Axially staggered seed-blanket reactor fuel module construction
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Monroeville, PA
- West Mifflin, PA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865385
- Patent Number(s):
- 4507259
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC11-76PN00014
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- axially; staggered; seed-blanket; reactor; fuel; module; construction; heterogeneous; nuclear; type; provided; fissile; seed; fertile; blanket; fuels; segregated; element; regions; occur; alternating; pattern; length; axial; stacking; patterns; elements; types; modules; positioned; adjacent; offset; surrounded; material; provides; enhanced; neutron; communication; radially; resulting; power; oscillation; stability; arrangements; manner; minimizes; radial; peaking; factors; optional; thermal-hydraulic; design; afforded; nuclear fuels; fuel elements; fuel element; nuclear fuel; nuclear reactor; reactor fuel; fissile material; positioned adjacent; provides enhanced; module construction; fuel module; enhanced neutron; /376/976/
Citation Formats
Cowell, Gary K, and DiGuiseppe, Carl P. Axially staggered seed-blanket reactor fuel module construction. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Cowell, Gary K, & DiGuiseppe, Carl P. Axially staggered seed-blanket reactor fuel module construction. United States.
Cowell, Gary K, and DiGuiseppe, Carl P. Tue .
"Axially staggered seed-blanket reactor fuel module construction". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865385.
@article{osti_865385,
title = {Axially staggered seed-blanket reactor fuel module construction},
author = {Cowell, Gary K and DiGuiseppe, Carl P},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {1}
}