Modular Nuclear Reactor Core Adjusting Power Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nuclear reactors are inflexible and costly to redesign for various applications, lacking the ability to easily adjust output while maintaining compliance with safety regulations, leading to increased risks and costs associated with production and operation.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable nuclear reactor core design featuring modular reactivity control cells and unit cells with heat pipes, allowing for the alteration of radial and axial dimensions to adjust power output, while maintaining compliance with safety regulations through the use of neutron absorptive materials and thermal management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional nuclear reactor designs are used, then manufacturing consistency and safety compliance are maintained, but adaptability to different applications and power output adjustment capabilities are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor core is divided into multiple standardized unit cells that can be independently configured. Each unit cell contains fuel assemblies, control rod interfaces, and heat pipe channels arranged in a modular pattern, allowing the core to be segmented into different radial and axial dimensions to match various power output requirements while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The unit cell design incorporates universal interfaces for control rods, heat pipes, and fuel assemblies that can accommodate different configurations. The standardized geometry and interface specifications allow the same basic unit cell design to serve multiple applications by simply varying the number and arrangement of units rather than redesigning the entire core
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed design nuclear reactors are used, then safety regulations are complied with, but flexibility in adjusting power output for various applications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The core design enables dynamic adjustment of power output through configurable radial and axial dimensions. Unit cells can be added or removed from the core perimeter, and control rod positions can be adjusted within standardized interfaces, allowing the reactor to adapt its power output to match varying application requirements without requiring complete redesign
Solution Approach 2:
Power output is adjusted by changing geometric parameters of the core configuration - specifically the radial number of unit cells and axial height. By varying these parameters while maintaining standardized unit cell designs and interfaces, the reactor can achieve different power levels without compromising manufacturing consistency or safety compliance
3Use of energy by moving object
If modular unit cells with heat pipes are used, then thermal energy transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each unit cell incorporates integrated heat pipe channels that passively transfer thermal energy from fuel assemblies to the coolant system. The heat pipes are embedded within the standardized unit cell structure, eliminating the need for separate active cooling components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining efficient thermal management across all modular units
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
Enables the nuclear reactor to be easily modified for different applications without compromising safety or manufacturing consistency, reducing development risks and costs by allowing for scalable and versatile power output adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
each cell of the plurality of unit cells includes a plurality of heat pipe channels configured to accommodate a heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy away from the core
Implementation Method 2
each reactivity control cell of the plurality of reactivity control cells includes a reactivity control rod interface configured to accommodate a reactivity control rod including a neutron absorptive material
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable core assembly for a nuclear reactor is disclosed herein. The adjustable core can include a plurality of reactivity control cells configured to accommodate a reactivity control rod, and a plurality of unit cells. The plurality of unit cells defines a radial dimension corresponding to an initial power output of the core. Each unit cell of the plurality of unit cells is configured to accommodate fuel configured to generate energy and a heat pipe configured to transfer thermal energy away from the core. Each unit cell of the plurality unit cells can be coupled to an adjacent unit cell in a radial direction, thereby altering the radial dimension, wherein the altered radial dimension corresponds to an adjusted power output of the core, and wherein the adjusted power output of the core is different than the initial power output of the core.