Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir; andat least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert at least a portion of excess energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert at least a portion of excess energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert at least a portion of energy exceeding operational demand of at least one energy conversion system from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a specified percentage of the energy output of a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir using at least one energy transfer system comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system in thermal communication with at least one heat source of the least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system in thermal communication with at least one heat source of the least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system in thermal communication with at least one nuclear reactor core of the at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system in thermal communication with at least one nuclear reactor core of the at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one primary coolant system of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one primary coolant system of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one primary coolant loop of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one primary coolant system of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from at least one coolant pool of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one primary coolant system of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one primary coolant system of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in thermal communication with the at least one primary coolant system of at least one nuclear reactor system and at least one secondary coolant system of the nuclear reactor system. 13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one direct fluid exchange heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one direct fluid exchange heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one direct fluid exchange heat transfer system arranged to intermix at least one reservoir fluid of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with at least one coolant of at least one nuclear reactor system. 15. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one heat transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one heat exchanger arranged to divert a selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from at least one energy conversion system of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one resistive heating device arranged to divert at least a portion of electrical energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat exchange loop. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat pipe. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat exchanger. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one thermoelectric device. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one primary energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system. 25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one auxiliary energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system. 26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one emergency energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system. 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one boiling loop of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event. 28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one turbine of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one turbine of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one working fluid of at least one turbine of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event. 30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one topping cycle of the nuclear reactor system. 31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one bottoming cycle of the nuclear reactor system. 32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one low grade heat dump. 33. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:at least one additional energy source configured to supplement the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of energy. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the at least one additional energy source configured to supplement the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of energy comprises:at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system configured to supplement the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of energy. 35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the at least one additional energy source configured to supplement the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of energy comprises:at least one additional nuclear reactor system configured to supplement the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of energy. 36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition. 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of the at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the at least one energy transfer system, arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of the at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of the at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one signal from at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system. 39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one reservoir operation system of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one reservoir operation system of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one signal from at least one reservoir operation system of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of the at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one signal from at least one operator of at least one nuclear reactor system. 42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir upon a pre-selected diversion start time. 43. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to a shutdown event. 44. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to at least one condition comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of the at least one nuclear reactor system to the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to determination of the amount of energy stored in at least one auxiliary reservoir. 45. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a scheduled shutdown event. 46. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to an emergency shutdown event. 47. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to at least one condition indicative of a shutdown event. 48. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event established by at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor system. 49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event established by at least one operation system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event established by at least one reactor control system of the nuclear reactor system. 50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one reactor control system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one reactor control system of the nuclear reactor system configured to respond to at least one signal from at least one safety system. 51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one safety system comprises:at least one safety system configured to respond to at least one sensed condition of the nuclear reactor system. 52. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system in response to a shutdown event comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system upon determination of a selected amount of stored energy in the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to a shutdown event. 53. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system comprises:at least one heat supply system configured to supply at least a portion of the diverted selected portion of energy to at least one energy conversion system of the nuclear reactor system upon determination of a selected amount of available energy storage capacity in the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir in response to a shutdown event. 54. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:at least one reservoir monitoring system configured to monitor at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary reservoir. 55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the reservoir monitoring system comprises:at least one reservoir temperature monitoring system. 56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the reservoir monitoring system comprises:at least one reservoir pressure monitoring system. 57. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the reservoir monitoring system comprises:at least one monitoring system configured to determine the amount of energy stored in the at least one auxiliary reservoir. 58. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one energy transfer system arranged to divert a selected portion of energy from a portion of at least one nuclear reactor system to a mass of at least one heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one heat storage material comprises:at least one solid heat storage material reservoir. 60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one heat storage material comprises:at least one liquid heat storage material. 61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one heat storage material comprises:at least one pressurized gaseous heat storage material. 62. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one heat storage material comprises:at least one mixed phase heat storage material. 63. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one heat storage material comprises:at least one material having a phase transition within the operating temperature of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 64. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one heat storage material comprises:at least one heat storage material contained in a reservoir containment system. 65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the reservoir containment system comprises:at least one external vessel. 66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one external vessel comprises:at least one external high pressure gas vessel. 67. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one external vessel comprises:at least one external liquid vessel. 68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the reservoir containment system comprises:at least one external liquid pool. 69. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir configured to store the selected portion of energy in the form of a temperature change in at least one heat storage material of the auxiliary thermal reservoir. 70. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir configured to store the selected portion of energy in the form of a phase change in at least one heat storage material of the auxiliary thermal reservoir. 71. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:at least one reservoir temperature control system configured to maintain the temperature of at least one heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir above a selected temperature. 72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the at least one reservoir temperature control system configured to maintain the temperature of at least one heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir above a selected temperature comprises:at least one reservoir temperature control system configured to maintain the temperature of at least one heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir above the melting temperature of the at least one heat storage material. 73. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nuclear reactor system, comprises:at least one thermal spectrum nuclear reactor system. 74. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nuclear reactor system, comprises:at least one fast spectrum nuclear reactor system. 75. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nuclear reactor system, comprises:at least one multi-spectrum nuclear reactor system. 76. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nuclear reactor system, comprises:at least one breeder nuclear reactor system. 77. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one nuclear reactor system, comprises:at least one traveling wave nuclear reactor system.