KR-20260066491-A - Nuclear power generation system and method for cooling and power generation

KR20260066491AKR 20260066491 AKR20260066491 AKR 20260066491AKR-20260066491-A

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a nuclear power generation system and a method comprising: a reactor capable of transferring thermal energy to a working fluid; a power generation unit comprising a first turbine and a first compressor; and a liquefied air storage unit comprising a second turbine, a second compressor, and a liquefied air tank, wherein a portion of the working fluid is supplied to the power generation unit and another portion of the working fluid can be supplied to the liquefied air storage unit; using a portion of the working fluid, the power generation unit can generate power by the first turbine; and using another portion of the working fluid, the liquefied air storage unit can generate liquefied air by compressing air by the second compressor.

Inventors

이정익
김영찬
최성욱
최진선
김송이
박윤원
문장식

Assignees

한국과학기술원
비즈 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20241104

Claims (18)

A nuclear reactor capable of transferring thermal energy to a working fluid; A power generation unit including a first turbine and a first compressor; and A nuclear power generation system comprising a second turbine, a second compressor, and a liquefied air storage unit including a liquefied air tank, A portion of the above working fluid is supplied to the power generation unit, and another portion of the above working fluid can be supplied to the liquefied air storage unit; By utilizing a portion of the above working fluid, the power generation unit can generate power by the first turbine; A nuclear power generation system in which, using another portion of the above working fluid, the above liquid air storage unit can compress air by the second compressor to generate liquid air.
In paragraph 1, A portion of the working fluid branched from the working fluid that has received thermal energy can drive the first turbine, and A nuclear power generation system in which another portion of the branched working fluid can drive the second turbine.
In paragraph 2, The above power generation unit further includes a double heater, and A nuclear power generation system in which a portion of the working fluid discharged from the first turbine and another portion of the working fluid discharged from the second turbine can be introduced into the double heater.
In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned second compressor is a nuclear power generation system capable of drawing in and compressing ambient air.
In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned liquefied air storage unit further includes a Joule-Thomson valve, and A nuclear power generation system in which air compressed by the second compressor can be liquefied by the Joule-Thomson valve.
In paragraph 1, A portion of the air compressed by the second compressor can be liquefied and stored in the liquefied open tank, and A nuclear power generation system in which another portion of the air compressed by the second compressor above can be cooled.
In paragraph 1, A nuclear power generation system in which a portion of the above-mentioned liquid air can be pressurized and converted into gas.
In Paragraph 7, The above-mentioned liquefied air storage unit further includes a third turbine, and A nuclear power generation system in which a portion of the liquid air converted into gas absorbs heat and expands, and can drive the third turbine.
In paragraph 8, A nuclear power generation system capable of producing electricity by driving the above-mentioned third turbine.
The stage of generating thermal energy in a nuclear reactor; A step in which thermal energy generated in the above reactor is transferred to a working fluid; A step in which a portion of the working fluid to which thermal energy has been transferred is supplied to a power generation unit, and another portion of the working fluid is supplied to a liquefied air storage unit; A step of producing power using a portion of the working fluid in the power generation unit; A step of drawing ambient air from the above-mentioned liquid air storage unit; A step of liquefying the inhaled air using another portion of the above working fluid; and A nuclear power generation method comprising the step of expanding at least a portion of the liquefied air to lower the temperature of the air.
In Paragraph 10, A portion of the working fluid branched from the working fluid that has received thermal energy can drive a first turbine, and A nuclear power generation method in which another portion of the branched working fluid can drive a second turbine.
In Paragraph 11, A nuclear power generation method in which a portion of the working fluid discharged from the first turbine and another portion of the working fluid discharged from the second turbine can be introduced into a double heater.
In Paragraph 10, A nuclear power generation method in which the above-mentioned liquid air storage unit can draw in and compress ambient air with a second compressor.
In Paragraph 13, A nuclear power generation method in which air compressed by the second compressor above can be liquefied by a Joule-Thomson valve.
In Paragraph 13, A portion of the air compressed by the second compressor can be liquefied and stored in a liquefied open tank, and A nuclear power generation method in which another portion of the air compressed by the second compressor above can be cooled.
In Paragraph 10, A nuclear power generation method in which a portion of the above-mentioned liquid air can be pressurized and converted into gas.
In Paragraph 16, A nuclear power generation method in which a portion of the liquid air converted into gas absorbs heat and expands, and can drive the third turbine.
In Paragraph 17, A nuclear power generation method in which the above-mentioned third turbine is driven to produce electricity.

Description

Nuclear power generation system and method for cooling and power generation The present invention relates to a nuclear power generation system and method capable of performing cooling and power supply by linking a micro-reactor and a liquefied air storage system. A nuclear power plant is a power plant that generates electricity using nuclear energy. It is a facility equipped with equipment that produces electricity by utilizing the energy released when atomic nuclei decay or undergo nuclear reactions. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system structure of a typical nuclear power plant. As shown in FIG. 1, the nuclear power plant (10) can be classified into a primary system (11), which is a system of nuclear steam-related facilities, and a secondary system (12), which is a system of turbine generator-related facilities. The primary system (11) is a core system of a nuclear power plant that uses light water as a moderator and coolant, absorbs heat from fuel bundles inside the reactor, and generates steam through a steam generator. Meanwhile, the secondary system (12) is a system that converts the thermal energy of steam generated through a steam generator in the nuclear steam supply system into power, i.e., electrical energy, and is similar to the system of a general thermal power plant. Nuclear power generation with such primary and secondary system structures can obtain massive energy from a small amount of nuclear fuel, and unlike fossil fuels, it does not emit environmental pollutants such as carbon dioxide ( CO2 ), so continuous development is inevitable for the sake of environmental conservation. Meanwhile, electricity demand is surging due to the recent rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and the expansion of data centers. Big tech companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are striving to build independent power grids utilizing energy storage devices and nuclear power generation to flexibly respond to central power grid failures or sudden fluctuations in power demand. Cooling to prevent overheating accounts for a significant portion of the massive power consumption required by data centers. To achieve this, research is being conducted on applying various cooling methods, such as air cooling, water cooling, and immersion cooling. However, immersion and water cooling methods are difficult to maintain and require large amounts of liquid, leading to issues such as increased equipment weight, excessive use of solution, and the possibility of leakage. Therefore, to apply immersion or water cooling methods to data centers, it is necessary to develop technologies that resolve these problems. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the system structure of a typical nuclear power plant. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a nuclear power generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a nuclear power generation system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a nuclear power generation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical or similar components regardless of drawing symbols are assigned the same reference number, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the following description of embodiments according to the present invention, where each layer (film), region, pattern, or structure is described as being formed "on" or "under" of a substrate, each layer (film), region, pad, or pattern, "on" and "under" include both being formed "directly" and "indirectly" through another layer. Furthermore, the reference for the "on" or "under" of each layer is described based on the drawings. In the drawings, the thickness or size of each layer is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted for convenience and clarity of explanation. Also, the size of each component does not entirely reflect its actual size. In this description, expressions such as “include,” “equip,” or “compose” are intended to refer to certain characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts or combinations thereof, and should not be interpreted to exclude the existence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, elements, parts or combinations thereof other than those described. Additionally, terms such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms, and said terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art could obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted. The attached drawings are intended only to facilitate u