• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    Example embodiments include a vapor forming apparatus, system and/or method for producing vapor from radioactive decay material. The vapor forming apparatus including an insulated container configured to enclose a nuclear waste container. The nuclear waste container includes radioactive decay material. The insulated container includes an inlet valve configured to receive vapor forming liquid. The radioactive decay material transfers heat to the vapor forming liquid. The insulated container also includes an outlet valve configured to output the vapor forming liquid heated by the radioactive decay material.
    公开号:SE1251402A1
    申请号:SE1251402
    申请日:2012-12-11
    公开日:2013-06-30
    发明作者:Erik P Loewen；Jordan E Hagaman
    申请人:Ge Hitachi Nucl Energy America；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [2] [0002] Nuclear fuel rods are removed from nuclear power plants When theirtemperature is not high enough to generate Vapor needed to produce electricity. The problemof What to do With used nuclear fuel has plagued the industry since commercialization ofnuclear reactors started With the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. The inability of the UnitedStates to fiJlly implement the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and the utilities inability touse the Private Fuel Storage facility indicate that the problem has not been so lved. The reportfrom the Blue Ribbon Commission on America°s Nuclear Future recommends storing theused radioactive decay material in an interim storage unit. Interim storage, however,produces no reVenue and does not put the radioactive heat to any use.
    [3] [0003] Example embodiments include a Vapor forming apparatus, system and/ormethod for producing Vapor from radioactiVe decay material.
    [4] [0004] The Vapor forrning apparatus including an insulated container conf1gured toenclose a nuclear Waste container. The nuclear Waste container includes radioactive decaymaterial. The insulated container includes an inlet Valve configured to receive Vapor forrningliquid. The radioactiVe decay material transfers heat to the Vapor forming liquid. Theinsulated container also includes an outlet Valve configured to output the Vapor forrningliquid heated by the radioactive decay material.
    [5] [0005] In one embodiment, the Vapor forming liquid includes a mixture of one of (l)Water and acetone and (2) Water and alcohol.
    [6] [0006] The Vapor forming apparatus may include at least one therrnocoupleconf1gured to monitor the heat transferred to the Vapor forrning liquid. The insulatedcontainer may include a removable closure to insert the nuclear Waste container into theinsulated container.
    [7] [0007] The Vapor forming system includes a storage unit conf1gured to hold Vaporforming liquid, and a plurality of Vapor forrning apparatuses that are connected to each otherin series. Each of the plurality of Vapor forming apparatuses includes an insulated containerconfigured to enclose a nuclear Waste container. The nuclear Waste container includesradioactiVe decay material. The Vapor forrning system also includes a pumping unitconf1gured to pump the Vapor forming liquid from the storage unit and transfer the Vaporforming liquid through each insulated container of the plurality of Vapor forming apparatusesWhere the radioactiVe decay material transfers heat to the Vapor forming liquid in each stage,a sWitching Valve unit conf1gured to receive the Vapor forrning liquid from a last Vaporforming apparatus of the plurality of Vapor forming apparatus, and a control unit conf1guredto control the sWitching Valve unit to output Vapor of the Vapor forrning liquid if at least oneproperty of the Vapor forrning liquid is above a threshold.
    [8] [0008] The control unit is conf1gured to control the sWitching Valve unit to output theVapor forrning liquid Via a bypass line to the storage unit if the at least one property of theVapor forrning liquid is equal to or below the threshold.
    [9] [0009] In one embodiment, the Vapor forming liquid includes a mixture of one of (l)Water and acetone and (2) Water and alcohol. The at least one property of the Vapor forrningliquid may include temperature and pressure.[00 10] The Vapor forrning system also includes a pressure monitoring unit conf1guredto monitor the pressure of the Vapor forming liquid, and a temperature monitoring unitconf1gured to monitor the temperature of the Vapor forming liquid. The control unit isconfigured to receive temperature inforrnation and pressure inforrnation from the temperaturemonitoring unit and the pressure monitoring unit, respectively, and configured to control thesWitching valve unit based on the temperature information and the pressure information.[001 1] In one embodiment, the pressure monitoring unit and the temperaturemonitoring unit are connected between an outlet valve of the plurality of vapor forrningapparatuses and the sWitching valve unit.
