Method for operating nuclear reactor for heat and power generation

A method comprising:

• operating a nuclear reactor power system to produce electrical power, the nuclear power reactor system comprising:
• a reactor core comprising a plurality of nuclear fuel elements, each of the plurality of nuclear fuel elements comprising:
• a first cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element and fluidly isolated from the first cooling channel;
• a first cooling system fluidly connected to the first cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling system fluidly connected to the second cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• transporting a first fluid coolant through the reactor core by the first cooling system;
• transferring heat in a first heat exchanger from the first fluid coolant in the first cooling system to a first intermediate coolant of a first intermediate coolant loop;
• flowing the first intermediate coolant through the first intermediate coolant loop by natural circulation;
• transporting a second fluid coolant through the reactor core by the second cooling system;
• transferring heat in a second heat exchanger from the second fluid coolant in the second cooling system to a second intermediate coolant of a second intermediate coolant loop;
• and
• flowing the second intermediate coolant through the second intermediate coolant loop by natural circulation.

A method comprising:

• operating a nuclear reactor power system to produce electrical power, the nuclear power reactor system comprising:
• a reactor core comprising a plurality of nuclear fuel elements, each of the plurality of nuclear fuel elements comprising:
• a first cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element and fluidly isolated from the first cooling channel;
• a first cooling system fluidly connected to the first cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling system fluidly connected to the second cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• transporting a first fluid coolant through the reactor core by the first cooling system;
• transferring heat in a first heat exchanger from the first fluid coolant in the first cooling system to a first intermediate coolant of a first intermediate coolant loop;
• transporting a second fluid coolant through the reactor core by the second cooling system;
• and
• transferring heat in a second heat exchanger from the second fluid coolant in the second cooling system to the first intermediate coolant of the first intermediate coolant loop.

A method comprising:

• operating a nuclear reactor power system to produce electrical power, the nuclear power reactor system comprising:
• a reactor core comprising a plurality of nuclear fuel elements, each of the plurality of nuclear fuel elements comprising:
• a first cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element and fluidly isolated from the first cooling channel;
• a first cooling system fluidly connected to the first cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling system fluidly connected to the second cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• transporting a first fluid coolant through the reactor core by the first cooling system;
• transferring heat in a first heat exchanger from the first fluid coolant in the first cooling system to a first intermediate coolant of a first intermediate coolant loop;
• transporting a second fluid coolant through the reactor core by the second cooling system;
• transferring heat in a second heat exchanger from the second fluid coolant in the second cooling system to a second intermediate coolant of a second intermediate coolant loop;
• transferring heat in a third heat exchanger from the first intermediate coolant in the first intermediate coolant loop to a power conversion working fluid of a first power conversion system;
• and
• transferring heat in a fourth heat exchanger from the second intermediate coolant in the second intermediate coolant loop to a power conversion working fluid of a second power conversion system.

A method comprising:

• operating a nuclear reactor power system to produce electrical power, the nuclear power reactor system comprising:
• a reactor core comprising a plurality of nuclear fuel elements, each of the plurality of nuclear fuel elements comprising:
• a first cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element;
• a second cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element and fluidly isolated from the first cooling channel;
• a third cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a fourth cooling channel passing through the nuclear fuel element;
• a first cooling system fluidly connected to the first cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• and
• a second cooling system fluidly connected to the second cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• fluidly connecting the first cooling system to the third cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• fluidly connecting the second cooling system to the fourth cooling channel of each nuclear fuel element;
• transporting a first fluid coolant through the reactor core by the first cooling system;
• and
• transporting a second fluid coolant through the reactor core by the second cooling system.