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

Liquid uranium alloy-helium fission reactor

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6028558

This patent describes a nuclear fission reactor, consisting of a core vessel and a heat exchanger and passage coupling the vessels together at their respective upper and lower ends to define a continuous loop for the unidirectional flow of a liquid through the vessels. It also consists of: means for supporting and moving control elements adjustably within the core vessel in order to vary their relative position therein; fissionable fuel confined in the liquid phase in the vessels at a depth up to the upper passage; a lattice of a poison or moderator material in the passages and in the heat transfer vessel to preclude any fission within; means to admit a heat transfer gas into the lower end of the heat exchanger vessel, the gas bubbling through the liquid therein and causing the liquid to circulate upward in the heat exchanger vessel and downward in the cooled core vessel; and means to direct the heat transfer gas from the upper end of the heat exchanger vessel to conventional energy means outside of the reactor heat exchanger vessel.

Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
Patent Number(s):
US 4563327
OSTI ID:
6028558
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English