Stacked Metallic Reactor Containment for Faster Nuclear Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high capital costs and extended construction timelines of traditional nuclear reactor containment structures hinder the expansion of nuclear energy, despite its potential for safe, resilient, and carbon-free baseload energy production.
Innovation Solution
A nuclear containment structure composed of stacked metallic rings that mitigate radionuclide movement, shield against radiation, regulate temperature through thermal energy transfer and storage, and provide structural integrity using materials with varying properties and phase change capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional massive dome-shaped containment structures made of steel-reinforced concrete are used, then safety and containment effectiveness are improved, but construction costs and construction time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The containment structure is divided into multiple stacked metallic ring segments that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. Each ring is a discrete component with specific functions (containment, shielding, thermal management), allowing parallel manufacturing and simplified construction compared to traditional monolithic concrete domes.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment structure uses composite material design where different metallic alloys are distributed throughout the structure to provide simultaneous containment, radiation shielding, and thermal management functions. This replaces the traditional homogeneous steel-reinforced concrete design with a multi-material metallic composite system.
2Strength
If traditional steel-reinforced concrete containment structures are used, then structural strength and containment integrity are improved, but construction time and capital costs increase to unreasonable levels
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is segmented into pre-manufactured metallic rings that can be produced in advance at different locations and then quickly assembled on-site through stacking, significantly reducing on-site construction time compared to pouring and curing large concrete structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from concrete to metallic alloys, which have different mechanical properties including higher strength-to-weight ratio and faster assembly capabilities, thereby reducing construction timeline while maintaining structural integrity.
3Reliability
If traditional containment structures are used, then containment effectiveness is improved, but the complexity and cost of construction processes increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The containment structure is segmented into standardized metallic rings that can be manufactured using conventional metal forming processes and assembled through simple stacking operations, making construction easier compared to traditional concrete dome construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic rings are designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously (containment, radiation shielding, thermal management), reducing the number of separate components and construction steps needed compared to traditional multi-component containment structures.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If metallic rings with varying alloy properties are stacked, then radiation shielding capability is improved, but material complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different metallic alloys are placed at specific locations within the stacked ring structure based on local radiation shielding requirements. Rings closer to the reactor core use materials with higher radiation attenuation properties, while outer rings use materials optimized for other functions, creating a locally optimized shielding system.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure uses composite material design where different metallic alloys are distributed throughout the structure to provide simultaneous containment, radiation shielding, and thermal management functions. This replaces the traditional homogeneous steel-reinforced concrete design with a multi-material metallic composite system.
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 design simplifies construction, reduces costs, and enhances safety by effectively containing radiation and managing thermal energy, thereby making nuclear energy more viable.
Implementation Method 1
regulate, by transferring thermal energy, a temperature within the containment structure, wherein the containment structure transmits heat from an inside wall of the containment structure to an external wall of the containment structure
Implementation Method 2
regulate, by storing thermal energy, the temperature within the containment structure, wherein the containment structure absorbs heat produced inside the containment structure, wherein the containment structure comprises one or more materials having different phase change temperatures, one or more of the materials being configured to undergo a phase change to absorb heat
Implementation Method 3
one or more of the materials being configured to undergo a phase change to absorb heat
Implementation Method 4
shield, by varying the alloy properties throughout the containment structure, an exterior of the containment structure from radiation produced inside of the containment structure
Data Source
AI summary
A system for containing a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The system includes a nuclear containment structure comprising a plurality of metallic rings stacked axially to form the nuclear containment structure. The nuclear containment structure includes a central chamber that comprises a volume enclosed by the inner wall of each of the plurality of metallic rings, and also includes a plurality of auxiliary chambers. The central chamber encloses a nuclear reactor vessel, wherein the inner wall of the plurality of metallic rings is flush with the nuclear reactor vessel. Cooling channels also exist within the nuclear containment structure. The nuclear containment structure is configured to shield the nuclear reactor vessel from kinetic events originating external from the nuclear containment structure and to shield an external environment from kinetic events within the nuclear reactor vessel.