Method, system, and apparatus for selectively transferring thermoelectrically generated electric power to nuclear reactor operation systems

• US 9,892,807 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• 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:
  US12/586,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,059 Days
• Field of Search: 376207, 376215, 376241, 376317, 376320-322
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 1/026 Reactors not needing refueling, i.e. reactors of the type breed-and-burn, e.g. travelling or deflagration wave reactors or seed-blanket reactors
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 1/02 Arrangements of auxiliary equipment
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for the selective transfer of thermoelectrically generated electric power to operation systems of a nuclear reactor system including thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy and selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor system.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

means for thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy; and

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor in response to a signal from a second operation system of the nuclear reactor to supply power to the at least one first operation system using the transferred electrical energy, the at least one first operation system affecting the nuclear reactor responsive to the power supplied, wherein the signal from the second operation system is responsive to at least one third operation system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is from at least one control system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal from the at least one control system is responsive to the at least one third operation system, the at least one third operation system responsive to at least one internal condition.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the signal from the at least one control system is responsive to the at least one third operation system, the at least one third operation system responsive to at least one external condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is in response to at least one shutdown event.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the activation circuitry for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

coupling circuitry for selectively coupling at least one thermoelectric device to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

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

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

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one control system of the nuclear reactor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one monitoring system of the nuclear reactor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one coolant pump of the nuclear reactor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one shutdown system of the nuclear reactor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

means for selectively transferring the electrical energy to at least one warning system of the nuclear reactor.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for protecting the means for thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for selectively augmenting the means for thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the means for selectively augmenting the means for thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy comprises:

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

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for modifying the electrical energy.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting heat generated with a nuclear reactor to electrical energy;

at least one first operation system, at least one second operation system, and at least one third operation system; and

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from the at least one second system responsive to the at least one third operation system, selectively transferring the electrical energy from at least one electrical output of the at least one thermoelectric device to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor to supply power to the at least one first operation system, the at least one first operation system affecting the nuclear reactor responsive to the power supplied.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the activation circuitry for selectively transferring the electrical energy from at least one electrical output of the at least one thermoelectric device to at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one condition, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one condition, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from the at least one second operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one second operation system is different than the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one second operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one monitoring system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one second operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one safety system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one second operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one security system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one second operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one control system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one control system responsive to at least one third operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one control system responsive to at least one third operation system, the at least one third operation system responsive to at least one internal condition, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one control system responsive to at least one third operation system, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one signal from at least one control system responsive to at least one third operation system, the at least one third operation system responsive to at least one external condition, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one condition, transferring the electrical energy to at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

activation circuitry for, responsive to at least one shutdown event, transferring the electrical energy to the at least one first operation system of the nuclear reactor.

30. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

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

31. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

a first 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 thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device sized to meet at least one selected operational requirement of the nuclear reactor for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device sized to meet at least one selected operational requirement of the nuclear reactor for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy, the 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.

34. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least two series coupled thermoelectric devices for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

35. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy comprises:

at least two parallel coupled thermoelectric devices for thermoelectrically converting nuclear reactor generated heat to electrical energy.

36. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

at least one control system of the nuclear reactor.

37. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

at least one monitoring system of the nuclear reactor.

38. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one coolant system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

at least one coolant pump of the nuclear reactor.

40. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

at least one shutdown system of the nuclear reactor.

41. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor comprises:

at least one warning system of the nuclear reactor.

42. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

regulation circuitry for protecting the at least one thermoelectric device.

43. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

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

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one reserve thermoelectric device and reserve actuation circuitry for selectively augmenting the at least one thermoelectric device, the reserve actuation circuitry configured to selectively couple the at least one reserve thermoelectric device to the at least one thermoelectric device, comprises:

at least one relay system, at least one electromagnetic relay system, at least one solid state relay system, at least one transistor, at least one microprocessor controlled relay system, at least one microprocessor controlled relay system programmed to respond to at least one external condition, or at least one microprocessor controlled relay system programmed to respond to at least one internal condition for selectively coupling at least one reserve thermoelectric device to the at least one thermoelectric device.