    [12] [0012] The control unit controls the sWitching valve unit to output the vapor of thevapor forrning liquid if the pressure and temperature are high enough for energy conversionto occur, and the control unit controls the sWitching valve unit to output the vapor forrningliquid via a bypass line to the storage unit if the pressure and temperature are not high enoughfor energy conversion to occur.
    [13] [0013] The insulated container for each vapor forrning apparatus includes aremovable closure to insert the nuclear Waste container into the insulated container.
    [14] [0014] The vapor forrning system may include a power module generator configuredto receive the vapor from the sWitching valve unit and generate electrical energy based on thevapor.
    [15] [0015] The method includes transferring vapor forming liquid through a plurality ofvapor forrning apparatuses that are connected to each other in series. Each of the plurality ofvapor forming apparatuses includes an insulated container configured to enclose a nuclearWaste container. The nuclear Waste container includes radioactive decay material. Theradioactive decay material transfers heat to the vapor forming liquid. The method furtherincludes outputting vapor of the vapor forrning liquid from a last vapor forrning apparatus ofthe plurality of vapor forrning apparatuses if at least one property of the vapor forrning liquidis above a threshold.
    [16] [0016] The method may further include outputting the Vapor forming liquid Via abypass line to a storage unit if the at least one property of the Vapor forrning liquid is equal toor below the threshold. The storage unit holds the Vapor forrning liquid to be supplied to afirst Vapor forrning apparatus of the plurality of Vapor forrning apparatuses.
    [17] [0017] In one embodiment, the Vapor forming liquid includes a mixture of one of (l)Water and acetone and (2) Water and alcohol. The at least one property of the Vapor forrningliquid may include temperature and pressure.
    [18] [0018] The method may further include monitoring the temperature and pressure ofthe Vapor forrning liquid. The outputting step outputs the Vapor of the Vapor forrning liquid ifthe pressure and temperature are high enough for energy conversion to occur. The outputtingstep outputs the Vapor forming liquid Via a bypass line to a storage unit if the pressure andtemperature are not high enough for energy conversion to occur.
    [20] [0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a Vapor forrning apparatus according to an exampleembodiment;[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a Vapor forrning system that includes a plurality of Vaporforming apparatuses according to an example embodiment; and[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates expected electrical output and power generation for adifferent number of Vapor forrning apparatuses according to an example embodiment.
    [23] [0023] Hereinafter, example embodiments will be described in detail with referenceto the attached drawings. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. The exampleembodiments may be embodied in many altemate forms and should not be construed aslimited to only example embodiments set forth herein.
    [24] [0024] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be usedherein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms.These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a firstelement could be terrned a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be terrneda first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein,the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listeditems.
    [25] [0025] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected,""coupled," “mated,” “attached,” or “fixed” to another element, it can be directly connected orcoupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element,there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationshipbetween elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., "between" Versus "directlybetween", "adjacent" Versus "directly adjacent", etc.).
    [26] [0026] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the language explicitly indicates otherwise. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms "comprises", "comprising,", "includes" and/or "including", whenused herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more otherfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof
    [27] [0027] It should also be noted that in some altemative implementations, thefunctions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures or described in thespecification. For example, two figures or steps shown in succession may in fact be executedin series and concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order or repetitively,depending upon the functionality/ acts involved.
    [28] [0028] Example embodiments include a vapor forrning apparatus that utilizesradioactive decay material to generate vapor from vapor forrning liquid. The radioactivedecay material may include concentrated fission products. The concentrated fission productmay be a certain percentage of the mass of used fiael. The radioactive decay material isplaced into nuclear waste containers. An insulated container is used to enclose each nuclearwaste container. Example embodiments provide a system and method that transfers the vaporforming liquid through each insulated container, where the radioactive decay materialtransfers heat to the vapor forrning liquid. If the properties of the vapor forrning liquid areabove a threshold level (e. g., the pressure and temperature are above a certain level), vapor isoutput to a subsequent process or system such as a coolant and vapor circuit that generateselectrical energy based on the generated vapor. These features are further explained withreference to FIGS. l-6.
    [29] [0029] FIG. l illustrates a coolant and vapor circuit that generates electrical energyfrom a heat source according to an example embodiment.
