NUCLEAR REACTOR
Abstract
High temperature reactors which are uniquely adapted to serve as the heat source for nuclear pcwered rockets are described. The reactor is comprised essentially of an outer tubular heat resistant casing which provides the main coolant passageway to and away from the reactor core within the casing and in which the working fluid is preferably hydrogen or helium gas which is permitted to vaporize from a liquid storage tank. The reactor core has a generally spherical shape formed entirely of an active material comprised of fissile material and a moderator material which serves as a diluent. The active material is fabricated as a gas permeable porous material and is interlaced in a random manner with very small inter-connecting bores or capillary tubes through which the coolant gas may flow. The entire reactor is divided into successive sections along the direction of the temperature gradient or coolant flow, each section utilizing materials of construction which are most advantageous from a nuclear standpoint and which at the same time can withstand the operating temperature of that particular zone. This design results in a nuclear reactor characterized simultaneously by a minimum critiral size and mass and by the ability to heat a workingmore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- OSTI Identifier:
- 4202847
- Patent Number(s):
- 2894891
- Assignee:
- U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-003248
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- REACTOR TECHNOLOGY; CRITICALITY; GAS COOLANT; HEAT TRANSFER; HELIUM; HIGH TEMPERATURE; HYDROGEN; MASS; PLANNING; POROSITY; POWER PLANTS; REACTOR CORE; REACTORS; ROCKETS; SPHERES; TEMPERATURE
Citation Formats
Grebe, J J. NUCLEAR REACTOR. United States: N. p., 1959.
Web.
Grebe, J J. NUCLEAR REACTOR. United States.
Grebe, J J. Tue .
"NUCLEAR REACTOR". United States.
@article{osti_4202847,
title = {NUCLEAR REACTOR},
author = {Grebe, J J},
abstractNote = {High temperature reactors which are uniquely adapted to serve as the heat source for nuclear pcwered rockets are described. The reactor is comprised essentially of an outer tubular heat resistant casing which provides the main coolant passageway to and away from the reactor core within the casing and in which the working fluid is preferably hydrogen or helium gas which is permitted to vaporize from a liquid storage tank. The reactor core has a generally spherical shape formed entirely of an active material comprised of fissile material and a moderator material which serves as a diluent. The active material is fabricated as a gas permeable porous material and is interlaced in a random manner with very small inter-connecting bores or capillary tubes through which the coolant gas may flow. The entire reactor is divided into successive sections along the direction of the temperature gradient or coolant flow, each section utilizing materials of construction which are most advantageous from a nuclear standpoint and which at the same time can withstand the operating temperature of that particular zone. This design results in a nuclear reactor characterized simultaneously by a minimum critiral size and mass and by the ability to heat a working fluid to an extremely high temperature.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 1959},
month = {Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 1959}
}