Nuclear fuel decay heat utilization system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear power plants waste thermal energy from spent nuclear fuel decay heat, leading to thermal pollution and the need for supplementary fossil fuels for heating, which increases carbon emissions.
Innovation Solution
A programmable controller-based system that harnesses decay heat from spent nuclear fuel to heat reactor building spaces by controlling the flow of cooling water through closed loops, using temperature sensors to maintain safe temperatures and minimize fossil fuel use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If decay heat is continuously expelled to the environmental heat sink, then the fuel pool is cooled and prevented from overheating, but thermal pollution is added to the heat sink and wasted heat energy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful thermal pollution effect into a beneficial heating source by capturing the heated water from the heat removal system and using it to heat the reactor building. The heat that would otherwise be wasted is now utilized for space heating, eliminating the need for fossil fuel supplementation and converting the harmful thermal discharge into a useful resource.
2Temperature
If fossil fuels are used to heat the reactor building, then space heating is provided, but carbon emissions increase and operational costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the heat removal system multi-functional by having it serve both its primary cooling function for the fuel pool and a secondary heating function for the reactor building. The same system that removes decay heat from the fuel pool now also provides space heating, eliminating the need for separate fossil fuel heating systems and reducing carbon emissions.
3Reliability
If the heat removal system operates at full capacity, then decay heat is effectively removed, but all heat energy is wasted to the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary thermal energy transfer system that captures the heated water from the heat removal system before it is discharged to the environment. This intermediary system transfers the thermal energy to the reactor building heating system, preventing the heat from being wasted while maintaining the reliability of the original heat removal function.
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
Reduces thermal pollution and carbon emissions by effectively utilizing decay heat for space heating, maintaining safe operational temperatures, and reducing the need for supplementary fossil fuels.
Implementation Method 1
spent nuclear fuel (SNF) stored in the fuel pool for uses such as space heating... decay heat produced by spent nuclear fuel... heat generation rate to attenuate sufficiently
Implementation Method 2
Pumped and filtered raw water extracted from the heat sink is circulated through the plant heat removal systems to cool the fuel pool water heated by the array of spent fuel assemblies therein
Implementation Method 3
The now heated raw water is then returned to the environmental heat sink... heating the local body of water thereby potentially adversely affecting aquatic or marine life
Data Source
AI summary
A nuclear fuel decay heat utilization system usable for space heating in one embodiment comprises a nuclear generation plant building housing a spent fuel pool containing submerged fuel assemblies which emit decay heat that heats the pool. Plural fluidly isolated but thermally coupled heat removal systems comprising pumped flow loops operate in tandem to absorb thermal energy from the heated pool water, and transfer the thermal energy through the systems in a cascading manner form one to the next to a final external heat sink outside the plant building from which the heat is rejected to the ambient environment. A programmable controller operably regulates the intake and flowrate of water from the heat sink into the heat removal systems and monitors ambient air temperature inside to building. The flowrate is regulated to maintain a preprogrammed building setpoint air temperature by increasing fuel pool water temperature to a maximum permissible limit.