Seed and blanket fuel arrangement for dual-phase nuclear reactors
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsSteven P. Congdon, Russell M. Fawcett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fresh fuel bundles are inserted into core locations with small coolant flow orifices, while mid-life fuel bundles are inserted into core locatiosn with large coolant flow locations. Thus, fissile fuel production is promoted at the expense of fissioning early in a bundle lifetime, increasing the effective quantity of fuel available for energy production. Moreover, fissioning is promoted at the expense of conversion later in the bundle lifetime to enhance reactivity of the remaining fissile material and to minimize the further production of fissile fuel. The net result is longer fuel lifetimes and reduced radioactive waste.
Claims8
A fuel management method for a dual-phase nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
- installing a fuel bundle at a first core location accessed by coolant through a relatively small aperture, each of said bundles having a predetermined group of fuel elements;
- operating said reactor a first time;
- shutting down said reactor;
- reinstalling said fuel bundle at a second core location accessed by coolant through a relatively large aperture;
- and
- operating said reactor a second time.
A fuel management method for a dual-phase nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
- installing a fuel bundle at a first core location accessed by coolant through a relatively small aperture so as to establish a relatively low coolant flow rate and thus a relatively high conversion ratio in said bundle when said reactor is next operated;
- operating said reactor a first time;
- shutting down said reactor;
- reinstalling said fuel bundle at a second core location accessed by coolant through a relatively large aperture so as to establish a relatively high coolant flow rate and thus a relatively low conversion ratio when said reactor is next operated, said second core location being radially inward of said first core location;
- and
- operating said reactor a second time.
A core for a dual-phase nuclear reactor comprising:
- a core plate defining an array of fuel bundle locations, including conversion locations and power locations, said power locations being characterized by larger flow orifices than said conversion locations, said conversion locations being located radially outside said power locations;
- fuel bundles with relatively large quantities of fertile fuel disposed at said conversion locations;
- and
- fuel bundles with relatively large quantities of fissile conversion products at said power locations;
- whereby, when an incorporating reactor is operating, said fuel bundles with relatively large quantities of fertile fuel are exposed to relatively large voids and thus to fast neutrons that promote conversion of fertile fuel to fissile fuel, said fuel bundles with relatively large quantities of fissile conversion products are exposed to relatively small voids so that moderation is greater and more thermal neutrons are present to promote fissioning.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.