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

Method of shutting down a high-temperature

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5874646
In the method of shutting down a high temperature nuclear reactor having a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity, such as a gas cooled pebble-bed nuclear reactor, while the core is operating in the critical state with the core having a predetermined critical average core temperature and with the heat generated in the critical state being removed by a coolant, effecting the shut down by reducing or discontinuing the removal of heat from the reactor core and increasing the average core temperature by an amount above the critical average core temperature for rendering the core hot subcritical due to the negative temperature coefficient of reactivity. The core can be maintained in the hot subcritical state by a controlled removal of after shut-down heat from the core.
Assignee:
Hochtemperatur-Kernkraftwerk Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung (HKG) Gemeinsame Europaisches Unternehmen, (Germany, Federal Republic Of)
Patent Number(s):
US 4486380
OSTI ID:
5874646
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English