Reactor core having both nuclear fuel and a heat pipe in a module located in a solid neutron moderator

A reactor core, the reactor core comprising:

• a solid neutron moderator comprising at least one hole;
• a liquid neutron moderator;
• and
• at least one module, each module of the at least one module comprising:
• a module casing;
• thermal insulation positioned within the module casing;
• one heat pipe having an evaporation area, the one heat pipe comprising a heat pipe casing and a wick and containing a heat pipe coolant;
• and
• at least one fuel element comprising nuclear fuel and a can;
• each module of the at least one module being arranged within a respective hole of the at least one hole of the solid neutron moderator;
• the one heat pipe being located inside the module casing;
• the at least one fuel element being located along the evaporation area of the one heat pipe, around the heat pipe casing, in heat contact with the heat pipe casing, and enclosed in the can;
• the thermal insulation being arranged between the can and the module casing;
• and
• the space between the module casing and the solid neutron moderator being filled with the liquid neutron moderator.