Ignition neutron source device, nuclear reactor and nuclear reactor ignition method

Abstract

The invention discloses an ignition neutron source device, a nuclear reactor and a nuclear reactor ignition method, the nuclear reactor comprises a reactor core, the reactor core comprises a neutron source mounting hole, the ignition neutron source device comprises a neutron source core block, the neutron source core block comprises an antimony core and a beryllium sleeve, the antimony core is arranged in the beryllium sleeve, and the antimony core is arranged in the beryllium sleeve. The neutron source core block is used for being installed in the neutron source installation hole. The ignition neutron source device has the advantages of being easy to manufacture and low in price, the efficiency of generating neutrons by the ignition neutron source device is high, the neutrons can be regenerated, besides ignition, the neutron source can be restarted, and the structure of the ignition neutron source device provides a basis for achieving miniaturization of a nuclear reactor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ignition neutron source device, a nuclear reactor and a nuclear reactor ignition method. Background Art

[0002] Nuclear reactors are used to control and maintain nuclear fission chain reactions to generate energy. Nuclear fission is the process by which an atomic nucleus splits after absorbing a neutron, releasing energy, more neutrons, and radiation. Nuclear reactors can be used for power generation, research, and the production of nuclear weapons materials.

[0003] In order to start the reactor, a neutron source must be installed in the core. There are two types of neutron sources: primary neutron source and secondary neutron source.

[0004] The primary neutron source provides starting ignition and is also called the ignition neutron source.

[0005] The secondary neutron source is the neutron released after being activated by neutron irradiation during reactor operation. The neutrons released by activation are also called regenerative neutron sources. The regenerative neutron source has a short half-life and generally cannot be used as an ignition neutron source.

[0006] There are several types of ignition neutron sources:

[0007] Radium-beryllium neutron source (radium-beryllium mixture), radium emits alpha particles, bombarding beryllium to produce neutrons.

[0008] Polonium-beryllium neutron source (polonium-beryllium mixture), polonium emits alpha particles, which bombard beryllium to produce neutrons.

[0009] Californium neutron source, etc.

[0010] The above neutron sources are rare raw materials, difficult to obtain, and very expensive. They are generally used in large reactors such as pressurized water reactors.

[0011] Secondary neutron sources require activation, that is, they can only produce neutrons after being irradiated with neutrons. They cannot produce neutrons before activation and cannot be used in places where there is no neutron source activation. It is difficult to make an independent neutron source structure and they are all installed in the pile for activation. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art in that neutron sources are expensive and the efficiency of secondary neutron sources in generating neutrons is low and difficult to apply in practice, and to provide an implementation device for a secondary neutron source, an ignition neutron source device, a nuclear reactor and a nuclear reactor ignition method that are easy to manufacture, inexpensive and reproducible.

[0013] The present invention solves the above technical problems through the following technical solutions:

[0014] An ignition neutron source device is used for a nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor includes a core, and the core includes a neutron source mounting hole. The ignition neutron source device is characterized in that the ignition neutron source device includes a neutron source core block, and the neutron source core block includes an antimony core and a beryllium sleeve. The antimony core is arranged in the beryllium sleeve, and the neutron source core block is used to be mounted in the neutron source mounting hole.

[0015] Preferably, the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve are both cylindrical, the diameter of the antimony core is 1 mm to 2 mm, the inner diameter of the beryllium sleeve matches the diameter of the antimony core, and the wall thickness of the beryllium sleeve is 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

[0016] Preferably, the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve have the same length, and the length of the beryllium sleeve is 15 mm to 40 mm.

[0017] Preferably, an absorber having a length greater than or equal to the length of the beryllium sleeve is provided on the outside of the beryllium sleeve, and the material of the absorber is cadmium indium silver alloy.

[0018] Preferably, the cadmium, indium and silver contents of the absorber are 5%, 15% and 80% respectively.

[0019] Preferably, a core upper plate is provided on the top of the core, a neutron source guide cylinder is provided above the core upper plate, a guide cylinder fixing plate is provided on the top of the neutron source guide cylinder, the absorber is installed above the guide cylinder fixing plate, and the absorber, neutron source guide cylinder and the neutron source mounting hole are located on the same axis.

[0020] Preferably, the ignition neutron source device includes a fixing part and a traction chain, the fixing part fixes the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve from the top, and the traction chain is connected to the fixing part and is used to place the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve along the neutron source guide tube into the neutron source installation hole.

