US 12,230,410 B2
Energy storage system for nuclear reactor remote installation
Scott M. Sweat, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Ibrahim Ezelarab, Mars, PA (US)
Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/158,848.
Prior Publication US 2024/0249853 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. H02J 3/00 (2006.01); G21D 1/02 (2006.01); G21D 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC G21D 1/02 (2013.01) [G21D 3/001 (2013.01); H02J 3/003 (2020.01); H02J 13/00002 (2020.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nuclear reactor system for use with a power grid, the nuclear reactor system comprising:
a nuclear reactor;
an energy storage system coupled to the nuclear reactor; and
a control circuit coupled to the nuclear reactor and the energy storage system, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
monitor a power demand of the power grid;
monitor a power output generated from the nuclear reactor;
detect a change in the power demand;
cause the energy storage system to temporarily compensate for the change in the power demand; and
adjust the power output based on the change in the power demand, wherein the energy storage system is maintained within a threshold range of a total storage capacity, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
monitor a utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system;
detect that the utilized storage capacity is less than a lower end of the threshold range;
increase the power output generated by the nuclear reactor in response to detecting the utilized storage capacity being below the lower end of the threshold range, wherein the increased power output creates excess energy above the power demand of the power grid;
increase the utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system with the excess energy; and
decrease the power output generated by the nuclear reactor to match the power demand upon the utilized storage capacity being above the lower end of the threshold range.