Reflectors for molten chloride fast reactors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020027590-A1
Application number	US-201916299783-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 12, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2018
Publication date	Jan 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A reflector assembly for a molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a support structure with a substantially cylindrical base plate, a substantially cylindrical top plate, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending between the base plate and the top plate. The support structure is configured to encapsulate a reactor core for containing nuclear fuel. The MCFR also includes a plurality of tube members disposed within the support structure and extending axially between the top plate and the bottom plate. The plurality of tube members are configured to hold at least one reflector material to reflect fission born neutrons back to a center of the reactor core.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A reflector assembly for a molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) comprising:
a support structure comprising a substantially cylindrical base plate, a substantially cylindrical top plate, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending between the base plate and the top plate, wherein the support structure is configured to encapsulate a reactor core for containing nuclear fuel; and a plurality of tube members disposed within the support structure and extending axially between the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein the plurality of tube members are configured to hold at least one reflector material to reflect fission born neutrons back to a center of the reactor core.

2 . The reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein each tube member of the plurality of tube members comprises a substantially similar diameter.

3 . The reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube members comprises two or more tube members having different diameters.

4 . The reflector assembly of claim 3 , wherein each tube member of the plurality of tube members are disposed within the support structure so that adjacent tube members are abutted to each other at a tangency location.

5 . The reflector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of tube members comprises two or more tube members having different wall thicknesses.

6 . The reflector assembly of claim 3 , wherein an interstitial space is defined between the plurality of tube members, and wherein a packing fraction of the at least one reflector material relative to the plurality of tube members and the interstitial space is greater than, or equal to, 70%.

7 . The reflector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the packing fraction is greater than, or equal to, approximately 87%.

8 . The reflector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the interstitial space is configured to hold fuel salt or coolant fluid.

9 . The reflector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the interstitial space is devoid of material.

10 . The reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube members are packed within the support structure and devoid of welds.

11 . The reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflector material comprises liquid lead and/or graphite.

12 . A reflector assembly for a molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) comprising:
at least one reflector structure, wherein the at least one reflector structure is circumferentially arrangeable in a substantially cylindrical shape that encapsulates a reactor core for containing nuclear fuel; and one or more tank sections disposed within the at least one reflector structure, wherein the one or more tank sections are configured to hold at least one reflector material to reflect fission born neutrons back to a center of the reactor core.

13 . The reflector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least one reflector structure defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein the at least one reflector structure comprises two or more tank sections of the one or more tanks sections, each of the two of more tank sections axially aligned along the longitudinal axis.

14 . The reflector assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of the two or more tanks sections are formed by individual and separable reflector structures.

15 . The reflector assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a support structure that holds the at least one reflector structure in the substantially cylindrical shape.

16 . A method of reflecting fission born neutrons back to a center of a reactor core containing high temperature nuclear fuel, the method comprising:
encapsulating the reactor core within a reflector assembly, the reflector assembly including a plurality of tank sections circumferentially arrangeable in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the reactor core is located therein; and disposing at least one reflector material into the plurality of tank sections.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one reflector material is a first reflector material, the method further comprising replacing at least a portion of the first reflector material with a second reflector material.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first reflector material is liquid lead and the second reflector material is graphite.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tank sections include a plurality of tube members disposed within a support structure, the method further comprising channeling a fuel salt through an interstitial space that is defined between the plurality of tube members.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tank sections is supported by a support structure, the method further comprising extracting the reflector assembly from the reactor core via the support structure and replacing at least a portion of the plurality of tank sections.

Assignees

• Terrapower Llc

Inventors

• Cisneros Jr Anselmo T
• Freeman Charles Gregory
• Kramer Kevin
• Latkowski Jeffery F

Classifications

• G21C15/10

  from reflector or thermal shield · CPC title

• G21C1/022

  characterised by the design or properties of the core · CPC title

• G21C11/06 Primary

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

• G21C3/22

  with fissile or breeder material in contact with coolant · CPC title

• G21C7/28 Primary

  by displacement of the reflector or parts thereof · CPC title