Mechanical design of a light water breeder reactor

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:862542

Jones, Daniel S ^[1]; Kolsun, George J ^[1]; Erbes, John G ^[2]; Brennan, John J ^[3]; Weissburg, James A ^[1]; Sharbaugh, John E ^[4]

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1. Pittsburgh, PA
2. San Jose, CA
3. Bethel Park, PA
4. Acme, PA

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.

• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN14
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 3957575
• OSTI ID: 862542
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

mechanical
design
light
water
breeder
reactor
thorium-232
uranium-233
fuel
seed-blanket
modular
core
configuration
modules
arranged
symmetrical
array
surrounded
reflector
blanket
region
seed
regions
disposed
longitudinal
movement
fixed
stationary
surrounds
control
obtained
moving
inner
changing
geometry
leakage
neutrons
relatively
lwbr
means
axially
positioning
movable
assemblies
achieve
neutron
economy
required
structure
adequately
support
imposing
penalties
breeding
capability
rods
closely
packed
direct
flow
coolant
accordance
heat
transfer
requirements
closely packed
seed regions
water reactor
fuel rods
breeder reactor
fuel assemblies
heat transfer
fuel rod
blanket region
light water
mechanical design
seed region
symmetrical array
transfer requirements
water breeder
core configuration
longitudinal movement
modules arranged
fuel module
fuel modules
uranium-233 fuel
/376/976/