EP2481053A4 - A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system - Google Patents

A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system

Info

Publication number: EP2481053A4
Authority: EP; European Patent Office
Prior art keywords: heat exchanger; reactor system; nuclear fission; fission reactor; methods therefor
Prior art date: 2009-09-25
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.): Withdrawn

Application number

EP10839920A

Other languages

German (de)

French (fr)

Other versions

EP2481053A2 (en

Inventor

Jon D Mcwhirter

Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

TerraPower LLC

Original Assignee

Searete LLC

Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)

2009-09-25

Filing date

2010-09-22

Publication date

2013-02-27

2009-09-25 Priority claimed from US12/586,741 external-priority patent/US20110075786A1/en

2009-12-15 Priority claimed from US12/653,656 external-priority patent/US9275760B2/en

2009-12-15 Priority claimed from US12/653,653 external-priority patent/US20110075787A1/en

2010-09-22 Application filed by Searete LLC filed Critical Searete LLC

2012-08-01 Publication of EP2481053A2 publication Critical patent/EP2481053A2/en

2013-02-27 Publication of EP2481053A4 publication Critical patent/EP2481053A4/en

Status Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Classifications

- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C1/00—Reactor types
- G21C1/02—Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator ; Metal cooled reactors; Fast breeders
- G21C1/03—Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator ; Metal cooled reactors; Fast breeders cooled by a coolant not essentially pressurised, e.g. pool-type reactors
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C15/00—Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants
- G21C15/24—Promoting flow of the coolant
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01K—STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES
- F01K3/00—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein
- F01K3/18—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein having heaters
- F01K3/181—Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein having heaters using nuclear heat
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/0206—Heat exchangers immersed in a large body of liquid
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/02—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular
- F28F1/04—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular polygonal, e.g. rectangular
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F13/00—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing
- F28F13/06—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F13/00—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing
- F28F13/06—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media
- F28F13/08—Arrangements for modifying heat-transfer, e.g. increasing, decreasing by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media by varying the cross-section of the flow channels
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/026—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
- F28F9/0282—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits by varying the geometry of conduit ends, e.g. by using inserts or attachments for modifying the pattern of flow at the conduit inlet or outlet
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C1/00—Reactor types
- G21C1/32—Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core
- G21C1/326—Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core wherein the heat exchanger is disposed next to or beside the core
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C15/00—Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants
- G21C15/24—Promoting flow of the coolant
- G21C15/243—Promoting flow of the coolant for liquids
- G21C15/247—Promoting flow of the coolant for liquids for liquid metals
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/0054—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for nuclear applications
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C1/00—Reactor types
- G21C1/02—Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator ; Metal cooled reactors; Fast breeders
- G21C1/022—Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator ; Metal cooled reactors; Fast breeders characterised by the design or properties of the core
- G21C1/026—Reactors not needing refuelling, i.e. reactors of the type breed-and-burn, e.g. travelling or deflagration wave reactors or seed-blanket reactors
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Landscapes

Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
Thermal Sciences (AREA)
Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
Geometry (AREA)
Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

EP10839920A 2009-09-25 2010-09-22 A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system Withdrawn EP2481053A4 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number	Priority Date	Filing Date	Title
US12/586,741 US20110075786A1 (en)	2009-09-25	2009-09-25	Heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
US12/653,656 US9275760B2 (en)	2009-09-25	2009-12-15	Heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
US12/653,653 US20110075787A1 (en)	2009-09-25	2009-12-15	Heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
PCT/US2010/002602 WO2011078870A2 (en)	2009-09-25	2010-09-22	A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system

Publications (2)

Publication Number	Publication Date
EP2481053A2 EP2481053A2 (en)	2012-08-01
EP2481053A4 true EP2481053A4 (en)	2013-02-27

Family

ID=44196378

Family Applications (3)

