Nuclear reactor comprising a reactor vessel containing a reactor core and an alkali metal thermoelectric converter

A nuclear reactor comprising a reactor vessel containing a reactor core and an alkali metal thermoelectric converter,

• wherein the reactor vessel has a bottom portion, the bottom portion containing liquid alkali metal;
• wherein the reactor core is arranged in the reactor vessel,
• wherein the reactor core comprises a plurality of fuel rods, and a radial reflective layer arranged at periphery of the plurality of fuel rods,
• wherein a surface of each fuel rod of the plurality of fuel rods is provided with first liquid-absorption cores, and bottom of the reactor core is provided with second liquid-absorption cores arranged to cover the bottom of the reactor core, to connect to the first liquid-absorption cores, and to contact with the liquid alkali metal;
• wherein the alkali metal thermoelectric converter is arranged along a circumferential direction of the radial reflective layer, between the outside of the radial reflective layer and an inner wall of the re actor vessel, and which divides the inside of the reactor vessel into a high-pressure vapor chamber located above the alkali metal thermoelectric converter and a low-pressure vapor chamber located below the alkali metal thermoelectric converter;
• and
• wherein the alkali metal thermoelectric converter is configured to directly convert heat into electric power;
• wherein the first and second liquid-absorption cores are together configured to pump liquid alkali metal from the bottom portion of the reactor vessel to an upper portion of an outer surface of the plurality of fuel rods where the liquid alkali metal is vaporized into alkali metal vapor;
• wherein the alkali metal thermoelectric converter is configured to receive alkali metal vapor from the high-pressure vapor chamber for use in electric power generation;
• and
• wherein the alkali metal thermoelectric converter is configured to release alkali metal vapor into the low-pressure vapor chamber where the alkali metal vapor can condense into a liquid state.