    [30] [0030] The coolant and vapor circuit includes a heat source 100, an integrated powermodule generator 200, an evaporative condenser 201, a first pump 202, and a second pump203. The coolant and vapor circuit may include other components that are well known to oneof ordinary skill in the art for producing electrical energy from a heat source. The heat source100 generates pressurized vapor. The details of the heat source 100 are further explainedwith reference to FIGS. 2-3. The integrated power module generator 200 generates electricalenergy based on the heated pressurized vapor received from the heat source 100. Thegeneration of electrical energy utilizing heated pressurized vapor may be performedaccording to methods that are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
    [31] [0031] The integrated power module 200 outputs low pressure vapor to theevaporative condenser 201. The evaporative condenser 201 may be any type of device orunit that condenses vapor into liquid. The evaporative condenser 201 generates low pressureliquid by condensing the low pressure vapor into liquid. The first pump 202 transfers thevapor-liquid mixture back to the evaporative condenser 201 until the vapor liquid mixture hasbeen converted to the low pressure liquid. The evaporative condenser 201 outputs lowpressure liquid, which is converted to high pressure liquid via the second pump 203. Thehigh pressure liquid is fed back into the heat source 100.
    [32] [0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a vapor forrning apparatus 150 according to an exampleembodiment.[0033] The vapor forming apparatus 150 includes an insulated container 102enclosing a nuclear waste container 101, an inlet 103, an inlet valve 104, an outlet 105, anoutlet valve 106, therrnocouples 107, and a removable closure 108. The vapor formingapparatus 150 or the plurality of vapor forrning apparatuses 150 (shown in FIG. 3) mayoperate as the heat source 100 of FIG. 1.
    [34] [0034] The nuclear waste container 101 includes radioactive decay material.According to an embodiment, the radioactive decay material may be concentrated f1ssionproducts. The concentrated f1ssion products may be a certain percentage of the mass of usednuclear fuel. In one embodiment, the concentrated f1ssion products are four percent of theused fuel. Further, the concentrated fission products are placed in a robust material form,Which can be placed into a coolant that can be vaporized under environmentally controlledconditions, as further described below. The forms are robust if, after the coolant is removed,the concentrated fission products still maintain their form under passive heat removalconditions. In one embodiment, the concentrated f1ssion products may be metallic or ceramicor both. The nuclear Waste container 101 may be a thick Walled metal container that is leaktight, similar to that Which has been used previously for storing nuclear Waste.
    [35] [0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the nuclear Waste container 101 is loWered though theremovable closure 108 for location inside the insulated container 102. For example, theremovable closure 108 is configured to insert the nuclear Waste container 101 into theinsulated container 102. The insulated container 102 and the removable closure 108 may beinsulated such that all or substantially all the heat generated in the Waste package is absorbedby the fluid rather than lost to the environment. The inlet valve 104 is configured to receivevapor forrning liquid, Where the vapor forming liquid is transferred inside the insulatedcontainer via the inlet 103. In order to regulate the vapor formation both in amount andquality, example embodiments may use a mixture of two fluids such as Water and acetone orWater and alcohol such that for startup there is more Water in the system for passive heatremoval. HoWever, the vapor forming liquid of the example embodiments may be any typeof solution or mixture that undergoes a phase change from a liquid to a vapor With heat input.[0036] Also, it is noted that When vapor formation is desired for electrical production,the use of the radioactive heat is used to shift the mixture to higher concentration of the morevolatile organic liquid thus increasing the vapor content of the fluid. The vapor formation iscontrolled by the coolant flow rate and system pressure. The inventors have recognized thatthe shifting of the fluid vapor point by controlling the composition of the coolant usesstandard chemical distillation techniques.
    [37] [0037] The vapor forrning liquid flows around the nuclear Waste container 101, andthe radioactive decay material contained inside the nuclear waste container 101 transfers heatto the vapor forrning liquid. The radioactive decay material transfers heat to the vaporforming liquid according to the following equations:Eq. (1); Au) = AO-e”Eq. (2): Q” = w-h-AT
    [38] [0038] Eq. (1) represents a time-dependent activity A. The time-dependent activity Amay be replaced by any number of quantities including the gamma production rate or the heatrate. The parameter A0 represents the initial value such as the initial gamma production rateor the initial heat rate. The parameter Ä is the nominal aggregated decay constant. Thenominal aggregated decay constant is further explained below. The parameter t is the coolingtime.