Application Number	Title	Priority Date	Filing Date
EP10839922A Withdrawn EP2481055A2 (en)	2009-09-25	2010-09-22	A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
EP10839921A Withdrawn EP2481054A2 (en)	2009-09-25	2010-09-22	A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
EP10839920A Withdrawn EP2481053A4 (en)	2009-09-25	2010-09-22	A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number	Title	Priority Date	Filing Date
EP10839922A Withdrawn EP2481055A2 (en)	2009-09-25	2010-09-22	A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system
EP10839921A Withdrawn EP2481054A2 (en)	2009-09-25	2010-09-22	A heat exchanger, methods therefor and a nuclear fission reactor system

Country Status (7)

Country	Link
EP (3)	EP2481055A2 (en)
JP (3)	JP2013506131A (en)
KR (3)	KR20120083433A (en)
CN (3)	CN102667954A (en)
GB (3)	GB2485752A (en)
RU (3)	RU2012113145A (en)
WO (3)	WO2011078870A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
CN103426486B (en) *	2013-08-06	2015-12-30	华北电力大学	Natural Circulation multifunctional gas lifting apparatus
CN103839600B (en) *	2014-03-18	2016-03-02	中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院	A kind of flow measurement device for pool natural circulation reactor and measuring method
US11034796B1 (en)	2015-08-06	2021-06-15	Cornell University	Poly(arylamine)s and uses thereof
US10446284B2 (en) *	2016-06-01	2019-10-15	Terrapower, Llc	Instrumentation conduit housing
CN107145175B (en) *	2017-05-26	2020-11-06	中国核动力研究设计院	Steam generator feedwater temperature control analog system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
GB1322221A (en) *	1970-02-06	1973-07-04	Atomic Energy Authority Uk	Valves self closable in the event of reverse flow particularly for fast-fission liquid metal cooled fast reactors
FR2350566A1 (en) *	1976-05-04	1977-12-02	Commissariat Energie Atomique	Heat exchanger connector for fast neutron reactor - gives better distribution of liq. and better thermal insulation
FR2524687A1 (en) *	1982-04-01	1983-10-07	Commissariat Energie Atomique	Fast neutron nuclear reactor outlet duct for molten sodium pump - is suspended in cardan mounting and ends in sliding joint, so thermal stresses are minimised

Family Cites Families (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
JPS5935782A (en) *	1982-08-20	1984-02-27	Toshiba Corp	Heat exchanger for fast nuclear reactor
US4560533A (en) *	1984-08-30	1985-12-24	The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy	Fast reactor power plant design having heat pipe heat exchanger
US4737337A (en) *	1985-05-09	1988-04-12	Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation	Nuclear reactor having double tube helical coil heat exchanger
US4983353A (en) *	1989-03-13	1991-01-08	General Electric Company	Novel passive approach to protecting the primary containment barrier formed by the intermediate heat exchanger from the effects of an uncontrolled sodium water reaction
EP0667623A1 (en) *	1994-02-14	1995-08-16	FINMECCANICA S.p.A. AZIENDA ANSALDO	A system for passively dissipating heat from the interior of a nuclear reactor containment structure
US5499277A (en) *	1994-08-19	1996-03-12	General Electric Company	Method and apparatus for enhancing reactor air-cooling system performance
CA2268650C (en) *	1996-10-25	2003-04-08	Yuzhi Qu	Superconducting heat transfer medium
US6916430B1 (en) *	1996-10-25	2005-07-12	New Qu Energy Ltd.	Superconducting heat transfer medium
GB9926466D0 (en) *	1999-11-10	2000-01-12	Chart Marston Limited	Heat exchanger
JP2003028975A (en) *	2001-07-10	2003-01-29	Central Res Inst Of Electric Power Ind	Reactor
US7278474B2 (en) *	2001-10-09	2007-10-09	Mikros Manufacturing, Inc.	Heat exchanger
US9734922B2 (en) *	2006-11-28	2017-08-15	Terrapower, Llc	System and method for operating a modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor
CN100578683C (en) *	2007-11-09	2010-01-06	中国核动力研究设计院	Non-kinetic inherently safe tube-pool type reactor

