Suspended uranium dioxide fuel

Abstract

A nuclear reactor fuel is provided. The nuclear reactor fuel includes a liquid metal alloy, and uranium dioxide (UO2) particles suspended in the liquid metal alloy. The UO2 particles are enriched with uranium-235 (235U) in an amount of less than 20%. The nuclear reactor fuel has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of sintered UO2 pellets at the same temperature. The liquid metal alloy may be a bismuth-lead-tin (Bi—Pb—Sn)-based alloy and a lead-tin (Pb—Sn)-based alloy. A concentration of the UO2 particles in the liquid metal alloy may be up to 30 wt % or more. The UO2 particles alternatively may be uranium carbide (UC) particles, uranium nitride (UN) particles, or tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) particles. A nuclear reactor is also provided. The nuclear reactor includes a reactor vessel and the nuclear reactor fuel. The nuclear reactor fuel is contained in or circulated through the reactor vessel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.