Abstract: Modifications to power plants for moderating climate warming and increasing safety combine a large compressed air energy storage (CAES) system with a thermal power plant such that free power plant waste heat replaces natural gas used at existing and planned CAES facilities. The system allows higher percentages of wind and solar energy on existing grids. The compressed air in a companion CAES can cool a nuclear reactor during an emergency. Also an inexpensive, add-on, external, Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) can cool a nuclear reactor after shutdown, even when all internal cooling water circulation has been disabled. All embodiments are installed outside the plant where they will not be damaged in the event of a plant accident. Both systems use environmentally friendly compressed air energy storage in new ways, and can be built and installed quickly around the world at existing plants using only proven infrastructure.

Abstract: A passive safety system for a nuclear power plant (100) cools the plant after shutdown, even when primary water circulation is disabled. The system comprises a source of compressed gas (112, 805) which can be the system's only source of operating energy, a source of external cooling water (106, 500), and interconnection components. If the reactor overheats, the gas is used to force the cooling water into the reactor's core. The gas can be taken from a highly compressed source and decompressed to a lower pressure suitable for forcing the water from the source, in which case the water can first be used to supply heat to the expanding gas to prevent it from freezing its environment. The system can be located underground or can be portable, e.g., carried on railroad cars or other wheeled conveyances. The system can be located above ground, or in a covered trench (705).

Abstract: A passive safety system for a nuclear power plant (100) cools a nuclear power plant after shutdown (SCRAM) even when all primary water circulation has been disabled. The system comprises a source of compressed gas (112, 805) that can be its only source of operating energy, a source of water (106, 500), and a plurality of plumbing components. The system is located nearby but outside of the plant where it will not be damaged in the event of an accident inside the plant. In one embodiment, the system is located underground. In another embodiment, the system is portable so that the gas and water are carried in tanks (500, 510) on railroad cars or other wheeled conveyances. The portable system is located above ground, or optionally in a covered trench (705). In an alternative embodiment, only compressed gas is used to cool the plant.

Abstract: Modifications to power plants for moderating climate warming and increasing safety combine a large compressed air energy storage (CAES) system with a thermal power plant such that free power plant waste heat replaces natural gas used at existing and planned CAES facilities. The system allows higher percentages of wind and solar energy on existing grids. The compressed air in a companion CAES can cool a nuclear reactor during an emergency. Also an inexpensive, add-on, external, Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) can cool a nuclear reactor after shutdown, even when all internal cooling water circulation has been disabled. All embodiments are installed outside the plant where they will not be damaged in the event of a plant accident. Both systems use environmentally friendly compressed air energy storage in new ways, and can be built and installed quickly around the world at existing plants using only proven infrastructure.

Abstract: Modifications to power plants for moderating climate warming and increasing safety combine a large compressed air energy storage (CAES) system with a thermal power plant such that free power plant waste heat replaces natural gas used at existing and planned CAES facilities. The system allows higher percentages of wind and solar energy on existing grids. The compressed air in a companion CAES can cool a nuclear reactor during an emergency. Also an inexpensive, add-on, external, Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) can cool a nuclear reactor after shutdown, even when all internal cooling water circulation has been disabled. All embodiments are installed outside the plant where they will not be damaged in the event of a plant accident. Both systems use environmentally friendly compressed air energy storage in new ways, and can be built and installed quickly around the world at existing plants using only proven infrastructure.

Abstract: A power plant can provide increased power from fossil fuels with reduced increase of the carbon burden. The plant is moveable and is located in a fossil fuel field, either a new field or a “depleted” field.” The CO2 generated from the plant is compressed to a concentrated fluid and is re-injected into the underground strata from which the fossil fuel is extracted. This reduces the CO2 emissions from the plant and uses the CO2 to enhance production from the fuel field. Enormous amounts of oil and natural gas can be recovered from fields considered “depleted.” The infrastructure required to build and operate such carbon neutral moveable power plants can use known components. For “depleted” fields enhanced oil (or gas) recovery (EOR) procedures are highly developed and used throughout the world. The concentrated fluid can be a liquid that is re-injected.

Abstract: A passive safety system for a nuclear power plant (100) cools a nuclear power plant after shutdown (SCRAM) even when all primary water circulation has been disabled. The system comprises a source of compressed gas (112, 805) that can be its only source of operating energy, a source of water (106, 500), and a plurality of plumbing components. The system is located nearby but outside of the plant where it will not be damaged in the event of an accident inside the plant. In one embodiment, the system is located underground. In another embodiment, the system is portable so that the gas and water are carried in tanks (500, 510) on railroad cars or other wheeled conveyances. The portable system is located above ground, or optionally in a covered trench (705). In an alternative embodiment, only compressed gas is used to cool the plant.

Abstract: A Ball Baffle Blowout Preventer (BBBOP) (102) or shut-off valve generally comprises a housing (106) and a baffle (108) secured within the housing and containing a plurality of holes. The housing is mounted in the path of the well pipe but the holes in the baffle allow normal production fluid to pass. One or more ball dispensing mechanisms (BDM) (110, 112) are connected to the housing. Each BDM contains a plurality of balls (114) and one or more valves (196). When a blowout condition occurs, a plurality of balls (114) are released beneath baffle (108) and are carried upward by the upwardly gushing fluid to plug the holes. The balls (114) are held in place by the pressure differential below and above the baffle. The balls can be removed from the baffle by the forcing fluid down the well. All operations can be controlled undersea by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). A plurality of BBBOPs can be stacked and each can be set to operate at a different pressure and flow rates.