2010
- 2010-09-22 KR KR1020127010292A patent/KR20120083433A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-09-22 RU RU2012113145/07A patent/RU2012113145A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-09-22 CN CN2010800535393A patent/CN102667954A/en active Pending
- 2010-09-22 KR KR1020127010295A patent/KR20120083434A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-09-22 KR KR1020127010281A patent/KR20120083432A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-09-22 RU RU2012113143/07A patent/RU2012113143A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-09-22 GB GB1205569.5A patent/GB2485752A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-09-22 JP JP2012530865A patent/JP2013506131A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-09-22 RU RU2012113142/07A patent/RU2012113142A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-09-22 WO PCT/US2010/002602 patent/WO2011078870A2/en active Application Filing
- 2010-09-22 JP JP2012530864A patent/JP2013506130A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-09-22 EP EP10839922A patent/EP2481055A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-09-22 EP EP10839921A patent/EP2481054A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-09-22 WO PCT/US2010/002604 patent/WO2011078872A2/en active Application Filing
- 2010-09-22 WO PCT/US2010/002603 patent/WO2011078871A2/en active Application Filing
- 2010-09-22 JP JP2012530866A patent/JP2013506132A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-09-22 GB GB1205571.1A patent/GB2485753A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-09-22 CN CN201080053536XA patent/CN102667953A/en active Pending
- 2010-09-22 GB GB1205572.9A patent/GB2485754A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-09-22 CN CN2010800535514A patent/CN102667955A/en active Pending
- 2010-09-22 EP EP10839920A patent/EP2481053A4/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
GB1322221A (en) *	1970-02-06	1973-07-04	Atomic Energy Authority Uk	Valves self closable in the event of reverse flow particularly for fast-fission liquid metal cooled fast reactors
FR2350566A1 (en) *	1976-05-04	1977-12-02	Commissariat Energie Atomique	Heat exchanger connector for fast neutron reactor - gives better distribution of liq. and better thermal insulation
FR2524687A1 (en) *	1982-04-01	1983-10-07	Commissariat Energie Atomique	Fast neutron nuclear reactor outlet duct for molten sodium pump - is suspended in cardan mounting and ends in sliding joint, so thermal stresses are minimised

Also Published As

Publication number	Publication date
CN102667953A (en)	2012-09-12
RU2012113142A (en)	2013-10-27
RU2012113143A (en)	2013-10-27
KR20120083432A (en)	2012-07-25
JP2013506132A (en)	2013-02-21
GB2485753A (en)	2012-05-23
JP2013506131A (en)	2013-02-21
WO2011078872A3 (en)	2011-08-18
KR20120083434A (en)	2012-07-25
GB201205571D0 (en)	2012-05-16
WO2011078871A3 (en)	2011-08-18
WO2011078870A3 (en)	2011-08-18
WO2011078872A2 (en)	2011-06-30
GB2485752A (en)	2012-05-23
JP2013506130A (en)	2013-02-21
WO2011078871A2 (en)	2011-06-30
EP2481053A2 (en)	2012-08-01
KR20120083433A (en)	2012-07-25
WO2011078870A2 (en)	2011-06-30
RU2012113145A (en)	2013-10-27
GB2485754A (en)	2012-05-23
GB201205569D0 (en)	2012-05-16
EP2481055A2 (en)	2012-08-01
CN102667954A (en)	2012-09-12
EP2481054A2 (en)	2012-08-01
GB201205572D0 (en)	2012-05-16
CN102667955A (en)	2012-09-12

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Legal Events

Date	Code	Title	Description
2012-06-29	PUAI	Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase	Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012
2012-08-01	17P	Request for examination filed	Effective date: 20120329
2012-08-01	AK	Designated contracting states	Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR
2012-08-15	RIN1	Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)	Inventor name: MCWHIRTER, JON, D.
2013-01-02	DAX	Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
2013-02-27	A4	Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched	Effective date: 20130130
2013-02-27	RIC1	Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant	Ipc: G21C 15/24 20060101AFI20130123BHEP
2014-03-26	17Q	First examination report despatched	Effective date: 20140220
2014-07-16	RAP1	Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)	Owner name: TERRAPOWER LLC
2015-07-31	STAA	Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent	Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN
2015-09-02	18D	Application deemed to be withdrawn	Effective date: 20150401