Controlling a power output of a nuclear reaction using chemical injection

A method for controlling a power output of a nuclear fission reaction, the method comprising:

• receiving status information about the power output associated with a nuclear fuel assembly housed in a reactor vessel;
• upon determining based on the status information that the power output of the nuclear fuel assembly is less than a first threshold power output value, causing at least one of adjusting a steam inlet valve between a steam generator and a steam turbine toward a fully open position or decreasing an output flowrate of a coolant pump in communication with a secondary coolant flow path;
• and
• upon determining based on the status information that the power output of the nuclear fuel assembly is greater than a second threshold power output value, causing at least one of adjusting the steam inlet valve toward a fully closed position or increasing the output flowrate of the coolant pump in communication with the secondary coolant flow path.

A nuclear reactor vessel comprising:

• a reactor core mounted within a volume of the nuclear reactor vessel, the reactor core comprising one or more stationary nuclear fuel assemblies configured to generate a nuclear fission reaction;
• a steam generator communicatively coupled to a steam turbine through a steam flow path that includes a steam inlet valve;
• a primary coolant flow path that is in thermal communication with both of the one or more stationary nuclear fuel assemblies and the steam generator;
• and
• a secondary coolant flow path that provides a secondary coolant to the steam generator, the secondary coolant flow path communicatively coupled to a coolant pump,
• wherein the steam generator is configured to transfer heat from a primary coolant flowing through the primary coolant flow path to the secondary coolant, and
• wherein a power output of the nuclear reactor vessel is adjusted by adjusting a degree of openness of the steam inlet valve or a flow rate of the coolant pump.