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

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GAS-COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4154762

A means of emergency shutdown control of a gas-cooled reactor other than gravity-operated rods was devised in which a source of gas is coupled to the coolant inlet. The gas is inert to the materials in the coolant circuit, has a higher neutron absorption cross section than the coolant, and hence will rapidly reduce the reactor reactivity if injected at higher pressure into the coolant. For example, a CO/sub 2/-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor can be shut down by the addition of Ar, Xe, or N/sub 2/ to the CO/sub 2/ coolant. A configuration is presented for a Calder Hall graphitemoderated reactor with 120-psi CO/sub 2/ coolant and the above means of control. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
NSA Number:
NSA-14-023792
OSTI ID:
4154762
Report Number(s):
GB 843871
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English