Patent Number: 
Section: claims

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