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

Nuclear reactor

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5282818
This patent describes an improvement in a nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel having a core barrel inside the reactor vessel, fuel elements and safety rods inside the core barrel, a fuel element housing thimble surrounding each fuel element and defining a gap therebetween, and a primary coolant flow path that includes flow through the fuel element housing thimble gaps. The improvement comprises: means for circulating a liquid moderator through the core barrel around the fuel element housing thimbles; the primary coolant being at a cooler temperature than the liquid moderator when entering the fuel element housing thimble gaps; and fins on the fuel element hosing thimbles for conducting heat from the liquid moderator to the primary coolant flowing through the fuel element housing thimble gaps.
Assignee:
Babcock and Wilcox Co., New Orleans, LA (United States)
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5087412
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-407515
OSTI ID:
5282818
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English