a salt intake in fluid connection with a corresponding zone outlet;

a salt outlet in fluid connection with said salt return line of said molten salt reactor assembly; and

a heat exchange fluid supply in heat exchange relationship with a corresponding molten salt portion of said corresponding gradient zone, said heat exchange fluid supply being in fluid connection with said adjacent phase change heat exchanger; and

a plurality of process heat systems, each process heat system being in fluid connection with at least one phase change heat exchanger.

2. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein said molten salt reactor assembly is comprised of an integral molten salt reactor.

3. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein said molten salt supply is comprised of a plurality of carrier salts.

4. The power plant system, according to claim 3, wherein said carrier salts are selected from a group consisting of nitrates, chlorides, fluorides, beryllium, potassium, and zirconium.

5. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein each portion temperature of a corresponding gradient zone is higher than a respective portion temperature of the respective gradient zone stacked under said corresponding gradient zone.

6. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein said initial inlet is connected to said top end of said insulated tank so as to define a top zone outlet adjacent said top end of said insulated tank and a corresponding top gradient zone with a top molten salt portion at a top portion temperature, said first temperature being higher than said top portion temperature.

7. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein said heat exchange fluid supply is comprised of a working molten salt supply.

8. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of phase change heat exchangers are arranged in one of a group consisting of an array, and a stack around said insulated tank.

9. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein said insulated tank of said thermocline unit is comprised of a ring tank defining a center area, wherein said plurality of phase change heat exchangers are stacked within said center area of said ring tank.

10. The power plant system, according to claim 1, wherein a process heat system of said plurality of process heat systems is selected from a group consisting of a desalination system, a hydrogen production system, and an electricity generation system.

11. The power plant system, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary thermal energy system having a thermal energy supply at a secondary temperature and being in a heat exchange relationship with at least one heat exchange fluid supply.

12. The power plant system, according to claim 11, wherein said secondary thermal energy system is in heat exchange relationship with a corresponding phase change heat exchanger in fluid connection with a corresponding gradient zone of said thermocline unit having a respective molten salt portion at a respective portion temperature, said respective portion temperature being lower than said secondary temperature.

13. The power plant system, according to claim 11, wherein said secondary thermal energy system is selected from a group consisting of a wind power generator, and a solar power generator.

14. A method for thermal energy, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a molten salt supply at a first temperature from a molten salt reactor being comprised of a molten salt outlet and a salt return line;

flowing said molten salt supply to a thermocline unit 30 being in fluid connection with said molten salt reactor,

wherein said thermocline unit comprises;

an insulated tank with a top end and a bottom end;

an initial inlet in fluid connection with said molten salt outlet of said molten salt reactor;

a plurality of zone outlets arranged from said top end to said bottom end of said insulated tank; and

a plurality of gradient zones within said insulated tank, each zone outlet defining a corresponding gradient zone, said gradient zones being stacked from said bottom end to said top end;

stratifying said molten salt supply within said thermocline unit so as to form a plurality of molten salt portions, each molten salt portion having a portion temperature and a corresponding gradient zone,

wherein each portion temperature of a corresponding gradient zone is higher than a respective portion temperature of the respective gradient zone stacked under said corresponding gradient zone;

flowing said molten salt portions in respective gradient zones through respective zone outlets to a plurality of phase change heat exchangers,

wherein each phase change heat exchanger is in fluid connection with an adjacent phase change heat exchanger and said molten salt reactor;

generating at least one operative thermal energy supply from said plurality of phase change heat exchangers and said molten salt portions; and

delivering said at least one operative thermal energy supply to at least one process heat system in fluid connection with a corresponding phase change heat exchanger.

15. The method for thermal energy, according to claim 14, wherein the step of generating comprises:

generating a first operative thermal energy supply from one of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers and a corresponding molten salt portion; and

generating a second operative thermal energy supply from another of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers and another corresponding molten salt portion.

16. The method for thermal energy, according to claim 15, wherein the step of delivering comprises:

delivering said first operative thermal energy supply to a first process heat system in fluid connection with said one of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers; and

delivering said second operative thermal energy supply to a second process heat system in fluid connection with said another of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers.

17. The method for thermal energy, according to claim 15, wherein the step of delivering comprises:

delivering said first operative thermal energy supply to said another of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers, and

wherein the step of generating comprises;

generating a second operative thermal energy supply from another of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers and another corresponding molten salt portion and from said first operative thermal energy supply.

18. The method for thermal energy, according to claim 14, wherein the step of flowing said molten salt portions in respective gradient zones through respective zone outlets to a plurality of phase change heat exchangers, and the step of generating at least one operative thermal energy supply from said plurality of phase change heat exchangers and said molten salt portions, are continuous, and

wherein said at least one process heat system adjusts respective rates of the step of flowing and the step of generating.

19. The method for thermal energy, according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

supplying a thermal energy supply from a secondary thermal energy system at a secondary temperature,

wherein said secondary thermal energy supply is in heat exchange relationship with at least one of said plurality of phase change heat exchangers corresponding to said secondary temperature, said secondary thermal energy supply being in heat exchange relationship with a corresponding heat exchange fluid supply.

20. The method for thermal energy, according to claim 19, wherein the step of generating at least one operative thermal energy supply comprises:

exchanging heat from said secondary thermal energy supply of said secondary thermal energy system with said corresponding heat exchange fluid supply.