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US 4,304,634 AGranted
Method for producing isotopically enriched helium-4 and use of same as nuclear reactor coolant
AssigneeSouthwest Services, Inc.
InventorLeo Garwin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Isotopically enriched helium-4, that is, helium-4 which is low in helium-3, is useful as a nuclear reactor coolant. It is produced from liquefied natural gas source helium by distilling helium-3 therefrom. The coolant is preferably enriched in hydrogen up to about 6 percent by volume to thereby improve the heat transfer characteristics of the coolant, and to reduce the power requirements for circulation of the coolant.
Claims2
An improved process for cooling a high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor with helium coolant wherein the improvement comprises using as the coolant isotopically enriched helium-4.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.