Abstract: A vertical bundle air-cooled heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the invention can be a vertical bundle air-cooled condenser comprising: at least one tube bundle assembly comprising: a tube bundle comprising a plurality of finned tubes arranged in a substantially vertical and side-by-side orientation, each of the plurality of finned tubes comprising a cavity; a top header pipe comprising an inlet header cavity operably coupled to a source of steam; a bottom header pipe comprising an outlet header cavity for collecting condensate; top ends of the plurality of finned tubes coupled to the top header pipe and the bottom ends of the plurality of finned tubes coupled to the bottom header pipe; and a shell having an open top end and open bottom end, the at least one tube bundle assembly positioned within the shell.

Abstract: An autonomous self-powered system for cooling radioactive materials comprising: a pool of liquid; a closed-loop fluid circuit comprising a working fluid having a boiling temperature that is less than a boiling temperature of the liquid of the pool, the closed-loop fluid circuit comprising, in operable fluid coupling, an evaporative heat exchanger at least partially immersed in the liquid of the pool, a turbogenerator, and a condenser; one or more forced flow units operably coupled to the closed-loop fluid circuit to induce flow of the working fluid through the closed-loop fluid circuit; and the closed-loop fluid circuit converting thermal energy extracted from the liquid of the pool into electrical energy in accordance with the Rankine Cycle, the electrical energy powering the one or more forced flow units.

Abstract: An autonomous self-powered system for cooling radioactive materials comprising: a pool of liquid; a closed-loop fluid circuit comprising a working fluid having a boiling temperature that is less than a boiling temperature of the liquid of the pool, the closed-loop fluid circuit comprising, in operable fluid coupling, an evaporative heat exchanger at least partially immersed in the liquid of the pool, a turbogenerator, and a condenser; one or more forced flow units operably coupled to the closed-loop fluid circuit to induce flow of the working fluid through the closed-loop fluid circuit; and the closed-loop fluid circuit converting thermal energy extracted from the liquid of the pool into electrical energy in accordance with the Rankine Cycle, the electrical energy powering the one or more forced flow units.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor in one embodiment includes a cylindrical, body having an internal cavity, a nuclear fuel core, and a shroud disposed in the cavity. The shroud comprises an inner shell, an outer shell and a plurality of intermediate shells disposed between the inner and outer shells. Pluralities of annular cavities are formed between the inner and outer shells which are filled with primary coolant such as demineralized water. The coolant-filled annular cavities may be sealed at the top and bottom and provide an insulating effect to the shroud. In one embodiment, the shroud may comprise a plurality of vertically-stacked self-supported shroud segments which are coupled together.

Abstract: A vertical bundle air-cooled heat exchanger, In one embodiment, the invention can be a vertical bundle air-cooled condenser comprising: at least one tube bundle assembly comprising; a tube bundle comprising a plurality of finned tubes arranged in a substantially vertical and side-by-side orientation, each of the plurality of finned tubes comprising a cavity; a top header pipe comprising an inlet header cavity operably coupled to a source of steam; a bottom header pipe comprising an outlet header cavity for collecting condensate; top ends of the plurality of finned tubes coupled to the top header pipe and the bottom ends of the plurality of finned tubes coupled to the bottom header pipe; and, a shell having an open, top end and open bottom end, the at least one tube bundle assembly positioned within the shell.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor system that, in one embodiment, utilizes natural circulation to circulate a primary coolant in a single-phase through a reactor core and a heat exchange sub-system. The heat exchange subsystem is located outside of the nuclear reactor pressure vessels and, in some embodiments, is designed so as to not cause any substantial pressure drop in the flow of the primary coolant within the heat exchange sub-system that is used to vaporize a secondary coolant in another embodiment, a nuclear reactor system is disclosed in which the reactor core is located below ground and all penetrations into the reactor pressure vessel are located above ground.

Abstract: A steam conditioning system for discharging bypass steam into a condenser of a steam powered generating plant and other uses. The system includes a steam conditioning device comprising an inner evaporative core and an outer shell. The core may be formed of a tubular piping section disposed at least partially inside the outer shell forming an annular space therebetween. An inlet end of the core receives steam from a piping header fluidly connected to an upstream desuperheating pressure reducing station which injects liquid coolant into the steam stream. Steam discharges through the core outlet end into the outer shell, reverses direction, and flows into the condenser. In one embodiment, the steam conditioning device may be disposed inside the dome of the condenser except for the inlet end. The device intends to increase flow residence time to evaporate entrained carryover coolant droplets in the incoming steam before release to the condenser.

