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KR-20260066499-A - Nuclear fuel channel, nuclear reactor including the nuclear fuel channel and nuclear power generation system including the nuclear reactor

KR20260066499AKR 20260066499 AKR20260066499 AKR 20260066499AKR-20260066499-A

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a nuclear power generation system comprising a reactor, a turbine, a compressor, a double heater, and a cooler, wherein the reactor comprises a moderator tank capable of storing a moderator and a plurality of nuclear fuel channels disposed within the moderator tank, wherein the plurality of nuclear fuel channels are spaced apart from each other, and the nuclear fuel channels comprise a first pressure tube in the form of a tube having a hollow; an insulating material disposed outside the first pressure tube; nuclear fuel disposed within the hollow of the first pressure tube; and a plurality of flow paths spaced apart within the hollow of the first pressure tube, wherein a fluid capable of absorbing heat from the nuclear fuel and operating a power conversion system can flow through the flow paths.

Inventors

  • 이정익
  • 김영찬
  • 최성욱
  • 최진선
  • 김송이
  • 박윤원
  • 문장식

Assignees

  • 한국과학기술원
  • 비즈 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20241104

Claims (20)

  1. A first pressure tube in the shape of a tube having a hollow space; Insulating material disposed outside the first pressure pipe; Nuclear fuel disposed within the hollow of the first pressure tube; and A nuclear fuel channel comprising a plurality of spaced-apart flow paths disposed within the hollow of the first pressure tube, The above-mentioned Euro is a nuclear fuel channel through which a fluid can flow to absorb heat from the nuclear fuel and operate a power conversion system,
  2. In paragraph 1, The above-mentioned nuclear fuel channel further includes a second pressure tube in the form of a tube disposed inside the first pressure tube, and The above insulation material is a nuclear fuel channel disposed in the space between the first pressure tube and the second pressure tube.
  3. In paragraph 1, The above fluid is a nuclear fuel channel, which is at least one gas selected from nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide.
  4. In paragraph 1, The above nuclear fuel is a nuclear fuel channel that is TRISO nuclear fuel.
  5. In paragraph 4, The above TRISO nuclear fuel is a nuclear fuel channel that is rod-shaped or block-shaped.
  6. A reactor comprising a moderator tank capable of storing a moderator and a plurality of nuclear fuel channels disposed within the moderator tank, The above plurality of nuclear fuel channels are spaced apart from each other, and The above-described nuclear fuel channel comprises: a first pressure tube in the form of a tube having a hollow; an insulating material disposed outside the first pressure tube; nuclear fuel disposed within the hollow of the first pressure tube; and a plurality of flow paths spaced apart and disposed within the hollow of the first pressure tube. The above-mentioned Euro is a nuclear reactor through which a fluid can flow to absorb heat from the nuclear fuel and operate a power conversion system.
  7. In paragraph 6, The above moderator is one of light water, heavy water, or a light-heavy water mixture, in a nuclear reactor.
  8. In paragraph 6, The above-mentioned nuclear fuel channel further includes a second pressure tube in the form of a tube disposed inside the first pressure tube, and The above-mentioned insulating material is disposed in the space between the first pressure tube and the second pressure tube, in a nuclear reactor.
  9. In paragraph 6, A nuclear reactor in which the above fluid is at least one gas selected from nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide.
  10. In paragraph 6, The above nuclear fuel is a reactor that is TRISO nuclear fuel.
  11. In Paragraph 10, The above TRISO nuclear fuel is a reactor in the form of rods or blocks.
  12. As a nuclear power generation system including a reactor, turbine, compressor, double heater and cooler, The above-mentioned reactor includes a moderator tank capable of storing a moderator and a plurality of nuclear fuel channels disposed within the moderator tank, and The above plurality of nuclear fuel channels are spaced apart from each other, and The above-mentioned nuclear fuel channel comprises: a first pressure tube in the form of a tube having a hollow; an insulating material disposed outside the first pressure tube; nuclear fuel disposed within the hollow of the first pressure tube; and a plurality of flow paths disposed spaced apart within the hollow of the first pressure tube. The above-mentioned Euro is a nuclear power generation system in which a fluid can flow to absorb heat from the nuclear fuel and operate a power conversion system.
  13. In Paragraph 12, A nuclear power generation system in which the fluid heated in the above reactor flows into a turbine to generate power.
  14. In Paragraph 12, A nuclear power generation system in which the above fluid moves inside the reactor to acquire thermal energy, circulates through a power conversion system to produce electricity in a turbine.
  15. In Paragraph 12, The above moderator is one of light water, heavy water, or a light-heavy water mixture, in a nuclear power generation system.
  16. In Paragraph 12, The above-mentioned nuclear fuel channel further includes a second pressure tube in the form of a tube disposed inside the first pressure tube, and The above insulation material is disposed in the space between the first pressure tube and the second pressure tube, in a nuclear power generation system.
  17. In Paragraph 12, A nuclear power generation system in which the above fluid is at least one gas selected from nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide.
  18. In Paragraph 12, The above nuclear fuel is a TRISO nuclear fuel, a nuclear power generation system.
  19. In Paragraph 18, The above TRISO nuclear fuel is a rod- or block-type nuclear power generation system.
  20. In Paragraph 12, The above nuclear power generation system further includes an intermediate heat exchanger disposed between the reactor and the turbine, and A nuclear power generation system in which the above intermediate heat exchanger can absorb thermal energy generated in the above reactor and transfer the absorbed thermal energy to a working fluid.

Description

Nuclear fuel channel, nuclear reactor including the nuclear fuel channel and nuclear power generation system including the nuclear reactor The present invention relates to a nuclear reactor comprising a nuclear fuel channel through which a coolant and a working fluid can flow, a plurality of independent nuclear fuel channels, and a nuclear power generation system constructed using such a nuclear reactor. Commercial nuclear reactors can be classified into light water reactors and heavy water reactors. Light water reactors have the disadvantage of being difficult to miniaturize because they use large external pressure vessels to isolate high-temperature, high-pressure light water. On the other hand, heavy water reactors utilize a pressure tube reactor design that employs pressure tubes for individual fuel channels instead of an external pressure vessel, making them more suitable for reactor miniaturization compared to light water reactors. In a pressure tube reactor, individual pressure tubes are arranged inside a water tank at atmospheric pressure, and a coolant flows between the nuclear fuels placed within each tube to cool them. Furthermore, unlike light water reactors where all nuclear fuel is housed in a fixed pressure vessel, pressure tube reactors have the advantage of allowing fuel replacement without shutting down the reactor, as the fuel is located in independent pressure tubes. Meanwhile, although various types of microreactors are currently being researched, many technologies remain unverified in actual reactors. Therefore, further validation is required for the commercialization of microreactors. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a nuclear fuel channel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a nuclear fuel channel according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a nuclear reactor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a nuclear power generation system using a nuclear reactor 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 understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions included within the concept and technical scope of the present invention are included. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a nuclear fuel channel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a nuclear fuel channel (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention is composed of an inner pressure tube (12), an outer pressure tube (14), an insulating material (16), nuclear fuel (18), and a flow path (20). The internal pressure tube (12) is in the form of a hollow tube, and may be a tube with a circular or polygonal cross-section that is hollow inside. The internal pressure tube (12)