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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GRAPHITE MODERATED NUCLEAR REACTORS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CORE STRUCTURES THEREFOR

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4071309
Under irradiation, graphite stores up energy and must be kept above a certain temperature in order to prevent sudden release of this energy and consequent risk of fire. A method is given for keeping above this temperature the inlets of the cooling channels in gas-cooled graphitemoderated reactors, which are subject to the cooling action of relatively cool gas. In this method, graphite sleeves are provided in the channels near the inlets and spaced from the core to form spaces that are filled with staagnant gas. To prevent energy release in the sleeves themselves, the natural uranium fuel elements may be replaced for short periods by elements of an enriched fuel in stainlesssteel containers. Such elements can operate at higher temperatures with consequent raising of the coolant temperature at the inlets. (D.L.C.)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-15-012621
OSTI ID:
4071309
Report Number(s):
GB 861791
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English