KR-20260064932-A - A NUCLEAR PROPULSION SHIP

KR20260064932AKR 20260064932 AKR20260064932 AKR 20260064932AKR-20260064932-A

Abstract

The nuclear-powered ship is launched. A nuclear propulsion vessel according to the present embodiment comprises an energy generation unit that generates energy using molten salt, a power generation unit that generates power using thermal energy received from the energy generation unit, a heat exchanger that transfers the thermal energy generated in the energy generation unit to the power generation unit through heat exchange using a heat medium, and a storage unit that includes a storage tank for storing the thermal energy generated in the energy generation unit. The energy generation unit includes a nuclear reactor in which the molten salt undergoes nuclear fission. The heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger that receives heat generated in the reactor by a heat medium, a second heat exchanger that transfers the heat transferred to the first heat exchanger to the power generation unit by a heat medium, a first pipe that connects the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and is configured to allow the heat medium to move, a second pipe that branches off from the first pipe and is connected to the storage unit, and a control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat medium transferred through the first pipe to the storage unit or the second heat exchanger. The control valve can operate to allow the flow of the heat medium from the first heat exchanger to the storage tank when the power generation unit is not in operation.

Inventors

김종원
이상민
임채욱

Assignees

삼성중공업 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241030

Claims (10)

Energy generation unit that generates energy using molten salt; A power generation unit that generates power using thermal energy received from the above-mentioned energy generation unit; A heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy generated in the above energy generation unit to the above power generation unit through heat exchange using a heat medium; and It includes a storage unit comprising a storage tank for storing thermal energy generated in the above energy generation unit, and The above energy generation unit is, It includes a nuclear reactor in which molten salt undergoes nuclear fission, and The above heat exchanger is, The apparatus includes a first heat exchanger that receives heat generated in the reactor via a heat medium, a second heat exchanger that transfers the heat transferred to the first heat exchanger to the power generation unit via the heat medium, a first pipe that connects the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and is configured to allow the heat medium to move, a second pipe that branches off from the first pipe and is connected to the storage unit, and a control valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat medium that is transported through the first pipe and transferred to the storage unit or the second heat exchanger. The above control valve is, A nuclear-powered vessel that operates to allow a heat medium flow from the first heat exchanger to the storage tank when the power generation unit is not in operation.
In paragraph 1, The above control valve is A nuclear propulsion vessel comprising a first valve coupled to the first pipe between the point where the second pipe branches off on the first pipe and the second heat exchanger.
In paragraph 2, The above control valve is, A nuclear propulsion vessel comprising a second valve coupled to the second pipe above.
In paragraph 3, A nuclear-powered vessel in which the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened to transfer thermal energy from the first heat exchanger to the storage tank.
In paragraph 3, A nuclear propulsion vessel in which the first valve is opened and the second valve is closed to transfer thermal energy from the first heat exchanger to the second heat exchanger.
In paragraph 1, The above energy generation unit is, It includes a gas tank that captures and stores gas generated during nuclear fission in the above-mentioned reactor, and A nuclear-powered vessel capable of preserving thermal energy stored in a storage tank by transferring the radioactive decay heat of the gas captured in the gas tank to the storage tank.
In paragraph 6, The above storage unit is, A plurality of separation tanks capable of separating the gas collected in the above gas tank by type and storing it by gas; A third pipe connecting the above gas tank and the above separation tank; and It further includes a fourth pipe connecting the separation tank and the storage tank, In the above plurality of separation tanks, A nuclear-powered vessel that transfers decay heat to the storage tank or discharges it to the outside depending on the type of separated gas.
In paragraph 1, The above storage tank is a nuclear-powered vessel formed of an insulating material to conserve thermal energy.
In paragraph 1, A nuclear-powered ship in which the heat exchange medium of the first heat exchanger and the heat storage medium of the storage tank are molten salt.
In paragraph 1, The above storage tank is a nuclear-powered vessel formed by multiple tanks.

Description

A Nuclear Propulsion Ship The present invention relates to a nuclear-powered ship, and more specifically, to a nuclear-powered ship that stores and preserves thermal energy generated in a reactor through the decay heat of a gas captured in the reactor when there is no need to produce electricity in the nuclear-powered ship. Ships or offshore plants generally obtain propulsion or operate primarily using fossil fuels. While fossil fuels are efficient, burning them produces byproducts that cause environmental pollution. Consequently, the development of eco-friendly energy began to replace fossil fuels. Eco-friendly energy includes solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, bioenergy, and others, and nuclear energy can also be classified as eco-friendly energy. Nuclear power generation is a method of producing electricity by using energy from nuclear fission reactions to boil water and produce steam, and then using the power of this steam to rotate a turbine. Nuclear energy is obtained through nuclear fission reactions that occur inside a nuclear reactor. As nuclear energy is used across various industries, ideas have been proposed to utilize nuclear energy in the operation of ships, and recently, technology to use nuclear reactors in ships is being developed. When a ship powered by a nuclear reactor enters a port, the operation of the reactor, which serves as the ship's engine, must be shut down. However, unlike conventional diesel engines, nuclear reactors require a long time to restart after shutdown. Furthermore, in the case of molten salt reactors, when the reactor is shut down, the molten salt solidifies from a liquid state; to restart the reactor, it must be brought back to a molten state, which presents a problem as it consumes a significant amount of energy and time. Furthermore, if the reactor is not shut down upon entering a port, electricity continues to be produced, which may lead to issues regarding the sale of electricity to other countries or various regulations; additionally, if electricity production is halted by diverting the reactor's steam, there is the problem of financial losses resulting from the consumption of nuclear fuel. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional molten salt reactor. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a nuclear-powered ship according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a nuclear-powered ship according to another embodiment of the present invention. The following describes the embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are presented to sufficiently convey the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented herein and may be embodied in other forms. In order to clarify the present invention, the drawings may omit the illustration of parts unrelated to the description and may slightly exaggerate the size of components to aid understanding. Recently developed nuclear-powered ships in Korea utilize Molten Salt Reactors, which use liquid nuclear dyes unlike conventional reactors, and are one of the next-generation innovative reactors currently under development worldwide. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional molten salt reactor. With reference to Figure 1, the reactor used in conventional reactor-powered ships will be described. The reactor generates electricity using energy produced when nuclear fuel, such as uranium, undergoes nuclear fission. Two to three fission products are generated as a result of this fission. Most of these fission products are radioactive isotopes and are treated as radioactive waste, requiring separate management and disposal. In molten salt reactors, nuclear fuel circulates in a molten state, and fission products mix with the molten salt in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms depending on their chemical properties. Among these, some gaseous fission products can exacerbate corrosion inside the reactor and have a high neutron absorption rate, which can adversely affect the reactor's operation and lifespan. Therefore, these gaseous fission products must be continuously removed and captured in molten salt reactors. When a nuclear-powered vessel enters a port, the operation of the reactor, which serves as its engine, must be shut down. However, unlike conventional diesel engines, reactors require a long time to restart after shutdown. In particular, the fuel salt in molten salt reactors can solidify from a liquid state when the reactor is shut down. Significant energy and time are required to re-molten the solidified molten salt for restart. If a nuclear-powered vessel continues to operate its reactor to generate electricity while in port, it may face regulatory issues or problems related to the sale of electricity to other countries. On the other hand, if powe