Nuclear power generator and fuel cartridges having variable electric load capacity to power a ship propeller

A system, comprising:

• a load-following nuclear power generator including a nuclear reactor configured to generate variable amounts of electricity;
• an electric drive;
• a propeller controlled by the electric drive;
• a thermal energy recovery system thermally coupled to the load-following nuclear power generator and configured to recover heat rejected by the load-following nuclear power generator, and to generate electricity based on the heat rejection from the load-following nuclear power generator via a thermodynamic Brayton cycle during operation;
• wherein the thermal energy recovery system is also configured to recover decay heat from the load-following nuclear power generator, and generate electricity based on the decay heat when the load-following nuclear power generator is shut down;
• a battery configured to provide electric energy storage;
• and
• a shield thermally coupled to the thermal energy recovery system, the shield being configured to be capable of thermally coupling to water utilized within a ballast tank of a ship, a hull of the ship, and water surrounding the ship,
• wherein the load-following nuclear power generator comprises:
• a nuclear fuel cartridge comprising:
• a fuel matrix comprising:
• a plurality of fuel channels for receiving a nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a plurality of cooling channels;
• a first header disposed on a first side of the fuel matrix;
• a second header disposed on a second side of the fuel matrix opposite to the first side;
• a plurality of cooling tubes through which a working fluid flows, each of the plurality of cooling tubes passing through each corresponding cooling channel of the plurality of cooling channels, each of the plurality of cooling tubes having a first end connected to the first header and a second end connected to the second header;
• and
• a pressure vessel defining an interior space for sealingly containing the fuel matrix,
• wherein the interior space for sealingly containing the fuel matrix comprises a pressure boundary independent from an interior of the plurality of cooling tubes, such that the interior space is not in fluid communication with the plurality of cooling tubes.