Space nuclear reactor shield

By employing a combined shielding layer structure of beryllium, tungsten, boron carbide, and lithium hydride in a space nuclear reactor, the problem of lithium hydride shielding material swelling under combined temperature and photon fields was solved, achieving a reduction in the weight and an extension in the lifespan of the shielding body, while maintaining high-efficiency radiation shielding performance.

CN116153547BActive Publication Date: 2026-07-14CHINA INSTITUTE OF ATOMIC ENERGY
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202310272008.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-03-16
Publication Date
2026-07-14
Estimated Expiration
2043-03-16

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The lithium hydride shielding material commonly used in existing space nuclear reactors is prone to radiation swelling under the combined temperature field and photon dose field, resulting in poor shielding effect and shortened service life.

Method used

A combined shielding layer structure of beryllium, tungsten, boron carbide and lithium hydride is adopted. The beryllium shielding layer is located at the front end to reflect neutrons, the tungsten shielding layer and the boron carbide shielding layer are located in the middle to shield photons and secondary photons, and the lithium hydride shielding layer is located at the rear end to shield neutrons. The lithium hydride is avoided from being located in the radiation swelling region. The design of lightweight materials is combined to reduce the weight of the shield.

Benefits of technology

It effectively avoids the radiation swelling problem of lithium hydride, improves the service life of the shield, and significantly reduces the overall weight of the shield by optimizing the material combination and structural design, while maintaining high-efficiency radiation shielding performance.

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Abstract

The embodiment of the present application provides a space nuclear reactor shield arranged on one side of a space nuclear reactor body and used for shielding a neutron and photon radiation field from the reactor body. The shield comprises: a beryllium shielding layer used for reflecting and shielding the neutron from the reactor body; a tungsten shielding layer connected to the outer side of the beryllium shielding layer, coaxially arranged with the beryllium shielding layer, and used for shielding the photon; a boron carbide shielding layer connected to the outer side of the beryllium shielding layer, coaxially arranged with the beryllium shielding layer, and used for absorbing the neutron and reducing secondary photons generated by the neutron in the shield; and a lithium hydride shielding layer connected to one end of the beryllium shielding layer and coaxially arranged with the beryllium shielding layer, and used for shielding the neutron from the reactor body. The shield in the embodiment of the present application can reasonably use the efficient neutron shielding material lithium hydride, and can avoid the irradiation swelling problem of lithium hydride.
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