Heterogeneous core designs and thorium based fuels for heavy water reactors
AssigneeAtomic Energy of Canada Limited
InventorBlair P. Bromley
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Abstract
A channel type heterogeneous reactor core for a heavy water reactor for burnup of thorium based fuel is provided. The heterogeneous reactor core comprises at least one seed fuel channel region comprising seed fuel channels for receiving seed fuel bundles of thorium based fuel; and at least one blanket fuel channel region comprising blanket fuel channels for receiving blanket fuel bundles of thorium based fuel; wherein the seed fuel bundles have a higher percentage content of fissile fuel than the blanket fuel bundles. The seed fuel channel region and the blanket fuel channel region may be set out in a checkerboard pattern or an annular pattern within the heterogeneous reactor core. Fuel bundles for the core are also provided.
Claims12
A fuel bundle for use in a channel type heterogeneous reactor core of a heavy water reactor, the fuel bundle comprising:
- a filled central displacement tube;
- and
- a plurality of thorium based fuel pins surrounding the filled central displacement tube,
- wherein the plurality of thorium based fuel pins are arranged in a single ring around the filled central displacement tube.
A fuel bundle for use in a channel type heterogeneous reactor core of a heavy water reactor, the fuel bundle comprising:
- a filled central displacement tube;
- and
- a plurality of thorium based fuel pins surrounding the filled central displacement tube,
- wherein all of the plurality of thorium based fuel pins have an identical composition, and
- wherein the plurality of thorium based fuel pins are arranged in a single ring around the filled central displacement tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.