Patent US3848416A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3848416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power generating plant with nuclear reactor/heat storage system combination
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-05-23
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Granted: 1974-11-19
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Expires: 1993-05-23
Abstract
Abstract Excess heat output of a nuclear reactor is stored at high temperature. This stored heat is then used to generate steam to operate a turbine-generator during high power demand periods. An arrangement is described herein in which a fluoride salt fusion heat storage system is used from which heat is retrieved by circulating liquid lead therethrough. The liquid lead heat retrieval circuit includes a steam boiler in which steam for operation of a turbine-generator is generated using heat extracted from the heated liquid lead.
Inventors
- 👤 F Bundy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:03
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K3/00; F01K3/18; F01K3/181; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/025; G; G21; G21D; G21D1/00; G21D1/02; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
In a power plant for generating electricity in which a source of high temperature fluid under pressure is in flow communication with a steam boiler in which heat from said high temperature fluid is used to generate steam for operation of the steam turbine used to drive a generator, the improvement in combination with the source of high temperature fluid and the steam boiler comprising: a. a heat storage enclosure containing a mass of a salt material having a melting point of about, and less than, the temperature of the high temperature fluid, b. heat exchange means located in said enclosure in contact with said mass, c. means connected to said heat exchange means for selectively placing said heat exchange means into and out of flow communication with the source of high temperature fluid, d. means connected to said heat exchange means for selectively placing said heat exchange means into and out of flow communication with the steam boiler, e. a second boiler in flow communication with the steam turbine and f. means for circulating said fluid heat exchange material into direct contact with said mass for receiving heat therefrom and then to said second boiler for the generation of steam with the heat carried thereby.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a power plant for generating electricity in which a source of high temperature fluid under pressure is in flow communication with a steam boiler in which heat from said high temperature fluid is used to generate steam for operation of the steam turbine used to drive a generator, the improvement in combination with the source of high temperature fluid and the steam boiler comprising: a. a heat storage enclosure containing a mass of a salt material having a melting point of about, and less than, the temperature of the high temperature fluid, b. heat exchange means located in said enclosure in contact with said mass, c. means connected to said heat exchange means for selectively placing said heat exchange means into and out of flow communication with the source of high temperature fluid, d. means connected to said heat exchange means for selectively placing said heat exchange means into and out of flow communication with the steam boiler, e. a second boiler in flow communication with the steam turbine and f. means for circulating said fluid heat exchange material into direct contact with said mass for receiving heat therefrom and then to said second boiler for the generation of steam with the heat carried thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the source of high temperature fluid under pressure is a nuclear reactor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein the nuclear reactor is a high temperature gas reactor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein the salt material is the 70 NaF.30 FeF2 eutectic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein the salt material is a NaF.MgF2 base eutectic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the fluid heat exchange material is a liquid metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein the circulating means includes means for dividing the liquid metal into globules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein the fluid heat exchange material is liquid lead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein means is provided to preheat the water feed to the second boiler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is provided with volume expansion means in communication therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is thermally insulated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
195 words
A process for the generation of electricity comprising the steps of: a. continuously heating a fluid to high temperature in a nuclear reactor under pressure, b. bringing the high temperature fluid into heat exchange relationship with a mass of salt material for a preselected period of time to cause melting of a quantity thereof as heat is transfeRred thereto, c. conducting the cooled high temperature fluid to a first boiler to generate steam, d. passing the steam so generated to a steam turbine for driving a generator, e. conducting the high temperature fluid directly from said nuclear reactor to said first boiler after termination of said preselected period of time, f. bringing a fluid heat exchange material into direct contact with the molten salt material for a second preselected period of time to cause solidification of a quantity thereof as heat is removed therefrom and transferred to the fluid heat exchange material, g. conducting the heated fluid heat exchange material to a second boiler to generate steam, stopping the bringing of fluid heat exchange material into contact with the salt material and i. repeating the steps b), c), d), e), f), g) and h) above
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
195 words
A process for the generation of electricity comprising the steps of: a. continuously heating a fluid to high temperature in a nuclear reactor under pressure, b. bringing the high temperature fluid into heat exchange relationship with a mass of salt material for a preselected period of time to cause melting of a quantity thereof as heat is transfeRred thereto, c. conducting the cooled high temperature fluid to a first boiler to generate steam, d. passing the steam so generated to a steam turbine for driving a generator, e. conducting the high temperature fluid directly from said nuclear reactor to said first boiler after termination of said preselected period of time, f. bringing a fluid heat exchange material into direct contact with the molten salt material for a second preselected period of time to cause solidification of a quantity thereof as heat is removed therefrom and transferred to the fluid heat exchange material, g. conducting the heated fluid heat exchange material to a second boiler to generate steam, stopping the bringing of fluid heat exchange material into contact with the salt material and i. repeating the steps b), c), d), e), f), g) and h) above
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process recited in claim 12 wherein the steam generated in the second boiler is passed to the same steam turbine as receives steam from the first boiler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process recited in claim 13 wherein the total steam input to the steam turbine is substantially greater than the steam input from the first boiler alone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process recited in claim 12 whrein the fluid heat exchange material is a metallic liquid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process recited in claim 15 wherein the metallic liquid is liquid lead introduced into the salt material is globules.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process recited in claim 12 wherein the temperature of the steam from the second boiler is at least about 1000*F.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process recited in claim 12 wherein the nuclear reactor is a high temperature gas reactor and the salt material is 70 NaF.30 FeF2.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process recited in claim 12 wherein the nuclear reactor is a high temperature gas reactor and the salt material is a NaF.MgF2 base eutectic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process recited in claim 12 wherein each preselected period of time is about 12 hours.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA718175A
Cited
GB282773A
Cited
US2593963A
Cited
GB1242627A
Cited
DE1910137A1
Cited
DE2036288A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |