Method and system for the thermoelectric conversion of nuclear reactor generated heat

• US 9,799,417 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TerraPower LLC
• Original Assignee: TerraPower LLC
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Walter, Joshua C., Weaver, Thomas Allan, Wood, Jr., Lowell L., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'CONNOR, MARSHALL P
• Application Number:
  US12/462,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,008 Days
• Field of Search: 376207, 376215, 376241, 376317, 376320, 376321, 376322
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 3/00 Control of nuclear power plant control of nuclear reaction in general G21C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 3/04 Safety arrangements emergency protection of reactor G21C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 3/08 Regulation of any parameters in the plant
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 7/04 using thermoelectric elements or thermoionic convertersstructural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element or with thermoionic converters G21C3/40 , G21H1/10; thermoelectric elements per se H10N10/00, H10N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin

Abstract

A method and system for the thermoelectric conversion of nuclear reactor generated heat including upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy and supplying the electrical energy to a mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy, the nuclear reactor shutdown event established by at least one reactor control system responsive to at least one signal from at least one safety system; and

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, during initiation of a nuclear reactor shutdown, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, preceding initiation of a nuclear reactor shutdown, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

means for, following initiation of a nuclear reactor shutdown, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump comprises:

means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:

means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump in series with at least one additional mechanical pump.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:

means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump in parallel with at least one additional mechanical pump.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:

means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump supplying supplemental pumping power to the at least one coolant system.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:

means for at least partially driving at least one mechanical pump coupled to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump supplying auxiliary pumping power to the at least one coolant system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting decay heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated residual heat to electrical energy.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy, the nuclear reactor shutdown event established by at least one reactor control system responsive to at least one signal from at least one safety system comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy, the nuclear reactor shutdown event established by at least one reactor control system responsive to at least one signal from at least one safety system, the at least one safety system of the nuclear reactor responsive to at least one sensed nuclear reactor condition.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy, the nuclear reactor shutdown event established by at least one reactor control system responsive to at least one signal from at least one safety system comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy, the nuclear reactor system shutdown event established by at least one reactor control system responsive to at least one signal from an operator via the at least one safety system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device for, upon a nuclear shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least one nanofabricated thermoelectric device for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device optimized for a specified range of operating characteristics for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device optimized for a first range of operating characteristics and at least one additional thermoelectric device optimized for a second range of operating characteristics, the second range of operating characteristics different from the first range of operating characteristics, for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device having at least a first portion in thermal communication with a first portion of the nuclear reactor and at least a second portion in thermal communication with a second portion of the nuclear reactor, for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor, the at least one mechanical pump circulating coolant through a portion of at least one nuclear reactor core or a portion of at least one heat exchanger.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid coolant.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid coolant comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid metal coolant.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid coolant comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid salt coolant.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid coolant comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump circulating liquid water.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one liquid coolant comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of a pool nuclear reactor.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump circulating at least one pressurized gas coolant.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system comprises:

means for supplying the electrical energy to at least one mechanical pump of the nuclear reactor system, the at least one mechanical pump circulating a mixed phase coolant.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting thermal spectrum nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting fast spectrum nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting multi-spectrum nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a breeder nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting traveling wave nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least two series coupled thermoelectric devices for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least two parallel coupled thermoelectric devices for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric module for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

36. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for protecting at least one thermoelectric device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for protecting at least one thermoelectric device comprises:

regulation circuitry for protecting at least one thermoelectric device.

38. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for selectively augmenting at least one thermoelectric device.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the means for selectively augmenting at least one thermoelectric device comprises:

at least one reserve thermoelectric device and reserve actuation circuitry configured to selectively couple the at least one reserve thermoelectric device to the at least one thermoelectric device for selectively augmenting at least one thermoelectric device.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device sized to meet at least one selected operational requirement of the nuclear reactor for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device sized to meet at least one selected operational requirement of the nuclear reactor system for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device sized to at least partially match the heat rejection of the at least one thermoelectric device with at least a portion of the heat produced by the nuclear reactor for, upon a nuclear reactor system shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

42. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for modifying output from the means for, upon a nuclear reactor shutdown event, thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.