Combined power generation system and method of small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor and solar tower
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar tower power generation systems face instability and unreliability, especially during cloudy days or at night, due to the lack of efficient heat utilization and storage, which affects the overall energy efficiency and economic viability of small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactors.
Innovation Solution
A combined power generation system integrating a small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor with a solar tower, utilizing a molten salt pool for multi-stage heat utilization, including a nuclear reactor-supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system and a solar-supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system, with a heat compensation system that switches between solar and nuclear heat sources to ensure continuous power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solar tower power generation system uses molten salt working fluid at temperature higher than 500°C to match water vapor Rankine cycle system, then power generation efficiency is improved, but system stability and reliability deteriorate during cloudy days or night
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor with a solar tower power generation system to create a hybrid system. The reactor provides high-temperature heat (close to 700°C) that can be used for power generation and thermal storage, complementing the solar tower's output and ensuring continuous operation during cloudy days or night.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary thermal energy storage by using the reactor's high-temperature heat to charge thermal storage tanks before solar energy becomes unavailable. This stored thermal energy is then used to maintain power generation during periods when solar input is insufficient or absent.
2Productivity
If small FHR core outlet temperature is close to 700°C to match supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system, then power generation efficiency is improved, but economic efficiency deteriorates without multi-stage heat utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-stage heat utilization by dividing the heat extraction process into multiple temperature levels. The high-temperature heat from the reactor (close to 700°C) is first used for supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle power generation, then the remaining medium-temperature heat is utilized for driving the solar tower system or other thermal processes, maximizing energy extraction at each temperature stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor's thermal output serves multiple functions: it drives the supercritical CO2 Brayton cycle for direct power generation, provides heat to the solar tower system for enhanced power generation, and charges thermal storage tanks for later use. This multi-functionality improves economic efficiency by maximizing the value extracted from the reactor's heat output.
3Device complexity
If solar tower power generation system operates independently, then system complexity is reduced, but energy utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the solar tower power generation system with a small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor to create a hybrid system. This combination enables energy complementation where the reactor provides base-load high-temperature heat while the solar tower provides supplemental heat during sunny periods, achieving higher overall energy utilization efficiency without significantly increasing operational complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system achieves high energy efficiency, reduces water demand, and enhances the stability and reliability of solar tower power generation by leveraging the high-temperature heat from the reactor for both efficient power generation and thermal storage, eliminating the need for high-temperature storage tanks and improving economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a FLiNaK—CO2 heat exchanger (6), wherein a cold side of the FLiNaK—CO2 heat exchanger (6) is connected to the nuclear reactor-supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system (7)
Implementation Method 2
a KNO3/NaNO3—CO2 heat exchanger (15), wherein an outlet on a hot side of the KNO3/NaNO3—CO2 heat exchanger (15) is connected to an inlet of the low temperature heat storage tank (16)
Implementation Method 3
a FLiNaK—KNO3/NaNO3 heat exchanger (8), wherein an outlet on a cold side of the FLiNaK—KNO3/NaNO3 heat exchanger (8) is connected to a second inlet of the confluence valve (14)
Implementation Method 4
a modular reactor (1)... an outlet of the modular reactor (1) is connected to an inlet of the molten salt pool (3)
Implementation Method 5
a heliostat field (10), a receiving tower (11), a receiver (12)... an outlet of the molten salt flow pipe is connected to an inlet of the diverter valve (13)
Implementation Method 6
a nuclear reactor-supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system (7)... a solar-supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system (18)
Implementation Method 7
a molten salt pool (3)... the small fluorid-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor combines solar tower power generation can not only achieve high efficient utilization of energy, but also further improve the stability and reliability of solar tower power generation
Data Source
AI summary
A combined power generation system and method of a small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor and solar tower is provided, which belongs to the field of new energy and renewable energy application and includes: a nuclear reactor power generation system, a solar tower power generation system and a heat compensation system. Both the nuclear reactor power generation system and the solar tower power generation system adopt supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system to generate electricity efficiently; molten salt pool in the nuclear reactor power generation system stores high-temperature heat from the modular reactor, and multi-stage temperature heat is utilized for generating power and compensating heat required by the solar tower power generation system.