KR-20260064935-A - MOLTEN SALT REATOR DEVICE AND NUCLEAR PROPULSION VESSEL INCLUDING THE SAME

KR20260064935AKR 20260064935 AKR20260064935 AKR 20260064935AKR-20260064935-A

Abstract

A molten salt reactor device and a nuclear-powered vessel including the same are disclosed. The molten salt reactor device according to the present embodiment may include a reactor in which molten salt undergoes nuclear fission, a first tank disposed at the bottom of the reactor and arranged to store molten salt delivered from the reactor, a second tank connected to the reactor and collecting and storing gas generated from the reactor, a plurality of third tanks that separate the mixed gas stored in the second tank and store it according to the type of gas, a first pipe connecting the reactor and the first tank, a second pipe connecting the third tank and the first tank, and a valve installed in the second pipe and controlling the amount of gas injected from the third tank to the first tank.

Inventors

김정
전상배
김종원
이상민
임채욱

Assignees

삼성중공업 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20241030

Claims (11)

A nuclear reactor in which molten salt undergoes nuclear fission; A first tank disposed at the bottom of the reactor and configured to store molten salt delivered from the reactor; A second tank connected to the above-mentioned reactor and collecting and storing gas generated from the above-mentioned reactor; A plurality of third tanks for separating the mixed gas stored in the second tank and storing it according to the type of gas; A first pipe connecting the above reactor and the above first tank; A second pipe connecting the third tank and the first tank; and A molten salt reactor device comprising a valve installed in the second pipe and controlling the amount of gas injected from the third tank into the first tank.
In paragraph 1, A molten salt reactor device further comprising a freeze plug provided in the first pipe and melted by the decay heat of the reactor so as to enable the molten salt of the reactor to be transferred to the first tank when the reactor is excessively heated.
In paragraph 2, The above second pipe is a molten salt reactor device connected to the first pipe between the freeze plug and the first tank.
In paragraph 2, In the first tank mentioned above, A molten salt reactor device in which gas is injected from the third tank before the above freeze plug melts.
In paragraph 2, A molten salt reactor device in which the molten salt is transferred to the first tank, solidified by heat loss, and stored in the first tank.
In paragraph 1, A third pipe connecting the second tank and the third tank; and A molten salt reactor device further comprising a gas separation device that separates the mixed gas stored in the second tank and transfers it to the third tank through the third pipe.
In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned first tank is provided in multiple numbers, and The above second pipe is, A molten salt reactor device provided in a number corresponding to the number of first tanks, with each of the third tanks directly connected to a plurality of first tanks.
In paragraph 1, The above valve is, A molten salt reactor device installed in each of the above plurality of second pipes.
In paragraph 1, The gas injected from the third tank into the first tank is an inert gas capable of absorbing neutrons to control a nuclear fission chain reaction, in a molten salt reactor device.
In Paragraph 9, A molten salt reactor device in which the gas injected from the third tank to the first tank is xenon (Xe) gas.
A nuclear-powered vessel comprising a molten salt reactor device as described in paragraph 1.

Description

Molten salt reactor device and nuclear propulsion vessel including the same The present invention relates to a molten salt reactor device and a nuclear propulsion vessel including the same, and more specifically, to a molten salt reactor device capable of controlling the nuclear fission chain reaction of molten salt by absorbing neutrons of molten salt through the forced injection of gas captured in a reactor using molten salt into a tank where molten salt is stored. Recently, the development of eco-friendly energy has begun to replace fossil fuels. Eco-friendly energy includes solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectric energy, bioenergy, etc., 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. Nuclear power generation continues to advance, and the Molten Salt Reactor is being developed as one of the fourth-generation reactors. Unlike other existing reactor types, the Molten Salt Reactor uses liquid nuclear dye. Even after a shutdown, decay heat continues to be emitted from the nuclear fuel due to a chain reaction of neutrons. If this heat source is not removed, the rising of the nuclear fuel can cause the cladding to melt, potentially releasing radioactive materials from the fuel to the outside. In the case of molten salt reactors, liquid nuclear fuel (molten salt) is used, so if a shutdown is required due to abnormal temperatures, control rods are mechanically inserted into the reactor to absorb neutrons and control the nuclear fission reaction. However, even if control rods are inserted, if the temperature of the molten salt inside the reactor becomes excessively high, the molten salt reactor can be sent to a drain tank located at the bottom of the reactor. However, there is a problem in that it takes too long to lower the temperature of the molten salt in the drain tank. Molten salt reactors can generate gaseous radioactive materials during nuclear fission. These gaseous materials must be removed, primarily using methods such as helium bubbling. The gaseous radioactive materials can be xenon (Xe) or krypton (Kr) gas; in particular, xenon gas is a reactor poisoning material because it can absorb neutrons and interfere with the nuclear fission chain reaction, so it must be removed to ensure the normal operation of the reactor. While radioactive gases captured from the reactor are stored or disposed of separately, continuous development is also underway for reactors capable of reusing these gases. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional molten salt reactor device. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a molten salt reactor device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a molten salt reactor device 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 are Molten Salt Reactors, which, unlike conventional reactors, use liquid nuclear fuel. Even after a shutdown, decay heat continues to be generated from the nuclear fuel due to a chain reaction of neutrons. If this heat source is not removed, the rising of the nuclear fuel causes the cladding of the reactor core to melt, leading to the leakage of nuclear fuel from the reactor to the outside, which poses a problem in that radioactive materials may be released to the outside. Below, a conventional molten salt reactor will be briefly described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional molten salt reactor apparatus. In the case of the molten salt reactor shown in Fig. 1, liquid nuclear fuel is used, so if a shutdown is required due to an abnormal temperature, the control rods equipped in the reactor mechanically move downward to absorb neutrons. However, if the electrical signal inside the reactor is lost, the reactor may be shut down by falling due to gravity. However, if the temperature of the reactor continues to rise due to decay heat even after that, the freeze plug melts, and the molten salt moves to a separate tank at the bottom. Molten salt reactors utilize helium bubbling to remove gaseous radi