[0021] Preferably, a support plate is provided at the bottom of the beryllium sleeve, an external thread is provided at the top of the beryllium sleeve, an internal thread matching the external thread is provided at the bottom of the fixing member, and a connector connected to the traction chain is provided at the top, and the fixing member is made of beryllium.

[0022] The present invention also provides a nuclear reactor, which is characterized in that the nuclear reactor uses the ignition neutron source device as described above to start ignition.

[0023] The present invention further provides a nuclear reactor ignition method, which is characterized in that the nuclear reactor ignition method uses the ignition neutron source device described above to start ignition, and the nuclear reactor ignition method includes:

[0024] The nuclear reactor ignition method comprises:

[0025] Neutron irradiation activation of the antimony core;

[0026] Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve;

[0027] A beryllium sleeve containing an activated antimony core is installed in the neutron source installation hole.

[0028] Preferably, the nuclear reactor ignition method includes:

[0029] Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve;

[0030] Installing a plurality of beryllium sleeves equipped with unactivated antimony cores in the neutron source installation holes one by one;

[0031] activating a target antimony core by neutron irradiation;

[0032] The activated target antimony core is installed in the beryllium sleeve;

[0033] Beryllium sleeves equipped with activated target antimony cores are sequentially installed in all neutron source installation holes, and the unactivated antimony cores in each neutron source installation hole are activated by using the beryllium sleeves equipped with activated target antimony cores.

[0034] On the basis of conforming to the common sense in this field, the above-mentioned preferred conditions can be arbitrarily combined to obtain the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] The positive progress effect of the present invention is:

[0036] The ignition neutron source device of the present invention has the advantages of being easy to manufacture and inexpensive. Moreover, the ignition neutron source device has high efficiency in generating neutrons and is renewable. In addition to ignition, the neutron source can also be restarted. The antimony ignition neutron source has a half-life of only 60 days and is therefore suitable for microreactors. The structure of the present invention provides a basis for miniaturization of nuclear reactors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the neutron source core block of Invention Example 1.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the nuclear reactor of Invention Example 1.

[0039] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of the neutron source core block of Invention Example 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present invention is further described below by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the examples.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] In this embodiment, the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" and the like indicate positions or locations based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are intended solely to facilitate and simplify the description of the present invention and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0043] See also Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment provides a nuclear reactor, in particular, a micro nuclear reactor, and an ignition neutron source device suitable for the micro nuclear reactor.

[0044] The nuclear reactor includes a core 11 , and the core includes a neutron source installation hole 12 .

[0045] The ignition neutron source device includes a neutron source pellet 13 , which includes an antimony core 131 and a beryllium sleeve 132 .

[0046] The antimony core is arranged in the beryllium sleeve, and the neutron source core block is used to be installed in the neutron source installation hole.

[0047] The antimony core and the beryllium sleeve are both cylindrical. The diameter of the antimony core is 1 mm to 2 mm. The inner diameter of the beryllium sleeve matches the diameter of the antimony core. The wall thickness of the beryllium sleeve is 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

[0048] The antimony core and the beryllium sleeve have the same length, and the length of the beryllium sleeve is 15 mm to 40 mm.

[0049] Nuclear reactors have a large number of neutron sources for ignition, but they cannot use radium-beryllium sources, polonium-beryllium sources, and certainly not californium sources.

[0050] In this embodiment, an antimony-beryllium source is designed.

[0051] Antimony reserves are large, easy to obtain, and cheap.

[0052] Antimony is made into a wire with a diameter of 1.5 mm (preferably), and a section is activated by neutron irradiation.

[0053] Antimony release ray, When the radiation hits beryllium, neutrons are produced.

[0054] ,

[0055] .

[0056] Beryllium is made into a sleeve and placed on the antimony wire. After activation, it produces neutrons with a higher efficiency than the mixture.

[0057] An absorber 17 having a length greater than or equal to the length of the beryllium sleeve is provided on the outside of the beryllium sleeve. The absorber is made of cadmium-indium-silver alloy.

[0058] The cadmium, indium and silver contents of the absorber are 5%, 15% and 80% respectively.

[0059] A core upper plate 14 is provided on the top of the core 11, a neutron source guide tube 15 is provided above the core upper plate, a guide tube fixing plate 16 is provided on the top of the neutron source guide tube, and the absorber 17 is installed above the guide tube fixing plate. The absorber, the neutron source guide tube and the neutron source mounting hole are located on the same axis.

[0060] The ignition neutron source device includes a fixing part 18 and a traction chain 19. The fixing part fixes the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve from the top. The traction chain is connected to the fixing part and is used to place the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve along the neutron source guide tube into the neutron source installation hole.