    [39] [0039] Eq. (2) is the linear heat generation rate in power per channel length. Theparameter w is the mass flow rate, the parameter h is the linear heat transfer coefficient andthe parameter AT is the change in temperature for the vapor forrning liquid.
    [40] [0040] Based on Eqs. (1) and (2), it can be seen that the maximum heat of the systemis deterrnined by the mass of fission products and the nominal decay constant of the f1ssionproducts. The unique fission products from a typical light water reactor (LWR) systemnumber over 700, all with different decay constants and concentrations. As such, theexample embodiments utilizes an aggregated decay constant. The aggregated decay constantmay be approximated from time-dependent specific heat generation data that is provided byNRC Regulatory Guide 3.54 Rev 1. This data provides sample values for which to fit a decaycurve.
    [41] [0041] In one embodiment, the nuclear waste container 101 includes dischargednuclear fuel material after the discharged nuclear fuel material has cooled for ten years, forexample. HoWever, the example embodiments encompass discharged nuclear fuel materialthat has been cooled for any number of years. The decay heat rate of the fission products inthe used fuel level off such that for an additional ten years, a relatively constant heat rate maybe achieved. Furthermore, if the fission products are in use for thirty years, the heat ratedecays to approximately 50%. These features are further explained With reference to FIGS.4-6.
    [42] [0042] The therrnocouples 107 are configured to monitor the heat transferred to thevapor forrning liquid. In one embodiment, one therrnocouple 107 may be placed toward thetop portion of the insulated container 102 and another therrnocouple 170 may be placedtoward the bottom portion of the insulated container 102. HoWever, the exampleembodiment encompass any number of therrnocouples and encompass the placement of suchtherrnocouples in any location of the insulated container 102.
    [43] [0043] The outlet valve 106 is configured to output the vapor forrning liquid from theoutlet 105 that has been heated by the radioactive decay material. In other Words, hot fluidleaves the insulated container 102 flowing out the outlet 105 through the outlet valve 106.[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a vapor forrning system that includes a plurality of vaporforming apparatuses 150 according to an example embodiment. The vapor forming systemincludes a plurality of vapor forrning apparatuses 150 (e. g., each vapor forrning apparatus ofFIG. 3 is the vapor forrning apparatus 150 of FIG. 2), a storage unit 112 configured to holdthe vapor forming liquid, a pumping unit 109, a first pressure monitoring unit 110, a firsttemperature monitoring unit 111, a sWitching valve unit 116, a second pressure monitoringunit 114, a second temperature monitoring unit 115, and a control unit 117 for controlling thesWitching valve unit 116 and/or the pumping unit 109.
    [45] [0045] Although FIG. 3 only illustrates four vapor forrning apparatuses 150, theexample embodiments encompass any number of vapor forrning apparatuses 150. Theplurality of Vapor forming apparatuses 150 may be referred to as a train of Vapor formingapparatuses or a train of heat sources. As previously explained With reference to FIG. 2, eachVapor forrning apparatus 150 includes an insulated container 102 that is configured to enclosea nuclear Waste container 101. The nuclear Waste container 101 includes the radioactiVedecay material. HoWeVer, the Vapor forming apparatuses 150 of FIG. 3 are connected inseries With each other. For example, the outlet Valve 106 of the first Vapor forrning apparatus150 is connected to the inlet Valve 104 of the second Vapor forrning apparatus Via anyconnection member that supports the transfer of fluid. The other Vapor forming apparatuses150 are connected in the same manner. HoWeVer, the outlet Valve 106 of the last Vaporforming apparatus 150 in the train of heat sources is connected to the switching valve unit1 16.
    [46] [0046] The pumping unit 109 is configured to pump the Vapor forming liquid fromthe storage unit 112 and transfer the Vapor forrning liquid through each insulated container102 of the plurality of Vapor forming apparatuses 150, Where the radioactiVe decay materialtransfers heat to the Vapor forming liquid in each stage. For example, the pumping unit 109pumps the Vapor forming liquid from the storage unit 112 and transfers the Vapor formingliquid to the insulated container 102 of the Vapor forrning apparatus 150 Via the inlet Valve104.
