Nuclear Heat Storage Vessel for Load Following
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear reactors face limitations in responsiveness to power demand variations due to high thermal inertia and high initial costs, making them unsuitable for rapid load following and intermediate loads, while existing energy storage devices are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A high-temperature heat transfer medium, such as hot helium, is used to store and deliver heat to a steam power plant, enabling nuclear reactors to operate effectively at maximum capacity and respond to load changes through a system that includes a heat storage vessel with solid media and a control system for efficient heat transfer and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nuclear reactors operate at maximum capacity to ensure profitable return on investment, then economic efficiency is improved, but responsiveness to load changes and adaptability to variable demand is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating a heat transfer fluid (such as helium) to high temperatures using nuclear reactor heat, then storing this thermally energized fluid in an insulated storage vessel. This stored thermal energy can be rapidly deployed to the steam power plant when load changes occur, allowing the nuclear reactor to maintain maximum capacity operation while still responding quickly to variable electricity demand through the stored thermal energy buffer.
2Ease of operation
If nuclear reactors are designed for base load operation to maximize capacity utilization, then operational cost efficiency is improved, but ability to follow variable grid demand is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary thermal energy storage system consisting of a heat transfer fluid and an insulated storage vessel. This intermediary buffer decouples the nuclear reactor's base-load operation from the variable electricity demand, allowing the reactor to operate efficiently at constant maximum capacity while the stored thermal energy mediates rapid adjustments in power output to follow variable grid demand.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing energy storage devices are used to enable load following, then responsiveness to demand variations is improved, but thermal efficiency and cost effectiveness are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing direct thermal energy storage in a gaseous heat transfer medium (such as helium) at high temperatures, rather than converting thermal energy to other forms and back. This direct thermal storage approach maintains high thermal efficiency by avoiding energy conversion losses, while still enabling rapid load following through the stored thermal energy.
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 solution allows nuclear reactors to operate cost-effectively at maximum capacity and compete with fossil-fueled power plants in responsiveness, achieving high thermal efficiency and enabling fast load following by utilizing a steam power plant with a high turndown ratio and efficient heat storage.
Implementation Method 1
a heat storage vessel with solid media structured and arranged to store heat
Implementation Method 2
transfer heat from the first fluid to the solid media, store the heat in the solid media
Implementation Method 3
a steam power plant receiving the heated fluid from the at least one tank under certain other conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A method of storing heat includes moving a portion of a heated fluid from at least one reactor core to at least one tank having solid media, storing heat from the portion of the heated fluid in the solid media, and transferring the stored heat from the solid media to a fluid that can be used by a power plant to generate electrical energy. A system for storing heat in a nuclear power plant includes at least one tank comprising solid media structured and arranged to store heat and an arrangement structured and arranged to pass a first fluid through the at least one tank, transfer heat from the first fluid to the solid media, store the heat in the solid media, and transfer the heat from the solid media to a second fluid. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.