Modular integrated gas high temperature nuclear reactor

A high temperature gas reactor system, comprising:

• a first high-pressure shell portion having a substantially horizontal first longitudinal axis, the first high-pressure shell portion to accommodate a slidable insertion of at least a portion of a reactor core assembly disposed at least partially in a core barrel, the reactor core assembly having a first end and a second end disposed along the substantially horizontal first longitudinal axis, such that in operation Mena coolant gas enters the first end of the reactor core assembly at a first temperature and exits the second end of the reactor core assembly at a second temperature greater than the first temperature;
• a second high-pressure shell portion having a substantially horizontal second longitudinal axis, the second high-pressure shell portion to accommodate insertion of at least portion of a thermal transfer assembly disposed at least partially in a flow separation barrel, the thermal transfer assembly having a first end and a second end disposed along the substantially horizontal second longitudinal axis, such that in operation the coolant gas at the second temperature from the reactor core assembly enters the first end of the thermal transfer assembly at the second temperature and exits the second end of the thermal transfer assembly at the first temperature;
• at least one coolant gas circulator to receive the coolant gas at the first temperature and cause the coolant gas to return to the reactor core assembly;
• one or more support elements coupled to at least one of the first high-pressure shell portion and the second high-pressure shell portion, the one or more support elements to permit the axial displacement of at least one of:
• the first high-pressure shell portion along the first longitudinal axis and the second high-pressure shell portion along the second longitudinal axis.

A high temperature gas reactor, comprising:

• a first high-pressure shell portion having a substantially horizontal first longitudinal axis, the first high-pressure shell portion to accommodate a slidable insertion of at least a portion of a reactor core assembly disposed at least partially in a core barrel, such that in operation the coolant gas enters the reactor core assembly at a first temperature and exits the reactor core assembly at a second temperature greater than the first temperature, the core barrel comprising
• a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter to receive the reactor core assembly,
• a core grid disposed transversely across the first diameter,
• a frustoconical portion coupled to the first cylindrical portion, and
• a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter coupled to the frustoconical portion, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• a second high-pressure shell portion having a substantially horizontal second longitudinal axis, the second high-pressure shell portion to accommodate insertion of at least portion of a thermal transfer assembly disposed at least partially in a flow separation barrel to receive the coolant gas at the second temperature from the reactor core assembly and cool the coolant gas to the first temperature, the flow separation barrel comprising
• a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter to receive the thermal transfer assembly,
• a frustoconical portion coupled to the first cylindrical portion,
• a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter coupled to the frustoconical portion, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter;
• at least one coolant gas circulator to receive the coolant gas at the first temperature and cause the coolant gas to return to the reactor core assembly;
• at least one physical connector to physically couple the first high-pressure shell portion to the second high-pressure shell portion;
• and
• a gas-tight flexible connection coupling the second cylindrical portion of the core barrel to the second cylindrical portion of the flow separation barrel.