Molten fuel nuclear reactor with neutron reflecting coolant
摘要
說明書
The secondary dynamineutron reflector sub-assembly 1716 is in thermal communication with heat exchanger 1710 disposed on the opposite side from fuel region 1704. It is to be appreciated that the dynamic neutron reflector assembly and/or the heat exchanger could be inside, or disposed among the static reflector sub-assembly. The heat exchanger 1710 may contain one or more types of liquid coolant circulating therethrough. As secondary dynamic neutron reflector sub-assembly 1716 exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 1710, the heat exchanger 1710 may transport the heat away from the secondary dynamic neutron reflector sub-assembly 1716 as part of a secondary coolant circuit. The secondary coolant circuit may supply heat to electricity generation equipment, such as, for example, a steam-driven turbine. In an implementation, molten fuel salt may flow upward through the nuclear fuel region 1704 and downward through the heat exchanger 1710, thus exchanging heat as part of a primary coolant circuit. In other words, the heat exchangers may exchange heat with both the molten fuel salt and exchange heat with the flowing neutron reflector in the channels 1702. The flow rate of neutron reflector material may be adjusted to vary contact time with the heat exchangers to vary the temperature of reflector material flowing in the channels 1702. As the temperature of reflector material varies, its density changes accordingly. Changes in the density of the reflector material alter its neutron reflective characteristics as denser materials have a higher mass per unit volume and are therefore more likely to reflect neutrons.
