Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method, comprising:diverting 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;diverting 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; andsupplying 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 method of claim 1, wherein the diverting 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:diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system comprises:diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system comprises:diverting 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 using at least one heat transfer system. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one heat transfer system comprises:diverting 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 using at least one direct fluid exchange heat transfer system. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one direct fluid exchange heat transfer system comprises:intermixing 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 using at least one direct fluid exchange heat transfer system. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one heat transfer system comprises:diverting 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 using at least one heat exchanger. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system comprises:diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one energy transfer system comprises:diverting 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 using at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the diverting 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 using at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system comprises:diverting a first selected portion of electrical energy from at least one energy conversion system of a first nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems to at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir using at least one electrical-to-thermal conversion system. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying 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:supplying 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. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying 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:supplying 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 using at least one heat supply system. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:supplementing the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of thermal energy from at least one additional energy source. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the supplementing the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of thermal energy from at least one additional energy source comprises:supplementing the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir with an additional portion of energy from at least one energy conversion system of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the diverting 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:responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to at least one condition of a first nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to at least one condition of at least one additional nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to determination of excess capacity of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the, responsive to at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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 comprises:responsive to at least one signal from at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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. 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to at least one reservoir operation system of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, diverting 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. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the, responsive to at least one reservoir operation system of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, diverting a first selected portion of thermal energy from a portion of a first nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems to the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:responsive to at least one signal from at least one reservoir operation system of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, diverting 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. 23. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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: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, diverting 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. 24. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:upon a pre-selected diversion start time, diverting 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. 25. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to a shutdown event of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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 method of claim 25, wherein the, responsive to a shutdown event of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, diverting 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:responsive to a shutdown event of at least one nuclear reactor system of a plurality of nuclear reactor systems, establishing thermal communication between a portion of a first nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems and at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 27. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to determination of the amount of energy stored in at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, diverting 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. 28. The method of claim 15, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, diverting 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:responsive to determination of the amount of available energy storage capacity of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, diverting 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. 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying 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:supplying 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. 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying 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:supplying 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. 31. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplying 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:responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to at least one condition of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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:responsive to heightened power demand on at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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. 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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. 35. The method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to at least one reservoir operation system of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, supplying 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. 36. The method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to at least one operator of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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. 37. The method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to a shutdown event of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the, responsive to a shutdown event of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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:responsive to a shutdown event established by at least one operation system of at least one nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems, supplying 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 method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:upon a pre-selected supply start time, supplying 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 method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to determination of the amount of energy stored in at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, supplying 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 method of claim 31, wherein the, responsive to at least one condition, supplying 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:responsive to determination of the amount of available energy storage capacity of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, supplying 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 method of claim 1, wherein the supplying 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:supplying 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. 43. The method of claim 1, further comprising:monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir using at least one reservoir monitoring system. 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:monitoring the temperature of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 46. The method of claim 43, wherein the monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:monitoring the pressure of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 47. The method of claim 43, wherein the monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:determining the amount of energy stored in the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 48. The method of claim 43, wherein the monitoring at least one condition of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir comprises:determining the amount of available energy storage capacity in the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 49. The method of claim 1, wherein the diverting 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:diverting 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. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the diverting 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 comprises:diverting 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 solid heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 51. The method of claim 49, wherein the diverting 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 comprises:diverting 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 liquid heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 52. The method of claim 49, wherein the diverting 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 comprises:diverting 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 pressurized gaseous mass of material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 53. The method of claim 49, wherein the diverting 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 comprises:diverting 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 mixed phase material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 54. The method of claim 49, wherein the diverting 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 comprises:diverting 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 material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir, the mass of at least one material having a phase transition within the operating temperature of the at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir. 55. The method of claim 49, wherein the diverting 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 comprises:diverting 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 contained in a reservoir containment system. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein the diverting 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 contained in a reservoir containment system comprises:diverting 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 contained in at least one external vessel. 57. The method of claim 55, wherein the diverting 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 contained in a reservoir containment system comprises:diverting 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 contained in at least one external liquid pool. 58. The method of claim 1, further comprising:maintaining the temperature of at least one heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir above a selected temperature. 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the maintaining the temperature of at least one heat storage material of at least one auxiliary thermal reservoir above a selected temperature comprises:maintaining 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. 60. The method of claim 1, wherein the diverting 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:diverting 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, the first nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems having at least one liquid coolant. 61. The method of claim 1, wherein the diverting 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:diverting 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, the first nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems having at least one pressurized gas coolant. 62. The method of claim 1, wherein the diverting 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:diverting 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, the first nuclear reactor system of the plurality of nuclear reactor systems having at least one mixed phase coolant.