Application US20180322964

MOLTEN SALT NUCLEAR REACTOR
[+] Show Details

US20180322964

1. A molten salt nuclear reactor comprising: (13) (3)

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.

2. The reactor of claim 1 wherein a ratio of the first channel diameter to the first pitch is equal to a ratio of the second channel diameter to the second pitch. (0)

3. The reactor of claim 1 wherein a ratio of the first channel diameter to the first pitch is less than a ratio of the second channel diameter to the second pitch. (0)

4. The reactor of claim 1 wherein a ratio of the first channel diameter to the first pitch is greater than a ratio of the second channel diameter to the second pitch. (0)

5. The reactor of claim 1 wherein: (0) (3)

6. The reactor of claim 1 wherein: (0) (3)

7. The reactor of claim 1 wherein: (0) (3)

8. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the neutron moderator core is cylindrically shaped. (1) (0)

10. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the first pitch a first hexagonal pitch and the second pitch is a second hexagonal pitch. (0)

11. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the fuel salt is selected from a group consisting of: (0) (1)

12. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the molten fuel salt has a ratio of fissile material to fertile material greater than 0.007. (0)

13. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the fissile materials include at least one of ²³³U, ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu and ²⁴¹Pu. (0)

14. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the fertile materials include at least one of ²³²Th, ²³⁸Pu, ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴²Pu. (0)

15. The reactor of claim 1 wherein the neutron moderator core is made of a material that includes at least one of graphite, beryllium, zirconium hydride and beryllium oxide. (0)

16. A molten salt nuclear reactor comprising: (8) (2)

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 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.

17. The reactor of claim 16 wherein a ratio of the first channel diameter to the first pitch is equal to a ratio of the second channel diameter to the second pitch. (0)

18. The reactor of claim 16 wherein a ratio of the first channel diameter to the first pitch is less than a ratio of the second channel diameter to the second pitch. (0)

19. The reactor of claim 16 wherein a ratio of the first channel diameter to the first pitch is greater than a ratio of the second channel diameter to the second pitch. (0)

20. The reactor of claim 16 wherein: (0) (3)

21. The reactor of claim 16 wherein: (0) (3)

22. The reactor of claim 16 wherein: (0) (3)

23. The reactor of claim 16 wherein the neutron moderator core is cylindrically shaped. (1) (0)

25. The reactor of claim 16 wherein the first pitch a first hexagonal pitch and the second pitch is a second hexagonal pitch. (0)

View Abstract and Specification Size

PDF with Images and Document Face >

Full Text Publication >

Application US20180322964

MOLTEN SALT NUCLEAR REACTOR

Patent Matrix® Search