    [47] [0047] The first pressure monitoring unit 110 is configured to monitor the pressure ofthe Vapor forrning liquid that is transferred from the storage unit 112 to the first Vaporforming apparatus 150. The first pressure monitoring unit 110 may be located between thestorage unit 112 and the first Vapor forrning apparatus 150. The first temperature monitoringunit 111 is configured to monitor the temperature of the Vapor forrning liquid that istransferred from the storage unit 112 to the first Vapor forrning apparatus 150. The firsttemperature monitoring unit 111 may be located between the storage unit 112 and the first11Vapor forming apparatus 150. Also, the first temperature monitoring unit 111 and the firstpressure monitoring unit 110 may not be two separate units. For example, the exampleembodiments encompass the situation where the first temperature monitoring unit 111 andthe first pressure monitoring unit 110 are implemented in one unit. The first temperaturemonitoring unit 111 and the first pressure monitoring unit 110 may be any type of deVice(s)capable of monitoring temperature and/or pressure that is well known to one of ordinary skillin the art.
    [48] [0048] In the first stage, the radioactive decay material transfers heat (Qa) to the Vaporforming liquid. In the subsequent stage, the pumping unit 109 operates to transfer the heatedVapor forming liquid from the first Vapor forrning apparatus 150 Via the outlet Valve 106 tothe insulated container 102 of the second Vapor forrning apparatus 150 Via the inlet Valve 104.In this stage, the radioactive decay material transfers heat (QB) to the Vapor forrning liquid.The other Vapor forrning apparatuses 150 operate in the same manner. As a result, the Vaporforming apparatuses 150 transfer heat to the Vapor forrning liquid based on the followingequation:Eq- (3) Qwral = QA + QB + QC + QD
    [49] [0049] Qtotal is the total amount of heat transferred to the Vapor forrning liquid in theVapor forming system of FIG. 3. The parameters QA, QB, QC and QD represent the heattransferred in the stages of the Vapor forming system. For example, the parameter QA is theheat transfer for the first Vapor forrning apparatus 150, the parameter QB is the heat transferfor the second Vapor forrning apparatus 150, the parameter QC is the heat transfer for the thirdVapor forrning apparatus 150, and the parameter QD is the heat transfer for the fourth Vaporforming apparatus 150. Each of the parameters QA, QB, QC, QD is defined by Eq. (2). Inother word, the pumped Vapor forming liquid flowing through the inlet Valve 104 of the first12vapor forming apparatus 150 continues to flow through each insulated container 102 gainingtherrnal energy as shown in Eq. (3).
    [50] [0050] The second pressure monitoring unit 114 is configured to monitor the pressureof the vapor forming liquid that is transferred from the outlet valve 106 of the last vaporforming apparatus 150. The second pressure monitoring unit 114 may be located between theoutlet valve 106 of the last vapor forming apparatus 150 and the switching valve unit 116.The second temperature monitoring unit 115 is conf1gured to monitor the temperature of thevapor forrning liquid that is transferred from outlet valve 106 of the last vapor formingapparatus 150. The second temperature monitoring unit 115 may be located between theoutlet valve 106 of the last vapor forming apparatus 150 and the switching valve unit 116.Also, the second temperature monitoring unit 115 and the second pressure monitoring unit114 may not be two separate units. For example, the example embodiments encompass thesituation where the second temperature monitoring unit 115 and the second pressuremonitoring unit 114 are implemented in one unit. The second temperature monitoring unit115 and the second pressure monitoring unit 114 may be any type of device(s) capable ofmonitoring temperature and/or pressure that is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.The pressure monitoring unit 114 and the temperature monitoring unit 115 at the exit of thetrain provide an indication of the therrnodynamic properties of the vapor forrning liquid.[0051] The switching valve unit 116 is conf1gured to receive the vapor formingliquid from the last vapor forming apparatus 150 and output vapor of the vapor forrningliquid if at least one of the pressure and temperature is above a respective threshold. Thethreshold may be the point where energy conversion occurs (e. g., liquid to gas). However, ifat least one of the pressure and temperature is equal to or below the respective thresholdlevel, the switching valve unit 116 is conf1gured to output the vapor forrning liquid via abypass line 113 to the storage unit 112. In other words, if the therrnodynamic properties are13too low for energy Conversion to occur, the Vapor forming liquid is retumed to the storageunit 112 via the bypass line 113 during startup or source reload.
