Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Subterranean reactor structures
Patent
1991-02-08
1993-06-29
Wasil, Daniel D.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Subterranean reactor structures
376298, G21C 1300
Patent
active
052232085
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a nuclear power generation system which utilizes a dam constructed underground.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
Geological formations contain permeable and impermeable layers. These permeable and impermeable layers are frequently faulted, forming number of geological structures where groundwater is pooled (groundwater basin). This means that 40% of precipitation is soaked by the ground, infiltrates into the permeable layers and pools above the impermeable layers before flowing down into the seas. However, flow of the groundwater is restricted by numerous faults in the formations, and is forced to flow along the fault-lines.
Permeable layers are generally 20-45% in porosity and are therefore capable of retaining a large quantity of water (10-20% of the volume of the formations).
In 1979, a cutoff wall measuring 500 m in length and 16.5 m in height was constructed near the outlet of a groundwater basin in Okinawa and used as an underground dam with the storage capacity of 700,000 tons. Subsequently, a number of underground dams were constructed as listed in the table below.
TABLE 1 ______________________________________
cutoff wall storage capacity
length height (water intake)
name (m) (m) in tons location
______________________________________
Sunagawa 1,835 49 9,500,000 Okinawa
Fukusato 1,720 52 10,500,000
Okinawa
Minafuku 500 16.5 700,000 Okinawa
Kabashima
59 17 10,000 Nagasaki
Usami 129 12.5 1,000/day Fukuoka
Unknown 3,850 84 100,000,000
China
Unknown 820 24 700,000 Taiwan
______________________________________
These dams are intended to supply drinking water or irrigation water. Amount of intake per day is approximately 250 m.sup.3 which is equivalent to 1/40 of the total storage capacity at Kabashima.
In the conventional nuclear power generation systems employed in Japan, uranium oxide is enriched to approximately 3% either in BWR (boiling water reactor) or PWR (pressurized water reactor) and used as a fuel to generate high temperature water steam, which in turn is used to actuate turbines of the generator. The systems are installed on the surface.
Generally, nuclear power generation requires 1.5 million Kw of energy to obtain an output of 500,000 Kw, and of that total energy, 500,000 Kw is converted into electric energy while the rest takes the form of thermal energy. Primary cooling water is used as a moderator for the neutrons generated from a reactor. The primary cooling water is also circulated in the core to remove the heat generated at the core. Heat-laden primary cooling water is exchanged thermally with the secondary coolant of sea water by means of the condenser and recycled into the core. A power generator with the output of 500,000 Kw requires 180,000 m.sup.3 /h of the sea water as the secondary coolant, which amounts to as much as to 4.32 million m.sup.3 /day. The temperature of the secondary coolant usually rises by about 7.degree. C. and the water is discharged into the sea. Thus, the energy absorbed by the sea water is calculated as follows:
In the conventional nuclear power generation system, an extremely large amount of secondary cooling water is discharged into the sea. Further, since the cooling water is not designed to be discharged at a distant offshore, the sea water is warmed up and various abnormal events such as red tide and outbreak of jelly fish have occurred.
Another problem is that as the sea water contains much salt, various parts of the generation system such as the water intake port, condenser and pipes become easily eroded.
Nuclear power plants are generally sited at locations where earthquakes are unlikely to occur. However, since the existing plants are constructed on the surface, essential structures such as reactor are easily subjected to strains due to earthquakes if and when they occur.
Although power plants are preferably sited near urban areas where the demand for power is high, nuclear power plants are usually located in remote areas and are therefore inefficient in terms of energy uti
REFERENCES:
patent: 3712851 (1973-01-01), Isberg et al.
patent: 4244153 (1981-01-01), Schwarzer et al.
patent: 5013519 (1991-05-01), Nakamura et al.
European Patent Office, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. JP1223707, Kato Tadashi, "Superconduction Type Power Storage System", Dec. 1989.
European Patent Office, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. JP3053196, Ishimaru Moritaka, "Atomic Power Generation Systems and Its Constructing Method", Mar. 1991.
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