Gas equalization and management system for a molten salt nuclear reactor

A molten salt nuclear reactor system comprising

• a reactor vessel;
• a drain tank;
• a fuel salt system configured to circulate a molten salt through the reactor vessel;
• an inert gas flow system
• fluidically coupled with the fuel salt system and the drain tank, and
• configured to maintain a pressurized volume located in a head space in the drain tank,
• wherein the pressurized volume prevents molten salt to flow from the reactor vessel into the drain tank, and
• wherein the inert gas flow system is configured to cease maintenance of the pressurized volume in response to a reactor shutdown event;
• an equalization system configured to equalize pressure inside a head space in the reactor vessel and the head space in the drain tank in response to the reactor shutdown event, the equalization system comprising
• a cross-connection fluidically coupling a first flow path of the equalization system and a second flow path of the equalization system;
• wherein the equalization allows molten salt to flow by gravity from the reactor vessel into the drain tank.

A molten salt nuclear reactor system comprising

• a reactor vessel;
• a drain tank;
• a fuel salt system configured to circulate a molten salt through the reactor vessel;
• an inert gas flow system
• fluidically coupled with the fuel salt system and fluidically coupled with the drain tank by an inert gas flow path, and
• configured to maintain a pressurized volume located in a head space in the drain tank,
• wherein the pressurized volume prevents molten salt to flow from the reactor vessel into the drain tank,
• the inert gas flow system comprising
• a first inert gas vessel, a second inert gas vessel fluidically coupled with the first inert gas vessel, and a compressor in-line between the first inert gas vessel and the second inert gas vessel,
• wherein the first inert gas vessel is arranged to receive inert gas from at least the inert gas flow path,
• wherein the compressor is configured to receive a flow of inert gas from the first inert gas vessel, increase a pressure of the flow of inert gas, and cause the flow of inert gas to be delivered to the second inert gas vessel, and
• wherein the second inert gas vessel is arranged to deliver inert gas to at least the inert gas flow path;
• wherein the inert gas flow system is configured to cease maintenance of the pressurized volume in response to a reactor shutdown event;
• an equalization system configured to equalize pressure inside a head space in the reactor vessel and the head space in the drain tank in response to the reactor shutdown event,
• wherein the equalization allows molten salt to flow by gravity from the reactor vessel into the drain tank.