[0061] A support plate 20 is provided at the bottom of the beryllium sleeve, an external thread is provided at the top of the beryllium sleeve, an internal thread matching the external thread is provided at the bottom of the fixing piece, and a connector connected to the traction chain is provided at the top. The fixing piece is made of beryllium.

[0062] Utilizing the above-mentioned nuclear reactor, this embodiment further provides a nuclear reactor ignition method, comprising:

[0063] Neutron irradiation activation of the antimony core;

[0064] Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve;

[0065] A beryllium sleeve containing an antimony core is installed in the neutron source installation hole.

[0066] Specifically, the nuclear reactor ignition method includes:

[0067] Neutron irradiation activation of the antimony core;

[0068] Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve;

[0069] Installing a fixing member above the beryllium sleeve;

[0070] Pulling the pulling chain to place the beryllium sleeve equipped with the antimony core into the sub-source guide cylinder;

[0071] The beryllium sleeve is placed in the neutron source installation hole along the neutron source guide cylinder by using the traction chain.

[0072] In this embodiment, after being activated, the neutron source can be used as a direct neutron source to provide neutrons, or as a secondary neutron source. The ignition method includes:

[0073] Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve;

[0074] Installing a plurality of beryllium sleeves equipped with unactivated antimony cores in the neutron source installation holes one by one;

[0075] activating a target antimony core by neutron irradiation;

[0076] The activated target antimony core is installed in the beryllium sleeve;

[0077] Beryllium sleeves equipped with activated target antimony cores are sequentially installed in all neutron source installation holes, and the unactivated antimony cores in each neutron source installation hole are activated by using the beryllium sleeves equipped with activated target antimony cores.

[0078] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these are merely illustrative and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, and such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ignition neutron source device for a nuclear reactor, wherein the nuclear reactor comprises a core, and the core comprises a neutron source mounting hole, wherein: The ignition neutron source device comprises a neutron source core block, which comprises an antimony core and a beryllium sleeve. The antimony core is arranged in the beryllium sleeve. The neutron source core block is used to be installed in the neutron source installation hole.

2. The ignition neutron source device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The antimony core and the beryllium sleeve are both cylindrical, the diameter of the antimony core is 1 mm to 2 mm, the inner diameter of the beryllium sleeve matches the diameter of the antimony core, and the wall thickness of the beryllium sleeve is 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

3. The ignition neutron source device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The antimony core and the beryllium sleeve have the same length, and the length of the beryllium sleeve is 15 mm to 40 mm.

4. The ignition neutron source device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An absorber with a length greater than or equal to the length of the beryllium sleeve is arranged outside the beryllium sleeve, and the material of the absorber is cadmium indium silver alloy.

5. The ignition neutron source device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cadmium, indium and silver contents of the absorber are 5%, 15% and 80% respectively.

6. The ignition neutron source device according to claim 4, characterized in that: A core upper plate is provided on the top of the core, a neutron source guide cylinder is provided above the core upper plate, a guide cylinder fixing plate is provided on the top of the neutron source guide cylinder, the absorber is installed above the guide cylinder fixing plate, and the absorber, the neutron source guide cylinder and the neutron source mounting hole are located on the same axis.

7. The ignition neutron source device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The ignition neutron source device includes a fixing part and a traction chain. The fixing part fixes the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve from the top. The traction chain is connected to the fixing part and is used to place the antimony core and the beryllium sleeve along the neutron source guide tube into the neutron source installation hole.

8. A nuclear reactor, characterized in that: The nuclear reactor is started up and ignited using the ignition neutron source device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A method for igniting a nuclear reactor, characterized in that: The nuclear reactor ignition method uses the ignition neutron source device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to start ignition, and the nuclear reactor ignition method comprises: Neutron irradiation activation of the antimony core; Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve; A beryllium sleeve containing an activated antimony core is installed in the neutron source installation hole.

10. A method for igniting a nuclear reactor, characterized in that: The nuclear reactor ignition method uses the ignition neutron source device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 to start ignition, and the nuclear reactor ignition method comprises: Install the antimony core in the beryllium sleeve; Installing a plurality of beryllium sleeves equipped with unactivated antimony cores in the neutron source installation holes one by one; Activating a target antimony core by neutron irradiation; The activated target antimony core is installed in the beryllium sleeve; Beryllium sleeves equipped with activated target antimony cores are sequentially installed in all neutron source installation holes, and the unactivated antimony cores in each neutron source installation hole are activated by using the beryllium sleeves equipped with activated target antimony cores.

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