Axially staggered seed-blanket reactor fuel module construction

Patent · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865385

Cowell, Gary K ^[1]; DiGuiseppe, Carl P ^[2]

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1. Monroeville, PA
2. West Mifflin, PA

A heterogeneous nuclear reactor of the seed-blanket type is provided wher the fissile (seed) and fertile (blanket) nuclear fuels are segregated axially within each fuel element such that fissile and fertile regions occur in an alternating pattern along the length of the fuel element. Further, different axial stacking patterns are used for the fuel elements of at least two module types such that when modules of different types are positioned adjacent to one another, the fertile regions of the modules are offset or staggered. Thus, when a module of one type is surrounded by modules of the second type the fertile regions thereof will be surrounded on all sides by fissile material. This provides enhanced neutron communication both radially and axially, thereby resulting in greater power oscillation stability than other axial arrangements. The arrangements of the fissile and fertile regions in an alternating axial manner minimizes the radial power peaking factors and provides a more optional thermal-hydraulic design than is afforded by radial arrangements.

• Research Organization: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC11-76PN00014
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4507259
• OSTI ID: 865385
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/376/976/
adjacent
afforded
alternating
arrangements
axial
axially
blanket
communication
construction
design
element
elements
enhanced
enhanced neutron
factors
fertile
fissile
fissile material
fuel
fuel element
fuel elements
fuel module
fuels
heterogeneous
length
manner
material
minimizes
module
module construction
modules
neutron
nuclear
nuclear fuel
nuclear fuels
nuclear reactor
occur
offset
optional
oscillation
pattern
patterns
peaking
positioned
positioned adjacent
power
provided
provides
provides enhanced
radial
radially
reactor
reactor fuel
regions
resulting
seed
seed-blanket
segregated
stability
stacking
staggered
surrounded
thermal-hydraulic
type
types