Mechanical design of a light water breeder reactor

Patent · Tue May 18 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7341576

Fauth, Jr, W L; Jones, D S; Kolsun, G J; Erbes, J G; Brennan, J J; Weissburg, J A; Sharbaugh, J E

In a light water reactor system using the thorium-232--uranium-233 fuel system in a seed-blanket modular core configuration having the modules arranged in a symmetrical array surrounded by a reflector blanket region, the seed regions are disposed for a longitudinal movement between the fixed or stationary blanket region which surrounds each seed region. Control of the reactor is obtained by moving the inner seed region thus changing the geometry of the reactor, and thereby changing the leakage of neutrons from the relatively small seed region into the blanket region. The mechanical design of the Light Water Breeder Reactor (LWBR) core includes means for axially positioning of movable fuel assemblies to achieve the neutron economy required of a breeder reactor, a structure necessary to adequately support the fuel modules without imposing penalties on the breeding capability, a structure necessary to support fuel rods in a closely packed array and a structure necessary to direct and control the flow of coolant to regions in the core in accordance with the heat transfer requirements. 4 claims, 24 drawing figures.

• Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration
• Patent Number(s): US 3957575
• OSTI ID: 7341576
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BREEDER REACTORS
CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LWBR TYPE REACTORS
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
SPECIFICATIONS
THERMAL REACTORS
THORIUM 232
THORIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM 233
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES