US 12,176,117 B2
Thermal energy storage system connected to both a nuclear reactor and a power generator
Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Seattle, WA (US); Robert A. Corbin, North Bend, WA (US); John R. Gilleland, Kirkland, WA (US); Pavel Hejzlar, Kirkland, WA (US); Kevin Kramer, Redmond, WA (US); Christopher A. Martin, Seattle, WA (US); Brian Morris, Bellevue, WA (US); Robert C. Petroski, Seattle, WA (US); Philip M. Schloss, Seattle, WA (US); Joshua C. Walter, Kirkland, WA (US); and Mark R. Werner, Bellevue, WA (US)
Assigned to TERRAPOWER, LLC, Bellevue, WA (US)
Filed by TerraPower, LLC, Bellevue, WA (US)
Filed on Sep. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/023,230.
Application 17/023,230 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2020/028011, filed on Apr. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/986,902, filed on Mar. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/929,003, filed on Oct. 31, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/833,623, filed on Apr. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0095645 A1, Apr. 1, 2021
Int. Cl. G21D 9/00 (2006.01); F01K 3/18 (2006.01); F28D 20/00 (2006.01); G21D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G21D 9/00 (2013.01) [F01K 3/181 (2013.01); F28D 20/00 (2013.01); G21D 1/00 (2013.01); Y02E 30/00 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a sodium cooled fast spectrum nuclear reactor, the nuclear reactor comprising a reactor vessel and a sodium to salt plate heat exchanger within the reactor vessel, the nuclear reactor on a nuclear site and having a first nameplate capacity;
a nuclear site boundary surrounding the nuclear reactor, the nuclear site boundary defined by one or more barriers inhibiting access to the nuclear site;
a thermal energy storage system located outside the nuclear site boundary, the thermal energy storage system in thermal communication with the nuclear reactor and comprising a salt working fluid;
a fluid loop extending between the thermal energy storage system and the sodium to salt plate heat exchanger within the reactor vessel, the fluid loop configured to carry the salt working fluid; and
a power generator in thermal communication with the thermal energy storage system, the power generator situated outside the nuclear site boundary and having a second nameplate capacity, the second nameplate capacity greater than the first nameplate capacity of the nuclear reactor.