Multi-Modular Nuclear Power Plant Grid Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power plants face challenges in providing continuous and reliable energy supply, especially for mission-critical facilities, due to limitations in backup energy sources and environmental concerns associated with coal and natural gas emissions, and existing nuclear power plants have complexities in reactor design to account for potential failures of safety functions during power outages.
Innovation Solution
A multi-modular power plant design incorporating multiple on-site nuclear power modules, where some modules serve as service units to generate a primary power output equal to or greater than the facility's load, and others as non-service units, with a switchyard connecting the plant to both a distributed electrical grid and a dedicated grid, allowing for rerouting of power during grid failures and maintaining operation through passive cooling and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional power plants use coal or natural gas with backup sources, then energy supply can be maintained, but environmental impacts increase and backup sources have limited energy supply
Solution Approach 1:
The power plant is divided into multiple independent nuclear power modules, each capable of operating autonomously. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability through redundancy while using clean nuclear power instead of fossil fuels, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The power plant generates its own electricity through nuclear modules to power its operations, eliminating dependence on external fossil fuel-based power sources. This self-service approach ensures continuous operation without environmental harm from backup generators.
2Reliability
If nuclear power plants are designed with backup sources and non-safety trip capabilities, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor system is segmented into multiple independent modules with separate safety systems. Each module has its own backup power sources and safety functions, which simplifies the overall design by distributing complexity across independent units rather than requiring a single complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each nuclear power module is designed with localized safety features and backup systems tailored to its specific requirements. This local quality approach allows safety functions to be optimized independently in each module, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high safety standards.
3Productivity
If power plant connects to distributed electrical grid, then power distribution efficiency is improved, but reliability decreases during grid failures
Solution Approach 1:
The power plant is designed with dynamic switching capability that allows it to operate in multiple modes: connected to the distributed electrical grid for efficient power distribution, or isolated and self-sufficient during grid failures. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to optimize for efficiency when the grid is operational and for reliability when it is not.
Solution Approach 2:
The power plant serves multiple functions: it can export power to the distributed electrical grid when available, or operate independently to power its own operations and external facilities during grid failures. This multi-functionality ensures both efficient power distribution and continuous reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-modular power plant includes a plurality of on-site nuclear power modules that generate a power plant output, and a number of power plant systems which operate using electricity associated with a house load of the power plant, A switchyard associated with the power plant may electrically connect the power plant to a distributed electrical grid. The distributed electrical grid may be configured to service a plurality of geographically distributed consumers. Additionally, the switchyard may electrically connect the power plant to a dedicated electrical grid. The dedicated electrical grid may provide electricity generated from the power plant output to a dedicated service load, and the power plant output may be equal to or greater than a combined load of the dedicated service load and the house load. At least a portion of the power plant output may be distributed to both the power plant systems and the dedicated electrical grid.