Defensive Disclosure of the N.R.G. Reactor Design Pattern for Modular Thermoelectric Thorium Molten Salt Reactors
Creators: name: Monroe, Scott
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025

description: Defensive Disclosure of the N.R.G. Reactor Design Pattern for Modular Thermoelectric Thorium Molten Salt ReactorsScott Monroevisualizinginfinity@outlook.comApril 21, 2025

This publication is not a substitute for a patent but is complementary to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/791,716, filed on April 21, 2025, by the author. Any future work based on this pattern must acknowledge this disclosure.

Abstract

This publication serves as a formal defensive disclosure of a novel reactor design pattern known as the Nuclear Reactor Generator (N.R.G.). The system integrates a spherical Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR) core with radial thermoelectric generators and optional Stirling engines to create a modular, silent, and highly efficient power system. Designed with zero moving internal parts, a passive freeze plug safety mechanism, and scalable architecture, the N.R.G. design pattern is ideal for off-grid, military, extraterrestrial, and disaster-resilient power systems. This document is intended to publicly establish the concept as prior art and preclude others from obtaining exclusive patent rights on its functional or architectural design.

1. Introduction

As demand increases for resilient, decentralized, and compact clean energy systems, the limitations of steam-based nuclear plants and the vulnerability of large infrastructure become more pronounced. The N.R.G. system introduces a new paradigm in nuclear reactor design—one that merges molten salt reactor physics with solid-state power conversion and passive safety. Unlike conventional light-water reactors (LWRs), the N.R.G. design operates at low pressure, eliminates moving parts in the core, and requires no steam cycle for electricity generation.

2. Technical Description of the N.R.G. Design Pattern

2.1 Core Geometry• Structure: Spherical containment vessel made from Hastelloy-N or similar high-temperature alloy• Fuel: Thorium-232 dissolved in fluoride salts (e.g., LiF-BeF₂-ThF₄)• Moderator: Optional graphite or BeO lattice inside the salt flow path

2.2 Freeze Plug Safety System• Located at the bottom of the core• Cooled to remain solid during normal operation• Melts automatically under overheating or power loss, draining fuel into a subcritical dump tank

2.3 Thermoelectric Conversion System• Arrays of high-ZT thermoelectric modules are radially affixed to the outer shell of the spherical vessel• Modules use the Seebeck effect to convert heat into DC power without moving parts• Cold-side cooling via passive fins, liquid loop, or radiative panel

2.4 Optional Stirling Engine Integration• Heat from outer surface also directed into free-piston Stirling engines operating in parallel with TEGs• Increases thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency from approximately 6% to over 50%

2.5 Electrical Output Profile• Thermal input: 5 MWth• Combined electrical output: ~2.75 MW• Annual energy: ~21.68 million kWh• Serviceable capacity: ~2,064 homes

3. Design Pattern Architecture

The N.R.G. system introduces a generalizable pattern comprising:





Spherical containment geometry




Molten salt as both fuel and coolant




Radially mounted thermoelectric modules




Passive freeze-plug drain system




Optional multi-stage thermal harvesting (Stirling + Seebeck)



This pattern can be instantiated in microreactors, mobile reactors, space power systems, or high-resilience civilian grid nodes. When implemented as a hybrid thermal harvesting platform, the system can reach overall thermal-to-electric efficiencies of approximately 50–55%, significantly exceeding conventional single-cycle reactor technologies.

4. Intended Applications

• Remote and off-grid communities• Military installations and naval vessels• Space missions (lunar or Martian bases)• Emergency disaster infrastructure• Industrial and data center microgrids

5. Disclosure and Legal Intent

This document is intended as a public defensive publication to:• Establish the described architecture and system design as prior art• Prevent others from securing future patent claims on this design pattern• Preserve the right of the author (Scott Monroe) to build upon, market, and iterate on the N.R.G. design pattern without constraint

***This publication is not a substitute for a patent but is complementary to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/791,716, filed on April 21, 2025, by the author. Any future work based on this pattern must acknowledge this disclosure.***

Author:Scott Monroevisualizinginfinity@outlook.comIndependent Inventor