    [52] [0052] The control unit 117 is configured to control the operation of the sWitchingValve unit 116 based on inforrnation received from the second pressure monitoring unit 114and/or second temperature monitoring unit 115. For example, the control unit 117 isconfigured to receive temperature information and pressure information from the secondtemperature monitoring unit 115 and the second pressure monitoring unit 114, respectively,and control the sWitching Valve unit 116 based on the temperature information and thepressure information. The control unit 117 controls the sWitching Valve unit 116 to output theVapor of the Vapor forrning liquid if the pressure and temperature are high enough for energyconVersion to occur by transmitting control information to the sWitching Valve unit 116.Also, the control unit 117 controls the sWitching Valve unit 116 to output the Vapor formingliquid Via the bypass line 113 if the pressure and temperature are not high enough for energyconVersion to occur by transmitting control information to the sWitching Valve unit 116. Thecontrol information includes information indicating Whether to direct the floW of the Vapor toa next stage circuit (e.g., the circuit of FIG. 1) or direct the floW of the Vapor forrning liquidback to the storage unit 112 Via the bypass line 113. In addition, the control unit 117 may usetemperature information from the first temperature monitoring unit 111 and the pressureinformation from the first pressure monitoring unit 110, in conjunction With the pressure andtemperature information from the second pressure monitoring unit 114 and the secondtemperature monitoring unit 115 for controlling the sWitching Valve unit 116.
    [53] [0053] Further, the control unit 117 may be configured to control the pumping unit109 based on the information from the first pressure monitoring unit 110, the firsttemperature monitoring unit 111, the second pressure monitoring unit 114, the secondtemperature monitoring unit 115, and/or the therrnocouples 107. For example, the control14unit 117 may control the flow rate of the vapor forming liquid that is transferred throughoutthe from the storage unit 112 throughout the vapor forrning apparatuses 150.
    [54] [0054] FIG. 4 illustrates power generation for a different number of vapor formingapparatuses according to an example embodiment. It is noted that the f1ssion products withinthe nuclear waste container 101 are concentrated to 20 times than in current used nuclear fuel.FIG. 4 shows the heat generation rate for a 4-, 15- and 40-container train. The band in eachcurve, due to the waste power, is dependent on the used nuclear fuel bumup. Higher usednuclear fuel bumup will give the highest heat generation rate. The curve also shows that therelative heat generation rate from the 10th year to 40th year only varies by about 50%. Thisis a relatively significant and steady output of heat energy. The expected electrical output isbased on 13% therrnal efficiency, which is an average industry standard for generatingelectricity from low temperature heat sources.
    [55] [0055] Example embodiments provide an apparatus, system and method of operatinga vapor forrning coolant in which vapor is produced directly from a radioactive heat section.The system provides a constant power source or produces a constant heat source. Thissystem has no regulation requirements and utilizes the inherent physical property ofradioactive decay for heat production and bubble formation.
    [56] [0056] Example embodiments thus being described, it will be appreciated by oneskilled in the art that example embodiments may be varied through routine experimentationand without further inventive activity. For example, although electrical contacts areillustrated in example embodiments at one side of an example reducing system, it is of courseunderstood that other numbers and configurations of electrical contacts may be used based onexpected cathode and anode assembly placement, power level, necessary anodizing potential,etc. Variations are not to be regarded as departure from the spirit and scope of the exampleenibodinients, and all such niodifications as Would be obvious to one skilled in the art areintended to be included Within the scope of the following clainis.16
    权利要求:
    Claims (18)
    [1] l. A Vapor forrning apparatus, comprising:an insulated container configured to enclose a nuclear Waste container, the nuclearWaste container including radioactive decay material, the insulated container including,an inlet valve configured to receive Vapor forrning liquid, the radioactivedecay material transferring heat to the Vapor forrning liquid; andan outlet Valve conf1gured to output the Vapor forrning liquid heated by the radioactive decay material.
    [2] 2. The Vapor forming apparatus of claim l, Wherein the Vapor forming liquid includes a mixture of one of (l) Water and acetone and (2) Water and alcohol.
    [3] 3. The Vapor forrning apparatus of claim l, further comprising:at least one therrnocouple conf1gured to monitor the heat transferred to the Vapor forming liquid.
    [4] 4. The Vapor forrning apparatus of claim l, Wherein the insulated container includes a removable closure to insert the nuclear Waste container into the insulated container.
