Molten fuel nuclear reactor with neutron reflecting coolant
摘要
說明書
The composition of the dynamic neutron reflector assemblies 406 may be adjusted to change reflectivity characteristics, such as, for example, by adjusting the volume of the flowing reflector material in reflectors 406. One way of adjusting the volume of the flowing reflector material in reflectors 406 is to pump the material into or out of dynamic reflectors 406 into spillover reservoir 408 via piping assembly 410 and pump 414. To decrease the volume of the flowing neutron reflector material, and thus to decrease the reflectivity characteristics of reflectors 406, a portion of the flowing neutron reflector material may be pumped or displaced into spillover reservoir 408 via piping assembly 410. A valve 412 and pump 414 may cooperate to regulate the flow of the flowing neutron reflector material through piping assembly 410. To increase the volume of the flowing neutron reflector material, valve 412 and pump 414 may cooperate to flow the flowing neutron reflector material out of overflow tank 408 and back into reflectors 406 via piping assembly 410. In another implementation, the reflectivity of dynamic neutron reflector assemblies 406 may be adjusted by regulating the temperature, and thus the density, of the flowing neutron reflector material. Changes in the density of the flowing neutron reflector material alter its neutron reflective characteristics as denser materials have a higher mass per unit volume. Denser materials will contain more molecules per unit volume, and are therefore more likely to reflect neutrons because any neutron travelling through the denser material will be more likely to strike a molecule of the flowing neutron reflector material and thus be reflected. Pump 414 and valve 412 may cooperate to increase or decrease the flow rate of the flowing neutron reflector material into or out of dynamic neutron reflectors 406 to regulate the temperature of the reflecting flowing neutron reflector material. In other implementations, spillover reservoir 408 may be replaced with other configurations, such as a closed circuit loop.
