Liquid uranium alloy-helium fission reactor

Patent · Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865733

Minkov, Vladimir ^[1]

---

1. Skokie, IL

This invention teaches a nuclear fission reactor having a core vessel and at least one tandem heat exchanger vessel coupled therewith across upper and lower passages to define a closed flow loop. Nuclear fuel such as a uranium alloy in its liquid phase fills these vessels and flow passages. Solid control elements in the reactor core vessel are adapted to be adjusted relative to one another to control fission reaction of the liquid fuel therein. Moderator elements in the other vessel and flow passages preclude fission reaction therein. An inert gas such as helium is bubbled upwardly through the heat exchanger vessel operable to move the liquid fuel upwardly therein and unidirectionally around the closed loop and downwardly through the core vessel. This helium gas is further directed to heat conversion means outside of the reactor vessels to utilize the heat from the fission reaction to generate useful output. The nuclear fuel operates in the 1200.degree.-1800.degree. C. range, and even higher to 2500.degree. C., limited only by the thermal effectiveness of the structural materials, increasing the efficiency of power generation from the normal 30-35% with 300.degree.-500.degree. C. upper limit temperature to 50-65%. Irradiation of the circulating liquid fuel, as contrasted to only localized irradiation of a solid fuel, provides improved fuel utilization.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4563327
• OSTI ID: 865733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

-1800
-500
/376/976/
1200
2500
30-35
300
50-65
adapted
adjusted
adjusted relative
alloy
alloy-helium
bubbled
circulating
closed
closed flow
closed loop
contrasted
control
control element
control elements
conversion
core
coupled
coupled therewith
define
degree
directed
downwardly
effectiveness
efficiency
elements
exchanger
fills
fission
fission reactor
flow
flow passage
flow passages
fuel
fuel utilization
gas
generate
generation
heat
heat exchange
heat exchanger
helium
helium gas
improved
improved fuel
increasing
inert
inert gas
irradiation
limit
limited
liquid
liquid fuel
liquid phase
liquid uranium
localized
loop
materials
means
moderator
moderator elements
move
normal
nuclear
nuclear fission
nuclear fuel
operable
operates
output
outside
passages
phase
power
power generation
preclude
provides
provides improved
range
reaction
reactor
reactor core
reactor vessel
reactor vessels
relative
solid
solid fuel
structural
structural material
structural materials
tandem
teaches
temperature
therein
therewith
thermal
thermal effectiveness
unidirectionally
upper
upwardly
uranium
uranium alloy
useful
useful output
utilization
utilize
vessel
vessels