Reactor control and shutdown systems

Abstract

A nuclear reactor may include a vessel having a wall defining an interior cavity. The nuclear reactor may include a spherical core disposed within the cavity. The spherical core may include a plurality of fuel elements. Each fuel element may extend from an outer periphery of the core along a radius to a central portion of the core. Each fuel element may include a solid matrix material that defines a plurality of fuel channels. The core may include a fuel material disposed in the plurality of fuel channels. The core may include one or more control rod channels, each extending from the outer periphery of the core along a radius to the central portion of the core. The nuclear reactor may include a reactivity control system that may have one or more control rods comprising a neutron absorbing material for insertion into the one or more control rod channels.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.