EPITHERMAL REGENERATIVE NUCLEAR REACTOR USING THORIUM AS FERTILE MATERIAL

Patent · Wed Jan 27 04:00:00 EST 1960

OSTI ID:4798662

This epithermal regenerative reactor comprises in the core a heterogeneous lattice of thorium and uranium fuel. This fuel is enclosed by a relatively light material for supplying an epithermal neutron spectrum and a fertile material of thorium. Preferably the light material consists of sodium coolant. The core further comprises a moderator lattice consisting of a plurality of hollow moderator blocks through which the sodium coolant circulates. The fuel elements consist of thorium-uranium alloy of 3 to 15% uranium-233 in thorium, while the core comprises from 0 to 50% beryllium as a moderator. The inner surfaces of the moderator blocks are suitably clad with a metal sheet, e.g., zirconium, stainless steel, titanium and Inconel, while means for controlling the chain reaction are placed within the channels occupied by fuel elements. (NPO)

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-16-034106
• OSTI ID: 4798662
• Report Number(s): FR 1204590
• Country of Publication: France
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALUMINUM ALLOYS
BERYLLIUM MODERATOR
CANNING
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL NEUTRONS
FERTILE MATERIALS
FUELS
LIQUID FLOW
LIQUID METAL COOLANT
MODERATORS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
PATENT
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
SODIUM
STAINLESS STEELS
THORIUM
THORIUM ALLOYS
TITANIUM
TITANIUM ALLOYS
URANIUM
URANIUM 233
URANIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM