Larger contained nuclear explosion breeder reactor systems
OwnerEdward F. Marwickinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Large falling column-globs of molten sodium are dropped into positions around the center of a large explosion-containing chamber such that most of the effects of neutron-producing bursts, such as high energy photons, neutrons, and highly kinetic ions are attenuated and/or absorbed therein so as to prevent any damage to the chamber. This molten sodium absorbs most of the debris and produced energy of said bursts and is a working fluid by which said debris and such thermal energy is withdrawn from said chamber.
Claims39
A method of producing useful energy and isotopes, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing an assembly of nuclear materials into a large containing chamber directed toward a center of nuclear reaction;
- causing said assembly of nuclear materials to produce intense nuclear reactions at said center of nuclear reaction;
- substantially surrounding said center of nuclear reaction with a first region of liquid in the form of at least one substantially contiguous free-falling mass of liquid;
- and
- substantially surrounding said first region with a second region of spray.
Apparatus for producing useful energy and isotopes, said apparatus comprising:
- a containing chamber having a center of nuclear reaction;
- an assembly of nuclear materials;
- means for introducing said assembly of nuclear materials into said chamber to produce intense nuclear reactions at said center of nuclear reaction;
- means for producing at least one contiguous free-falling mass of slurry for substantially surrounding said point of concurrence;
- and
- spray means for producing a configuration of actinide containing slurry spray in said chamber substantially surrounding said at least one mass of slurry.
Apparatus for producing useful energy, said apparatus comprising:
- a large chamber;
- means for introducing nuclear explosive means for descent into said chamber;
- means for causing an explosion of said nuclear explosive means at a predetermined point in said chamber;
- means for introducing a plurality of substantially contiguous free-falling liquid masses for descent into said chamber such that at the instant of nuclear explosion said nuclear explosive means is substantially surrounded by said plurality of masses;
- and
- means for introducing spray into said chamber.
A method of containing large nuclear explosions in a large containing chamber seriatim, said method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a plurality of large substantially contiguous free-falling masses of liquid into the top portion of said containing chamber;
- having said masses free-fall so that said masses substantially surround a centroidal nuclear explosion;
- and
- applying spray within said chamber but outside of the assembly of said masses and nuclear explosion means.
A method for producing a large substantially contiguous mass of liquid with a mass in excess of 10 tonnes that free-falls more than 10 meters into an explosion containing chamber with a volume in excess of 10,000 cubic meters and a very low atmospheric pressure, said method comprising:
- positioning sealing means beneath a holding means;
- introducing liquid into said holding means to form a contiguous mass of liquid;
- and
- removing the sealing means from beneath said holding means at sufficient speed to prevent interference with the descent of said mass.
Apparatus for producing a large substantially contiguous mass of liquid with a mass in excess of 10 tonnes for free-falling more than 10 meters into an explosion containing chamber of very low atmospheric pressure and of a volume in excess of 10,000 cubic meters, said apparatus comprising:
- hollow means positioned above said chamber and having an open lower end portion;
- means for closing the lower end portion of said hollow means;
- means for introducing liquid into said hollow means;
- and
- means for withdrawing said closing means from the lower end portion of said hollow means to permit said liquid mass to fall into said chamber as a large contiguous mass of liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.