Method and apparatus for improving the performance of a nuclear power electrical generation system

A method for improving the operational characteristics of a nuclear power plant that comprises the steps of:

• (a) inserting into a downstream portion of main steam piping from a steam generator in said nuclear power plant a high pressure mixer superheater;
• (b) supplying heat recovery boiler high pressure steam to said high pressure mixer superheater;
• (i) said heat recovery boiler high pressure steam being supplied from a heat recovery boiler, wherein said heat recovery boiler steam is mixed with said main steam causing said main steam to be superheated;
• (ii) said heat recovery boiler being heated by exhaust from a chemically fueled turbine;
• (c) directing said superheated main steam into a high pressure stage of a main turbine of said nuclear power electric plant, wherein work is extracted by said high pressure stage of said main turbine;
• (d) directing a high pressure exhaust steam from said main turbine to a moisture separator reheater, said moisture separator reheater having at least one set of chevron moisture separators and at least one tube bundle, wherein said tube bundle is supplied with high pressure mixer separator steam, wherein said high pressure exhaust steam is superheated thereby forming a MSR discharge steam;
• (e) directing said MSR discharge steam into a low pressure mixer superheater where a heat recovery boiler low pressure steam is mixed with said MSR discharge steam wherein a low pressure mixer superheater discharge steam is formed that is further superheated;
• (f) directing said low pressure mixer superheater discharge steam into a low pressure stage of the main turbine of said nuclear power electric generation plant;
• whereby efficiency of said nuclear power electric generation plant is increased.

An apparatus for improving the operational characteristics of a nuclear power electric generation having a steam generator that supplies main steam to a main turbine that drives an electrical generator, said main steam being directed to a condenser after the extraction of work where it is condensed, said condensate being returned to said steam generator by a feed pump, wherein the improvement comprises:

• (a) a high pressure mixer superheater;
• (b) a low pressure mixer superheater;
• (c) a heat recovery boiler, producing a heat recovery boiler high pressure steam and a heat recovery boiler low pressure steam;
• (d) a chemically fueled turbine generator, producing a heated exhaust for the heating of the heat recovery boiler high pressure steam and the heat recovery boiler low pressure steam;
• (i) wherein the main steam is mixed with said heat recovery boiler high pressure steam, thereby being superheated before being directed to said main turbine;
• (ii) wherein the exhaust from a high pressure stage of the main turbine is mixed with heat recovery boiler low pressure steam, thereby being superheated before being directed to the condenser;
• (iii) whereby efficiency of said nuclear power electric generation plant is increased.

An apparatus for improving the operational characteristics of a nuclear power electric generation plant having a steam generator that supplies main steam to a main turbine that drives an electrical generator, and a moisture separator reheater to remove moisture and superheat said main steam before directing it to a low pressure stage of the main turbine for the extraction of work, after which it is directed to a condenser where it is condensed forming a condensate, said condensate being returned to said steam generator by a feed pump, wherein the improvement comprising:

• (a) a high pressure mixer superheater;
• (b) a low pressure mixer superheater;
• (c) a heat recovery boiler producing a heat recovery boiler high pressure steam and a heat recovery boiler low pressure steam;
• (d) a chemically fueled turbine generator, producing a heated exhaust, for the heating of the heat recovery boiler high pressure steam and the heat recovery boiler low pressure steam;
• (i) wherein the main steam is mixed with said heat recovery boiler high pressure steam, thereby being superheated, before being directed to said main turbine;
• (ii) wherein the exhaust from a high pressure stage is directed to said moisture separator reheater, thereby being superheated and moisture being removed;
• (iii) wherein said exhaust from the moisture separator reheater is mixed with heat recovery boiler low pressure steam, thereby being superheated, before being directed to the condenser;
• (iv) whereby efficiency of said nuclear power electric generation plant is increased.