Transportable sub-critical modules for power generation and related methods

A transportable nuclear power system, comprising:

• an ISO transport container containing one or more fuel cartridges configured to form a critical core during a power generation operation, each of the one or more fuel cartridges containing a nuclear fuel;
• a support structure mounted inside the ISO transport container to support at least the one or more fuel cartridges;
• and
• an internal controller configured to control a reactivity of the one or more fuel cartridges during the power generation operation.

A transportable power station, comprising:

• an ISO transport container housing:
• one or more fuel cartridges configured to form a critical nuclear core in a power generation operation;
• a controller configured to regulate a criticality of the one or more fuel cartridges;
• one or more working fluid conduits each containing a working fluid circulating within each of the one or more fuel cartridges to cool down each of the one or more fuel cartridges and execute a thermodynamic cycle;
• and
• a radiation shield thermally coupled to the one or more fuel cartridges and the ISO transport container structures to provide a heat transfer from the one or more fuel cartridges to an environment external to the ISO transport container.