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US-12620501-B2 - Offshore and marine vessel-based nuclear reactor configuration, deployment and operation

US12620501B2US 12620501 B2US12620501 B2US 12620501B2US-12620501-B2

Abstract

An installation includes: a plurality of pilings securable to a bed under a surface of a body of water; a base structure disposed atop the plurality of pilings; and a module disposable on the base structure, wherein the module is positioned and securable on the base structure after being floated on the surface of the body of water over the base structure.

Inventors

  • Mathias Trojer
  • Justin Benjamin Lowrey

Assignees

  • ENERGIE PROPRE PRODIGY LTEE / PRODIGY CLEAN ENERGY LTD.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20200922

Claims (12)

  1. 1 . A marine nuclear power installation, comprising: a first plurality of pilings securable to a bed under a surface of a body of water; a buoyant, first base structure, wherein the first base structure is adapted to be floated across the surface of the body of water into position and deballasted atop the first plurality of pilings, wherein the first base structure comprises: at least three walls; a first cantilevered ledge disposed along a first wall of the at least three walls; and a second cantilevered ledge disposed along a second wall of the at least three walls, wherein the first plurality of pilings support the first base structure at the first cantilevered ledge and the second cantilevered ledge; a buoyant nuclear reactor module, wherein the nuclear reactor module is adapted to be floated across the surface of the body of water into position and deballasted onto the first base structure and wherein the nuclear reactor module is adapted to contain a nuclear reactor therein; a plurality of seismic isolators disposed atop the first base structure, wherein the seismic isolators are disposed between the first base structure and the nuclear reactor module to dampen the transmission of vibrations from the first base structure to the nuclear reactor module; and a lacuna disposed beneath the first base structure and between the first plurality of pilings, wherein the lacuna is surrounded at least in part by the first plurality of pilings, and wherein the nuclear reactor is configured to be lowered from the first base structure into the lacuna through an opening defined within the first base structure, wherein the at least three walls form an artificial harbor to receive the nuclear reactor module therein.
  2. 2 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising an aircraft impact protection structure adapted to be floated across the surface of the body of water into position and deballasted onto the first base structure, wherein the aircraft impact protection structure is adapted to receive the nuclear reactor module therein, and wherein the aircraft impact protection structure is adapted to withstand a force of an impact from an aircraft impingent thereon.
  3. 3 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 2 , wherein the aircraft impact protection structure comprises a door adapted to permit the nuclear reactor module to be inserted into the aircraft impact protection structure through the door.
  4. 4 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising: a jacket surrounding the nuclear reactor; and a plurality of jacks; wherein the plurality of jacks is configured to support the jacket, and wherein the plurality of jacks is configured to lower the jacket and the nuclear reactor into the lacuna and raise the jacket and the nuclear reactor out of the lacuna.
  5. 5 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising: a power conversion module.
  6. 6 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 5 , further comprising: a generator disposed in the power conversion module, wherein the generator generates electricity.
  7. 7 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising: a cooling module.
  8. 8 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 7 , wherein the cooling module comprises a cooling tower.
  9. 9 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising: a sealed containment structure surrounding the nuclear reactor, wherein the sealed containment structure is disposed within the nuclear reactor module.
  10. 10 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising: removable sheets disposable in the at least three walls to reduce forces imparted on the at least three walls from wave action.
  11. 11 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 1 , further comprising: a second plurality of pilings securable to the bed under the surface of the body of water; a buoyant, second base structure, wherein the second base structure is adapted to be floated across the surface of the body of water into position and deballasted atop the second plurality of pilings; and a buoyant power conversion module, wherein the power conversion module is adapted to be floated across the surface of the body of water into position and deballasted onto the second base structure and wherein the power conversion module is adapted to contain a generator therein.
  12. 12 . The marine nuclear power installation of claim 11 , further comprising: a bridge connecting the nuclear reactor module to the power conversion module.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This United States Patent Application is a Continuation-In-Part Patent Application that claims the benefit of and relies for priority on International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/023724, filed on Mar. 22, 2019, and on International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/047228, filed on Aug. 20, 2019. International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/023724, filed on Mar. 22, 2019, claims the benefit of and relies for priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/646,614, filed Mar. 22, 2018. International PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/047228, filed on Aug. 20, 2019, claims the benefit of and relies for priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/720,803, filed on Aug. 21, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/720,823, filed on Aug. 21, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/720,831, filed on Aug. 21, 2018. The entire contents of all of aforementioned patent applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The methods and systems disclosed herein relate to advancements in marine nuclear reactor configuration, deployment and operation. BACKGROUND Advances in nuclear reactor technology open opportunities for safe deployment of long-life compact nuclear reactors on or in association with vessels and other ocean-based structures to provide locally accessible, portable low-environmental impact electrical energy. SUMMARY Embodiments of a wide range of nuclear reactor-based power generation systems for marine use are disclosed herein. Examples include semi-permanent, non-self-propelled and stationary-deployed maritime vessels (Micro-MPS) suitable for international deployment. Such a vessel may house microreactors, as well as the necessary auxiliary power systems required to constitute a single-integrated, turnkey nuclear power generating station. No land-based facilities installed at the deployment site are required for electricity generation. The vessel can integrate different types of microreactors, including those designed specifically for civil power generation that may optionally use non-military enriched uranium for energy production, such as High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU). Microreactors can be bundled to generate electrical power ranging anywhere from 1 MWe to 100 MWe or more. Manufactured and outfitted with nuclear components in a controlled environment, such as a shipyard, the vessel can be either dry- or wet-towed to a deployment location. At the deployment location, the vessel can either be installed near shoreline or outside territorial waters (e.g., greater than 12 nmi from shoreline), as either a seafloor-supported structure, or one which is floating moored in place. Once commissioned, the Micro-MPS will generate electrical and thermal energy for offshore industrial purposes, or supply energy directly to land. The vessel is easily transportable and could be de-installed for redeployment to secondary sites at any point during its 40-60-year lifetime. Other examples of the nuclear reactor-based marine energy power generation systems described herein include, without limitation, self-propelled maritime vessels powered by nuclear reactors, such as microreactors, (herein Micro-PV) capable of traveling within sovereign waters and international waters. Microreactors, as well as the necessary auxiliary power systems required, may be packaged into a proprietary cassette referred herein to as a Microreactor Cassette (MRC), that further enables efficient turnkey integration into the vessel. Different types of microreactor designs, including those developed specifically for civil power generation that may optionally use HALEU as a power source can be integrated, and multiple MRCs can be bundled to generate electrical power ranging anywhere from 1 MWe to 100 MWe or more. The microreactors supply baseload power, while optional low power output gas turbines (or other alternative fuel/engine types, based on customer requirements) integrated on board may serve as back-up, supplemental or substitute power. The vessel itself may be manufactured and outfitted with nuclear components in a controlled environment, such as at a shipyard, and once commissioned, the Micro-PV can be propelled by up to 100% nuclear power. During a voyage, the vessel may dock in sovereign territories to load or unload cargo or perform maintenance or refueling activities. In embodiments, a dock for loading or unloading cargo, performing maintenance or refueling activities may alternatively be disposed in international waters and may form a floating distribution center/transfer station and the like. One or more such hubs may be located proximal to specific regions so that smaller vessels could service the needs of the region through the floating station. In jurisdictions where the nuclear power system may be required to shut down in order to enter port, the onboard alternative power source will be used to power the vess