US 2022/0199270 A1 · COOLANT CLEANUP SYSTEMS WITH DIRECT MIXING AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

Cleanup systems include plural coolant inputs that are physically combined to create a single flow at a desired filtering temperature. Filter(s) are used to clean the coolant, and coolant flowing therethrough will damage the filter or not be adequately filtered if having temperature in excess of an operating temperature of the filter. The inputs have different temperatures, and mixing them creates a combined flow at a desired temperature. The amount of each flow is selected based on its individual temperature to achieve this desired temperature. The combined flow is then conditioned with the filter at an operable temperature and returned to the coolant origin for the inputs. No heat exchangers or heat loss to outside heat sinks are required. Cleanup systems may be used with any coolant loop, including Rankine-cycle electricity generation systems like nuclear power plants, combustion boilers, and steam generators, and heat transfer systems.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A power generation system comprising:

a coolant loop carrying a fluid coolant;
a heat source on the coolant loop configured to add energy to the fluid coolant;
a filter having a limit temperature at which the filter is damaged by the fluid coolant and below which the filter is configured to remove impurities from the fluid coolant;
an energy extraction apparatus on the coolant loop configured to remove energy from the fluid coolant;
and
a coolant mixing subsystem including,
a cold intake connected to the coolant loop at a position after the energy extraction apparatus and before the heat source in the direction of fluid coolant flow through the coolant loop,
a hot intake connected to the heat source, wherein the hot intake and the cold intake are in fluid connection so as to directly mix the fluid coolant from the hot intake and the cold intake together to form a combined flow of the fluid coolant, and
a return line connected to the hot intake, the cold intake, and the coolant loop so as to return the combined flow to the coolant loop before the filter in the direction of fluid coolant flow, wherein the coolant mixing subsystem mixes the combined flow into the coolant loop so the fluid coolant is below the limit temperature when entering the filter.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coolant cleanup systems with direct mixing and methods of using the same

Life of this patent

Coolant cleanup systems with direct mixing and methods of using the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20