Hybrid nuclear-hydro power plant

Abstract

An improved electrical generation system explained herein is a method and equipment whereby nuclear reactors are used to directly propel water pumps to lift water from a lower-elevation body of water to a higher-elevation body of water, where it is stored as potential energy. In one application of this method, one or more water pumps, each powered directly by heat from a nuclear reactor, lift water from down-stream of a river, stream, or pond to upstream of a dam at which a hydro-power plant is installed. The nuclear reactor may be of the pressurized-water, boiling-water, liquid metal cooled, or molten salt-cooled type. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are ideally suited to provide pumping heat in an incremental manner in such a method. Reactor heat output may be proportionally diverted to pumping or desalination loads to maintain the reactor core power level at a constant optimized steady state. Upon demand, the lifted water is used to generate electricity utilizing the hydro-power plant. A weir or small dam may be constructed across the river or stream downstream of the heat powered pump, the function of which is to create a reservoir or pool from which water can be pumped. This way, water can be recycled and used more than once to generate electricity, and the reactor can be operated at a steady state power level in conjunction with a preexisting hydro-power plant, thus allowing generation of electricity year-round despite lower water flow conditions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.