Passive reactivity control in a nuclear fission reactor
US11342084B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2019 |
| Grant date | May 24, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A nuclear reactor includes a passive reactivity control nuclear fuel device located in a nuclear reactor core. The passive reactivity control nuclear fuel device includes a multiple-walled fuel chamber having an outer wall chamber and an inner wall chamber contained within the outer wall chamber. The inner wall chamber is positioned within the outer wall chamber to hold nuclear fuel in a molten fuel state within a high neutron importance region. The inner wall chamber allows at least a portion of the nuclear fuel to move in a molten fuel state to a lower neutron importance region while the molten nuclear fuel remains within the inner wall chamber as the temperature of the nuclear fuel satisfies a negative reactivity feedback expansion temperature condition. A duct contains the multiple-walled fuel chamber and flows a heat conducting fluid through the duct and in thermal communication with the outer wall chamber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.