Semi Submersible Nuclear Power Plant and Multi-Purpose Platform

Abstract

An offshore, floating, moored, nuclear power generating plant and multi-purpose platform is disclosed herein. In a preferred embodiment, the invention consists of a spar or cell spar platform with multi-purpose, all weather topside decks, attached to a submerged “dry tank” that further includes: reactor generator deck(s), power plant main control deck, and central plant deck, that are all integrated within a watertight ballast hull. The invention design further includes cells that are modular for facilitating factory assembly and ultimate construction in a shipyard environment. Reactor vessels are typical naval nuclear reactor having a time tested outstanding safety record. A plurality of reactor generator modules are interconnected and operate independently and collectively and are transmitted by a plurality of high voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables through a transformer to the electrical grid. Multipurpose topside decks house vessel commend, crew, and any ancillary and co-generation equipment. The present invention, constructed in a multi-path manufacturing process, provides exceptional economic, environmental, sustainability, security, safety, and operational advantages over the current art of power generation.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This patent application is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of the priority date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 540,438 filed on Jul. 2, 2012, entitled Semi Submersible Nuclear Power Plant and Multipurpose Platform, accordingly, the entire contents of this patent application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention pertains generally to nuclear power plants and more specifically to an offshore, floating, moored, nuclear power generating plant, integrated into the submerged hull of a spar or cell spar platform. More specifically, the present invention relates to an offshore nuclear power plant comprised of a multiplicity of individual spar cells each containing a reactor vessel.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]There exists unequivocal evidence that man made contributions to global warming through increased emissions of heat and greenhouse gases fro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a nuclear power plant integrated into an offshore platform for drilling and extracting oil and gas. The platform is designed to be safe, reliable, cost-effective, and stable. The reactor generator secondary containment modules are arranged as cells and are assembly line constructed and transported to the platform assembly area. The topside decks house crew, platform command, ancillary cogeneration equipment, and all regulatory and security personnel and equipment. The design of the platform allows for efficient and safe operation of the reactor as well as easy transfer and maintenance of the platform. The technology of the invention incorporates existing technologies from multiple manufacturers to ensure high quality, competitive pricing, and rapid construction time. The design of the platform allows for increased stability, capacity, and efficient reactor operation. The compact nuclear reactors are particularly suitable for hazardous sea duty and can operate for a long time before refueling. The patent also mentions the advantages of maintaining the hull with submersible equipment.

Problems solved by technology

Sighting nuclear power plants on coastal locations results in the installations being vulnerable to seismic events, cyclones and tsunami, thereby escalating the costs of construction and safe operation.

The majority of said power plants are also surrounded by high density population centers escalating land and water prices and face growing public resistance to land based nuclear power.

In addition to the above concerns, power generating industry must constantly balance the electrical supply to randomly fluctuating demand, often requiring rapid adjustments to meet unpredictable occurrences affecting the grid.

Government regulatory agencies and power plant owners are attempting to address these issues for land based nuclear facilities, but the public is justifiably wary.

It provided power for the U.S. Army installation at Lake Gatun, Panama; and although successful, it did not generate commercial interest, and was retired.

This costly unproven, complex design was never constructed.

This design fails to address vulnerabilities to cyclones, tsunami, seismic events, and carbon emission proliferation.

The system requires the operators to remain submerged for extended periods and crew and materials transfer would be by submarine rendering it financially unattractive and logistically impractical.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,882 describes a modularized nuclear steam supply system installed on a barge and floated to its coffer dam site, which is representative of a plurality of surface floating power plant designs, each having the same advantages in construction cost and time saving, yet however, sharing the same catastrophic disadvantages to include seismic, tsunami, and cyclone vulnerabilities, or the threat of terrorist attack, as well as nuclear environmental impacts, and resource competition with the public.

However, this proposal fails for the same reasons.

This technology has some safety limitations, would be prohibitively expensive, and to date has not been built.

The inventor further specifies that the plant does not export power to the commercial electrical grid, and is inoperable in stormy ocean conditions.

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