Light-water breeder reactor (LWBR Development Program)

Patent · Tue Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 1972

OSTI ID:6719865

Beaudoin, B R; Cohen, J D; Jones, D H; Marier, Jr, L J; Raab, H F

Described is a light-water-moderated and -cooled nuclear breeder reactor of the seed-blanket type characterized by core modules comprising loosely packed blanket zones enriched with fissile fuel and axial zoning in the seed and blanket regions within each core module. Reactivity control over lifetime is achieved by axial displacement of movable seed zones without the use of poison rods in the embodiment illustrated. The seed is further characterized by a hydrogen-to-uranium-233 atom ratio in the range 10 to 200 and a uranium-233-to-thorium-232 atom ratio ranging from 0.012 to 0.200. The seed occupies from 10 to 35 percent of the core volume in the form of one or more individual islands or annuli. (NSA 26: 55130)

• Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 3671392
• OSTI ID: 6719865
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 15 Mar 1971
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
LWBR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR CORES
BREEDING BLANKETS
DESIGN
BREEDER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
210500* - Power Reactors
Breeding