Abstract: An indirect dry cooling system suitable for steam condensing applications in a power plant Rankine cycle includes an air blast chiller having a plurality of interconnected modular cooler cells. Each cell comprises a blower and tube bundle including inlet headers, outlet headers, and plurality of tubes extending between the headers. In one embodiment, the tube bundles form an A-frame cell construction being structurally self-supporting from a base. Each of the tubes may be finned. Cooling water circulating in a closed flow loop on the tube side between the air blast chiller and turbine steam condenser is cooled by ambient air blown through the tube bundles. The cooled water flows through a second tube bundle in the condenser which condenses steam. The heated cooling water returns through the air blast chiller to complete the cooling water cycle.

Abstract: An indirect dry cooling system suitable for steam condensing applications in a power plant Rankine cycle in one embodiment includes an air cooled condenser having a plurality of interconnected modular cooling cells. Each cell comprises a blower and tube bundle assemblies each including inlet headers, outlet headers, and plurality of tubes extending between the headers. In one embodiment, the tube bundle assemblies may be shop fabricated as a unit to form an A-frame or V-frame cell construction The tubes may be finned. Steam circulating in a closed flow loop on the tube side from a steam turbine is cooled in each cell by ambient air blown through the tube bundles, thereby forming liquid condensate. The condensate is collected and returned to the Rankine cycle for reheating to form steam to drive the turbine.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor in one embodiment includes a cylindrical, body having an internal cavity, a nuclear fuel core, and a shroud disposed in the cavity. The shroud comprises an inner shell, an outer shell and a plurality of intermediate shells disposed between the inner and outer shells. Pluralities of annular cavities are formed between the inner and outer shells which are filled with primary coolant such as demineralized water. The coolant-filled annular cavities may be sealed at the top and bottom and provide an insulating effect to the shroud. In one embodiment, the shroud may comprise a plurality of vertically-stacked self-supported shroud segments which are coupled together.

Abstract: A vertical bundle air-cooled heat exchanger, In one embodiment, the invention can be a vertical bundle air-cooled condenser comprising: at least one tube bundle assembly comprising; a tube bundle comprising a plurality of finned tubes arranged in a substantially vertical and side-by-side orientation, each of the plurality of finned tubes comprising a cavity; a top header pipe comprising an inlet header cavity operably coupled to a source of steam; a bottom header pipe comprising an outlet header cavity for collecting condensate; top ends of the plurality of finned tubes coupled to the top header pipe and the bottom ends of the plurality of finned tubes coupled to the bottom header pipe; and, a shell having an open, top end and open bottom end, the at least one tube bundle assembly positioned within the shell.

Abstract: A steam conditioning system for discharging bypass steam into a condenser of a steam powered generating plant and other uses. The system includes a steam conditioning device comprising an inner evaporative core and an outer shell. The core may be formed of a tubular piping section disposed at least partially inside the outer shell forming an annular space therebetween. An inlet end of the core receives steam from a piping header fluidly connected to an upstream desuperheating pressure reducing station which injects liquid coolant into the steam stream. Steam discharges through the core outlet end into the outer shell, reverses direction, and flows into the condenser. In one embodiment, the steam conditioning device may be disposed inside the dome of the condenser except for the inlet end. The device intends to increase flow residence time to evaporate entrained carryover coolant droplets in the incoming steam before release to the condenser.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor system that, in one embodiment, utilizes natural circulation (i.e., thermosiphon) to circulate a primary coolant in a single-phase through a reactor core and a heat exchange sub-system. The heal exchange sub-system is located outside of the nuclear reactor pressure vessels and, in some embodiments, is designed so as to not cause any substantial pressure drop in the flow of the primary coolant within the heal exchange sub-system that is used to vaporize a secondary coolant. In another embodiment, a nuclear reactor system is disclosed in which the reactor core is located below ground and all penetrations into the reactor pressure vessel are located above ground.

Abstract: An autonomous self-powered system for cooling radioactive materials comprising: a pool of liquid; a closed-loop fluid circuit comprising a working fluid having a boiling temperature that is less than a boiling temperature of the liquid of the pool, the closed-loop fluid circuit comprising, in operable fluid coupling, an evaporative heat exchanger at least partially immersed in the liquid of the pool, a turbogenerator, and a condenser; one or more forced flow units operably coupled to the closed-loop fluid circuit to induce flow of the working fluid through the closed-loop fluid circuit; and the closed-loop fluid circuit converting thermal energy extracted from the liquid of the pool into electrical energy in accordance with the Rankine Cycle, the electrical energy powering the one or more forced flow units.