    [5] 5. A Vapor forrning system, comprising: a storage unit conf1gured to hold Vapor forrning liquid; a plurality of Vapor forming apparatuses that are connected to each other in series,each of the plurality of Vapor forrning apparatuses including an insulated containerconfigured to enclose a nuclear Waste container, the nuclear Waste container including radioactive decay material; l7 a pumping unit configured to pump the Vapor forrning liquid from the storage unit andtransfer the Vapor forming liquid through each insulated container of the plurality of Vaporforming apparatuses Where the radioactive decay material transfers heat to the Vapor forrningliquid in each stage; a switching valve unit configured to receive the Vapor forrning liquid from a lastVapor forrning apparatus of the plurality of Vapor forrning apparatus; and a control unit conf1gured to control the sWitching Valve unit to output Vapor of the Vapor forrning liquid if at least one property of the Vapor forrning liquid is above a threshold.
    [6] 6. The Vapor forrning system of claim 5, Wherein the control unit is configured to controlthe switching Valve unit to output the Vapor forrning liquid Via a bypass line to the storage unit if the at least one property of the Vapor forrning liquid is equal to or below the threshold.
    [7] 7. The Vapor forming system of claim 5, Wherein the Vapor forrning liquid includes a mixture of one of (l) Water and acetone and (2) Water and alcohol.
    [8] 8. The Vapor forming system of claim 5, Wherein the at least one property of the Vapor forming liquid includes temperature and pressure.
    [9] 9. The Vapor forrning system of claim 8, further comprising: a pressure monitoring unit conf1gured to monitor the pressure of the Vapor formingliquid; and a temperature monitoring unit conf1gured to monitor the temperature of the Vapor forming liquid, 18 Wherein the control unit is conf1gured to receive temperature inforrnation and pressureinforrnation from the temperature monitoring unit and the pressure monitoring unit,respectively, and configured to control the sWitching valve unit based on the temperature information and the pressure information.
    [10] 10. The Vapor forming system of claim 9, Wherein the pressure monitoring unit and thetemperature monitoring unit are connected between an outlet valve of the plurality of Vapor forming apparatuses and the sWitching Valve unit.
    [11] 11. The Vapor forrning system of claim 9, Wherein the control unit controls the sWitching Valve unit to output the Vapor of the Vaporforming liquid if the pressure and temperature are high enough for energy conversion tooccur, the control unit controls the sWitching Valve unit to output the Vapor forrning liquidVia a bypass line to the storage unit if the pressure and temperature are not high enough for energy conversion to occur.
    [12] 12. The Vapor forming system of claim 5, Wherein the insulated container for each Vaporforming apparatus includes a removable closure to insert the nuclear Waste container into the insulated container.
    [13] 13. The Vapor forrning system of claim 5, further comprising: a power module generator configured to receive the Vapor from the sWitching Valve unit and generate electrical energy based on the Vapor. 19
    [14] 14. A method of producing Vapor, the method including: transferring Vapor forming liquid through a plurality of Vapor forrning apparatusesthat are connected to each other in series, each of the plurality of Vapor forming apparatusesincluding an insulated container conf1gured to enclose a nuclear Waste container, the nuclearWaste container including radioactiVe decay material, the radioactive decay materialtransferring heat to the Vapor forrning liquid; and outputting Vapor of the Vapor forming liquid from a last Vapor forrning apparatus ofthe plurality of Vapor forrning apparatuses if at least one property of the Vapor forrning liquid is above a threshold.
    [15] l5. The method of claim l4, fiarther comprising: outputting the Vapor forrning liquid Via a bypass line to a storage unit if the at leastone property of the Vapor forming liquid is equal to or below the threshold, the storage unitholding the Vapor forming liquid to be supplied to a first Vapor forming apparatus of the plurality of Vapor forrning apparatuses.
    [16] l6. The method of claim l4, Wherein the Vapor forrning liquid includes a mixture of one of (l) Water and acetone and (2) Water and alcohol.
    [17] l7. The method of claim l4, Wherein the at least one property of the Vapor forrning liquid includes temperature and pressure.
    [18] 18. The method of claim l7, fiarther comprising: monitoring the temperature and pressure of the Vapor forrning liquid, Wherein the outputting step outputs the Vapor of the Vapor forrning liquid if thepressure and temperature are high enough for energy Conversion to occur, Wherein the outputting step outputs the Vapor forrning liquid Via a bypass line to astorage unit if the pressure and temperature are not high enough for energy conVersion to OCCUT. 21
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
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