Contained nuclear explosion breeder reactor system
OwnerEdward F. Marwickinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A large free-falling mass with a hollow vertical hole therethrough is intercepted by a smaller sub-critical high velocity downward traveling mass and with a smaller sub-critical high velocity upward traveling mass. A resulting explosion is contained within a large chamber which contains much molten sodium spray which attenuates the effects of the explosion and absorbs the explosion's energy and debris. The heated molten sodium with debris provides useful thermal energy to a heat exchanger means and materials for new masses and for new assemblies that are manufactured from precipitate therefrom. The reactor system is a net consumer of plutonium and converts spent enriched uranium LWR fuels into enriched (mostly of U.sup.233) uranium by the neutron irradiation of thorium.
Claims46
A method of producing energy and isotopes within a containing chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a large, sub-critical mass having an opening therethrough into the containing chamber, said mass having an enclosed neutron reflecting slurry means surrounding a layered centroid portion;
- propelling first and second sub-critical slugs into said chamber from generally opposite directions for intercepting said mass to cause a reaction for the production of thermal energy and neutrons;
- and
- introducing material into the chamber to absorb said thermal energy and isotopes and protect said chamber from damage.
Apparatus for producing thermal energy and isotopes, said apparatus comprising:
- a containing chamber;
- a large mass having an opening extending therethrough, said mass having an enclosed neutron reflecting slurry means surrounding a layered centroid portion;
- first and second slugs;
- means for introducing said mass into said chamber;
- means for propelling said first and second slugs into said chamber in generally opposite directions for concurring within said opening and forming an assembly for producing thermal energy and neutrons;
- and
- means for absorbing thermal energy and neutrons and protecting said chamber.
A method of producing uranium enriched with U.sup.233, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a large, sub-critical mass having an opening therethrough into the containing chamber, said mass having an enclosed neutron reflecting slurry means surrounding a layered centroid portion;
- propelling first and second sub-critical slugs into said chamber from generally opposite directions for intercepting said mass to cause a reaction for the production of thermal energy and neutrons;
- and
- introducing material into the chamber to absorb said thermal energy and isotopes and protect said chamber from damage.
Apparatus for producing uranium enriched with U.sup.233, said apparatus comprising:
- a containing chamber;
- a large mass having an opening extending therethrough, said mass having an enclosed neutron reflecting slurry means surrounding a layered centroid portion;
- first and second slugs;
- means for introducing said mass into said chamber;
- means for propelling said first and second slugs into said chamber in generally opposite directions for concurring within said opening and forming an assembly for producing thermal energy and neutrons;
- and
- means for absorbing thermal energy and neutrons and protecting said chamber.
Apparatus for producing energy and isotopes, said apparatus comprising:
- a containing chamber;
- a large free-falling sub-critical mass, said mass having an enclosed neutron reflecting slurry means surrounding a layered centroid portion;
- at least one sub-critical slug means;
- means for introducing said mass into said chamber;
- means for propelling said slug means to concur with said large mass for forming an assembly to produce thermal energy and neutrons;
- and
- means for absorbing thermal energy and protecting said chamber;
- said large mass comprising a core containing actinides, rigid, fragile shell means connected to said core, and slurry means substantially surrounding said core within said shell means.
A nuclear energy release assembly for the production of useful energy and isotopes,
- said assembly comprising:
- a centroid portion comprising plutonium;
- a layer of uranium substantially surrounding said centroid portion;
- a layer of uranium hydride outside said uranium layer;
- a layer of thorium hydride around said uranium hydride layer;
- and
- a neutron moderating reflecting slurry means surrounding said centroid portion and layers.
The nuclear energy release assembly of claim 46 wherein said neutron moderating reflecting means comprises:
- a generally elipsoidal chamber in said relatively large mass containing liquid moderator means;
- and
- an elongate bore therethrough for receiving said first and second slugs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.