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

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO NUCLEAR REACTORS

Patent ·
OSTI ID:4792689
A nuclear reactor is described which has a core containing uranium fuel enriched with up to 1% by weight of plutonium and an organic liquid acting as both coolant and moderator in an undermoderated lattice structure containing the fuel. The organic liquid is divided into two flows through the reactor core, viz., the coolant flow and the moderator flow, in such a way that the coolant fiow is in the immediate vicinity of the fuel and is moving fuster than the moderator flow which is separated from the fuel by the coolant flow. The volume of the space occupied by the moderator flow is at least twice that of the coolant flow. Snitably the fuel comprises natural uranium enriched with approximately 0.5% by weight of plutonium. The moderator flow in the reactor core is preferably maintained in the region of 200 deg C, this being a low temperature compared with the coolant flow. The moderator flow velocity preferably is chosen so that the temperature rise through the reactor core is less than 10 deg C at full power. Suitably the coolant flow is separated from the moderator flow by assembly tubes of approximately hexagonal cross sections each containing a fuel element assembly. (NPO)
Research Organization:
Originating Research Org. not identified
NSA Number:
NSA-16-015862
OSTI ID:
4792689
Report Number(s):
FR 1255200
Country of Publication:
France
Language:
English