US 12,224,642 B2
Inertial energy coastdown for electromagnetic pump
Robert A Corbin, Duvall, WA (US); and Michael J Edwards, Renton, WA (US)
Assigned to TERRAPOWER, LLC, Bellevue, WA (US)
Filed by TerraPower, LLC, Bellevue, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/224,115.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/066,785, filed on Aug. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0051819 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 15/18 (2006.01); F04B 17/03 (2006.01); F04B 19/04 (2006.01); G21C 13/04 (2006.01); H02K 44/06 (2006.01); G21C 1/32 (2006.01); G21C 3/33 (2006.01); G21C 9/00 (2006.01); G21C 15/12 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 44/06 (2013.01) [F04B 17/03 (2013.01); F04B 19/04 (2013.01); G21C 13/04 (2013.01); G21C 1/326 (2013.01); G21C 3/33 (2013.01); G21C 9/00 (2013.01); G21C 15/12 (2013.01); G21C 15/185 (2019.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sodium-cooled nuclear reactor, comprising:
a reactor vessel;
a reactor core within the reactor vessel;
a primary heat exchanger within the reactor vessel;
a primary coolant loop configured to circulate primary coolant through the reactor core and the primary heat exchanger;
an electromagnetic pump in fluid communication with the primary coolant loop and configured to circulate primary coolant through the primary coolant loop; and
an inertial coast down system disposed along the primary coolant loop, the inertial coast down system comprising:
an impeller disposed within the primary coolant along the primary coolant loop; and
a flywheel disposed outside of the primary coolant, wherein the impeller is located upstream an inlet to the electromagnetic pump and downstream of the flywheel; and;
wherein the inertial coast down system is configured to operate independently from the electromagnetic pump and is configured to store rotational kinetic energy in the flywheel during operation of the sodium-cooled nuclear reactor and cause the flywheel to impart kinetic energy to the impeller, the impeller disposed within the primary coolant and causing primary coolant to flow along the primary coolant loop when the electromagnetic pump shuts down.