Energy storage system for nuclear reactor remote installation
Disclosed is a nuclear reactor system for use with a power grid. The nuclear reactor system comprising a nuclear reactor, an energy storage system coupled to the nuclear reactor, and a control circuit coupled to the nuclear reactor and the energy storage system. The control circuit is configured to monitor a power demand of the power grid, monitor a power output generated from the nuclear reactor, detect a change in the power demand, cause the energy storage system to temporarily compensate for the change in the power demand, and adjust the power output based on the change in the power demand.
1. A nuclear reactor system for use with a power grid, the nuclear reactor system comprising:
a nuclear reactor;
an energy storage system coupled to the nuclear reactor; and
a control circuit coupled to the nuclear reactor and the energy storage system, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
monitor a power demand of the power grid;
monitor a power output generated from the nuclear reactor;
detect a change in the power demand;
cause the energy storage system to temporarily compensate for the change in the power demand; and
adjust the power output based on the change in the power demand, wherein the energy storage system is maintained within a threshold range of a total storage capacity, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
monitor a utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system;
detect that the utilized storage capacity is less than a lower end of the threshold range;
increase the power output generated by the nuclear reactor in response to detecting the utilized storage capacity being below the lower end of the threshold range, wherein the increased power output creates excess energy above the power demand of the power grid;
increase the utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system with the excess energy; and
decrease the power output generated by the nuclear reactor to match the power demand upon the utilized storage capacity being above the lower end of the threshold range.
2. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the change in the power demand is an increase in the power demand beyond the power output generated from the nuclear reactor, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
detect the increase in the power demand;
cause the energy storage system to supply additional power output to meet the increase in the power demand; and
adjust the power output based on the change in the power demand.
3. The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold range is centered around 50% of the total storage capacity.
4. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage system has an energy storage capacity of 3.5 MWh.
5. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a mechanical energy storage system.
6. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a thermal energy storage system.
7. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a battery storage system comprising a plurality of battery cells.
8. The nuclear reactor of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
monitor a parameter indicative of health of a battery cell in the plurality of battery cells;
detect that the parameter is below a predetermined threshold; and
transmit a battery cell replacement message for the battery cell to be replaced.
9. A nuclear reactor system for use with a power grid, the nuclear reactor system comprising:
a nuclear reactor;
an energy storage system coupled to the nuclear reactor; and
a control circuit coupled to the nuclear reactor and the energy storage system, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
monitor a power demand of the power grid;
monitor a power output generated from the nuclear reactor;
detect a change in the power demand;
cause the energy storage system to temporarily compensate for the change in the power demand; and
adjust the power output based on the change in the power demand, wherein the energy storage system is maintained within a threshold range of a total storage capacity, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
monitor a utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system;
detect that the utilized storage capacity is greater than an upper end of the threshold range;
decrease the power output generated by the nuclear reactor in response to detecting the utilized storage capacity being above the upper end of the threshold range, wherein the decreased power output is below the power demand of the power grid;
supply power from the energy storage system to compensate for the decrease in the power output; and
increase the power output generated by the nuclear reactor to match the power demand upon the utilized storage capacity being below the upper end of the threshold range.
10. The nuclear reactor of claim 9 , wherein the change in the power demand is a decrease in the power demand below the power output generated from the nuclear reactor, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
detect the decrease in the power demand;
cause the energy storage system to store excess power output resulting from the decrease in the power demand; and
adjust the power output based on the change in the power demand.
11. The nuclear reactor system of claim 9 , wherein the threshold range is centered around 50% of the total storage capacity.
12. A method of performing load following of a power grid with a nuclear reactor system, the method comprising:
monitoring a power demand of the power grid;
monitoring a power output generated from a nuclear reactor;
detecting a change in the power demand;
causing an energy storage system to temporarily compensate for the change in the power demand; and
adjusting the power output based on the change in the power demand, wherein the energy storage system is maintained within a threshold range of a total storage capacity, and wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring a utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system;
detecting that the utilized storage capacity is less than a lower end of the threshold range;
increasing the power output generated by the nuclear reactor in response to detecting the utilized storage capacity being below the lower end of the threshold range, wherein the increased power output creates excess energy above the power demand of the power grid;
increasing the utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system with the excess energy; and
decreasing the power output generated by the nuclear reactor to meet the power demand upon the utilized storage capacity being above the lower end of the threshold range.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the change in the power demand is an increase in the power demand beyond the power output generated from the nuclear reactor, and wherein the method further comprises:
detecting the increase in the power demand;
causing the energy storage system to supply additional power output to meet the increase in the power demand; and
adjusting the power output based on the change in the power demand.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the threshold range is centered around 50% of the total storage capacity.
15. A method of performing load following of a power grid with a nuclear reactor system, the method comprising:
monitoring a power demand of the power grid;
monitoring a power output generated from a nuclear reactor;
detecting a change in the power demand;
causing an energy storage system to temporarily compensate for the change in the power demand; and
adjusting the power output based on the change in the power demand, wherein the energy storage system is maintained within a threshold range of a total storage capacity, and wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring a utilized storage capacity of the energy storage system;
detecting that the utilized storage capacity is greater than an upper end of the threshold range;
decreasing the power output generated by the nuclear reactor in response to detecting the utilized storage capacity being above the upper end of the threshold range, wherein the decreased power output is below the power demand of the power grid;
suppling power from the energy storage system to compensate for the decrease in the power output; and
increasing the power output generated by the nuclear reactor to meet the power demand upon the utilized storage capacity being below the upper end of the threshold range.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the change in the power demand is a decrease in the power demand below the power output generated from the nuclear reactor, and wherein the method further comprises:
detecting the decrease in the power demand;
causing the energy storage system to store excess power resulting from the decrease in the power demand; and
adjusting the power output based on the change in the power demand.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the threshold range is centered around 50% of the total storage capacity.