Primary Inventor: Krishna P. Singh
Contributing Inventor(s):
Date: January 7, 2025
Status: Granted
Jurisdiction: US
Assignee: Holtec International
Equipment Type:
Docket Number: HOL-143
Application Number: 17/725,969
Publication Number: US 12,191,042 B2
Prior Publication Data: US 2023/0016181 A1 – Jan. 19, 2023
Related U.S. Application Data: Provisional application No. 63/178,000, filed on Apr. 22, 2021.
Abstract: A nuclear fuel decay heat utilization system usable for space heating in one embodiment comprises a nuclear generation plant building housing a spent fuel pool containing submerged fuel assemblies which emit decay heat that heats the pool. Plural fluidly isolated but thermally coupled heat removal systems comprising pumped flow loops operate in tandem to absorb thermal energy from the heated pool water, and transfer the thermal energy through the systems in a cascading manner form one to the next to a final external heat sink outside the plant building from which the heat is rejected to the ambient environment. A programmable controller operably regulates the intake and flowrate of water from the heat sink into the heat removal systems and monitors ambient air temperature inside to building. The flowrate is regulated to maintain a preprogrammed building setpoint air temperature by increasing fuel pool water temperature to a maximum permissible limit.