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Application US20180322964
Published 2018-11-08
Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor
A molten salt nuclear reactor a neutron moderator core that has an inner region that defines channels of a first diameter separated by a first pitch and, an outer region that defines channels of a second diameter separated by a second pitch. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter and the first pitch is larger than the second pitch. This configuration allows for an increased capture of neutrons by fertile elements in the outer region. That is, less neutrons are lost to the outside of the core. The configuration is such that the neutron multiplication factor is larger than one in the inner portion and lower than one in the outer portion.
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- 1. A molten salt nuclear reactor comprising:
a vessel; a neutron moderator core; and a molten fuel salt including fertile and fissile elements,
the neutron moderator core having:
an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion surrounding the inner portion,
the inner portion defining inner portion channels having a first diameter, the inner portion channels being spaced apart by a first pitch,
the outer portion defining outer portion channels having a second diameter, the outer portion channels being spaced apart by a second pitch, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, the second pitch being smaller than the first pitch,
the inner portion channels being in fluid communication with the outer portion channels and with the vessel,
the molten salt nuclear reactor is configured for circulation of the molten fuel salt within the vessel and through the inner portion channels and the outer portion channels of the neutron moderator core,
the molten fuel salt having a fissile material concentration,
the first diameter and the first pitch of the inner portion channels being sized as a function of the fissile material concentration to achieve a neutron multiplication factor equal or greater than one the inner portion,
the second diameter and the second pitch of the outer portion channels being sized as a function of the fissile material concentration to achieve a neutron multiplication factor of less than one in the outer portion.
- 16. A molten salt nuclear reactor comprising:
a vessel; and a neutron moderator core having:
an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion surrounding the inner portion,
the inner portion defining inner portion channels having a first diameter, the inner portion channels being spaced apart by a first pitch,
the outer portion defining outer portion channels having a second diameter, the outer portion channels being spaced apart by a second pitch, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, the second pitch being smaller than the first pitch,
the inner portion channels being in fluid communication with the outer portion channels and with the vessel,
the molten salt nuclear reactor is configured for circulation of a predetermined molten fuel salt within the vessel and through the inner portion channels and the outer portion channels of the neutron moderator core, the predetermined molten fuel salt having a preset fissile material concentration,
the first diameter and the first pitch of the inner portion channels being sized as a function of the preset fissile material concentration to achieve a neutron multiplication factor equal or greater than one in the inner portion,
the second diameter and the second pitch of the outer portion channels being sized as a function of the preset fissile material concentration to achieve a neutron multiplication factor of less than one in the inner portion.
