Nuclear Reactor Loading System and Methods of use Thereof
AssigneeAbilene Christian University
InventorsJonathan SCHERR, Jack SHOEMATE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A loading system for a molten salt reactor system includes a slug loading assembly. The slug loading assembly includes an inert chamber having an entry port therein that is configured to receive a solid slug. The loading system further includes a chute having a pipe run extending from the entry port and elevationally below the slug loading assembly. The loading system further includes a terminal sieve fluidically coupled with the pipe run opposite the entry port and configured to receive the solid slug via the pipe run. The terminal sieve is positionable with a flow of a liquid molten salt for dissolution of the solid slug therein.
Claims23
A loading system for a molten salt reactor system, the system comprising
- a slug loading assembly comprising an inert chamber having an entry port therein, the entry port configured to receive a solid slug therein;
- a chute comprising a pipe run extending from the entry port and elevationally below the slug loading assembly;
- and
- a terminal sieve fluidically coupled with the pipe run opposite the entry port and configured to receive the solid slug via the pipe run,
- wherein the terminal sieve is positionable within a liquid molten salt for dissolution of the solid slug therein.
A molten salt reactor system, the system comprising
- a molten salt loop configured to circulate a liquid molten salt through a reactor vessel, a reactor access vessel, a reactor pump, and/or a heat exchanger;
- a containment structure defining a containment region at least partially encompassing the molten salt loop;
- and
- a loading system configured to introduce a solid slug into the liquid molten salt in the loop from an outer region outside the containment region.
A method of loading a molten salt reactor system, the method comprising
- loading a solid slug into a slug loading assembly of a loading system;
- inserting the solid slug into an entry port arranged within an inert chamber of the slug loading assembly;
- causing the solid slug to drop through a chute of the slug loading assembly, the chute extending from the entry port and elevationally below the inert chamber;
- receiving the solid slug at a terminal sieve of the loading system, the terminal sieve positioned at an end of the pipe run opposite the entry port;
- and
- causing the solid slug held within the terminal sieve to dissolve into a liquid molten salt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.