Molten fuel nuclear reactor with neutron reflecting coolant
摘要
說明書
The plot lines 202 and 204 are shown in contrast to plot line 206. The plot line 206 illustrates reactivity over time for a fast MSR system with a dynamic neutron reflector assembly, starting with a high moderator configuration and changing to a high reflector configuration, thereafter being dynamically controlled to achieve desired reactivity conditions within the reactor core. Reactivity over time on the plot line 206 starts relatively high after an initial fuel charge is loaded around time T0, and remains high due to the dynamically controllable nature of the reflection and thermalization of neutrons. Around time T0, the composition of material in the neutron reflection assembly is adjusted for a moderation rate that correlates with the concentration of fissile material available in the fuel region at that time. As the burn up progresses, the composition of material in the neutron reflection assembly is adjusted to increase fast neutron reflection and decrease moderation to continue supplying the fuel region with newly bred fissile material while, at the same time, maintaining an appropriate amount of thermalization to match the current conditions in the fuel region. The adjustments may be performed continuously or as a batch process, and continue over time towards T5. An effect of these dynamic neutron reflector assembly adjustments is to maintain a relatively stable and high reactivity rate over the entire period T0-T5 that is not feasible with static moderators and neutron reflectors, such as those represented by the plot lines 202 and 204, respectively. Nevertheless, the same dynamic neutron reflector assembly may be used to control reactivity in other ways (e.g., to reduce reactivity, etc.).
