NUCLEAR REACTOR
First Claim
1. A nuclear reactor, comprising:
- a reactor core,neutron reflectors surrounding said core on all sides,uranium oxide as reactor fuel, anda cooling medium that is liquid at process conditions and solid at room temperature, wherein the nuclear reactor comprises a thermal isolation which is impermeable for the coolant, which is of a different material than the neutron reflectors and the coolant and which has a melting point higher than the temperature inside the reactor, such that the reactor core and the neutron reflectors are surrounded by the thermal isolation on all sides in order to provide a teak-tight containment near a wall of a housing of the nuclear reactor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a nuclear reactor, comprising a reactor core, neutron reflectors surrounding the core on all sides, uranium oxide as reactor fuel and a coolant that is liquid at proces conditions and solid at room temperature. The invention is characterized in that the nuclear reactor comprises a thermal isolation which is impermeable for the coolant, which is of a different material than the coolant and which has a melting point higher than the temperature in the reactor, in such a way that the thermal isolation is surrounding the reactor core and the neutron reflectors on all sides in order to provide a leak-tight containment function. Therefore the phenomenon is being used that the temperature on the outside of the installation is always far below the melting point of the coolant, in such a way that the coolant solidifies on the outside of the installation under all possible circumstances. The heating channels, which are preferably embedded in the reflectors, contain heating elements for heating the reactor core to a temperature higher than the melting point of the coolant before the reactor is filled with the coolant and before the start up of the reactor begins. The whole primary system of the installation may fit in a transportable container.
9 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A nuclear reactor, comprising:
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a reactor core, neutron reflectors surrounding said core on all sides, uranium oxide as reactor fuel, and a cooling medium that is liquid at process conditions and solid at room temperature, wherein the nuclear reactor comprises a thermal isolation which is impermeable for the coolant, which is of a different material than the neutron reflectors and the coolant and which has a melting point higher than the temperature inside the reactor, such that the reactor core and the neutron reflectors are surrounded by the thermal isolation on all sides in order to provide a teak-tight containment near a wall of a housing of the nuclear reactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification