Enhanced graphite neutron reflector with beryllium oxide inclusions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11830630-B2
Application number	US-202017080241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2020
Priority date	Oct 26, 2020
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A nuclear reactor is disclosed including a reactor core and a reflector assembly surrounding the reactor core. The reflector assembly includes a stationary reflector component including a graphite support structure comprising a plurality of channels defined therein and a plurality of beryllium-oxide pins positioned in the channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nuclear reactor, comprising:
a reactor core; and
a reflector assembly surrounding the reactor core, wherein the reflector assembly comprises:
a stationary reflector component stationary during operation of the nuclear reactor, wherein the stationary reflector component comprises:
a graphite support structure defining a plurality of channels; and
a beryllium-oxide pin positioned in each of the channels, wherein each beryllium-oxide pin is supported by and removable from the respective channel; and

a movable reflector component movable during operation of the nuclear reactor, wherein the movable reflector component comprises a plurality of control drums rotatable relative to the stationary reflector component.

2. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein each of the control drums comprises a reflector portion and an absorber portion, and wherein the reflector portion comprises beryllium-oxide.

3. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , further comprising a reactor core housing, wherein the reactor core is positioned within the reactor core housing, and wherein the reactor core housing comprises beryllium-oxide.

4. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the graphite support structure comprises a radial thickness of about 0.3 meters to about 1.0 meters.

5. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels defines a circular shape comprising a diameter, and wherein the diameter is about 0.005 meters to about 0.05 meters.

6. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises a pitch, and wherein the pitch is about 0.013 meters to about 0.07 meters.

7. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels are spaced apart from each other by about 0.001 meters to about 0.06 meters.

8. The nuclear reactor of claim 1 , wherein the graphite support structure is an assembly comprised of a plurality of graphite support structures positioned to provide continuous neutronic reflection.

9. A reflector assembly usable with a nuclear reactor comprising a reactor core, wherein the reflector assembly is configured to surround the reactor core, and wherein the reflector assembly comprises:
a stationary reflector portion stationary during operation of the nuclear reactor, wherein the stationary reflector portion comprises:
a graphite support structure defining a plurality of channels; and
a beryllium-oxide inclusion positioned in each of the channels, wherein each beryllium-oxide inclusion is supported by and removable from the respective channel; and

a movable reflector portion movable during operation of the nuclear reactor, wherein the movable reflector portion comprises a plurality of control drums rotatable relative to the graphite support structure.

10. The reflector assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the control drums comprises a reflector portion and an absorber portion, and wherein the reflector portion comprises beryllium-oxide.

11. The reflector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the graphite support structure comprises a radial thickness of about 0.3 meters to about 1.0 meters.

12. The reflector assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of channels defines a circular shape comprising a diameter, and wherein the diameter is about 0.005 meters to about 0.05 meters.

13. The reflector assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of channels comprises a pitch, and wherein the pitch is about 0.013 meters to about 0.07 meters.

14. The reflector assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of channels are spaced apart from each other by about 0.001 meters to about 0.06 meters.

15. The reflector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the graphite support structure is an assembly comprised of a plurality of graphite support structures positioned to provide continuous neutronic reflection.

16. A reflector assembly usable with a nuclear reactor comprising a reactor core, wherein the reflector assembly is configured to surround the reactor core, and wherein the reflector assembly comprises:
a graphite support structure defining a channel;
a beryllium-oxide pin positioned in the channel, wherein the beryllium-oxide pin is supported by and removable from the channel, and wherein the beryllium-oxide pin is stationary during operation of the nuclear reactor; and
a control drum rotatable relative to the graphite support structure and the beryllium-oxide pin during operation of the nuclear reactor.

17. The reflector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the control drum comprises a reflector portion and an absorber portion, and wherein the reflector portion comprises beryllium-oxide.

18. The reflector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the channel defines a circular shape comprising a diameter, and wherein the diameter is about 0.005 meters to about 0.05 meters.

19. The reflector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the channel comprises a pitch, and wherein the pitch is about 0.013 meters to about 0.07 meters.

20. The reflector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the graphite support structure is an assembly comprised of a plurality of graphite support structures positioned to provide continuous neutronic reflection.

Assignees

• Westinghouse Electric Co Llc

Inventors

• Aleshin Yuriy
• Levinsky Alex
• Heisel Matthew R
• Kellner Stuart T

Classifications

• G21C11/06 Primary

  Reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons · CPC title

• G21C3/18

  Internal spacers or other non-active material within the casing, e.g. compensating for expansion of fuel rods or for compensating excess reactivity (interlayers G21C3/20) · CPC title

• G21C7/28

  by displacement of the reflector or parts thereof · CPC title

• G21C1/06 Primary

  Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated · CPC title

• G21C7/103

  Control assemblies containing one or more absorbants as well as other elements, e.g. fuel or moderator elements · CPC title