Temperature control device surrounding the device that penetrates the pressurized container

Abstract

A nuclear reactor is disclosed comprising a canister, a reactor core housed within the canister, and a temperature control housing attached to the canister. The reactor core comprises a control drum and a shaft extending from the control drum to the outside of the reactor core. Heat generated by the reactor core enters the temperature control housing. The temperature control housing comprises a proximal end attached to the canister, a first internal plate spaced apart from the proximal end and located distal to the proximal end, a second internal plate spaced apart from the first internal plate and located distal to the first internal plate, and a motor attached to the second internal plate. The shaft enters the temperature control housing through the proximal end and extends to the motor. The temperature control housing is for passively maintaining the motor at a temperature below a predetermined temperature threshold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 346,132, filed on June 30, 2023, entitled "TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT PENETRATING A PRESSURIZED VESSEL", under 35 U.S.C. § 120, and the entire content of the said application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to small modular reactors and microreactors, or any sealed high - temperature system, and temperature - sensitive devices disposed therein.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] In a general aspect, the present disclosure provides a nuclear reactor. The nuclear reactor includes a canister and a nuclear reactor core housed inside the canister. The nuclear reactor core includes a control drum and a shaft extending from the control drum to the outside of the nuclear reactor core. The nuclear reactor further includes a temperature control housing attached to the canister, and the heat generated by the nuclear reactor core enters the temperature control housing. The temperature control housing includes a proximal end attached to the canister, a first internal plate spaced from the proximal end and located distally from the proximal end, a second internal plate spaced from the first internal plate and located distally from the first internal plate, and a motor attached to the second internal plate. The shaft enters the temperature control housing through the proximal end and extends to the motor. The motor is operatively connected to the shaft. The temperature control housing is for passively maintaining the motor at a temperature below a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0004] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing defines an internal space, a first internal plate extending across the internal space, and a second internal plate also extending across the internal space.

[0005] In at least one embodiment, connecting interfaces are added at the locations where the first internal plate contacts the outer wall of the temperature control housing and where the second internal plate contacts the outer wall of the temperature control housing.

[0006] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing includes a multilayer insulation material placed on the inner surface of the temperature control housing to reduce emissivity.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing includes a coating applied to the inner surface of the temperature control housing in order to reduce emissivity.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing further comprises a base plate located at the proximal end and attached to the reactor, and a support member extending from the base plate to a second internal plate, supporting and attaching the first internal plate and the second internal plate to the base plate. In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing further comprises an outer housing surrounding the first internal plate and the second internal plate, with a first gap defined between the first internal plate and the outer housing, and a second gap defined between the second internal plate and the outer housing. In at least one embodiment, the outer housing is removable.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, the proximal end defines a first hole, the first internal plate defines a second hole aligned with the first hole, and the shaft extends through the first and second holes. In at least one embodiment, the shaft extends through a seal before leaving the reactor core. In at least one embodiment, the canister maintains the working fluid at a first pressure, and the temperature control housing maintains the working fluid at a second pressure, and in the reactor equilibrium state, the first pressure is equal to the second pressure. In at least one embodiment, in the reactor non-equilibrium state where the first pressure is greater than the second pressure, pressurized gas from the reactor core flows into the temperature control housing until equilibrium is reached. In at least one embodiment, in the reactor non-equilibrium state where the first pressure is less than the second pressure, pressurized gas from the temperature control housing flows into the reactor core until equilibrium is reached.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing is an annular housing.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the predetermined temperature threshold is 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the shaft comprises a shaft thermal break, a proximal shaft having a distal end connected to the shaft thermal break, and a distal shaft having a proximal end connected to the shaft thermal break.

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing is one of several temperature control housings attached to the canister.

[0014] In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a temperature control housing for a temperature-sensitive device mounted on a container housing a heat source. Heat generated by the heat source enters the temperature control housing from the container. The temperature control housing comprises a proximal end mounted on the container, a heat shield plate spaced apart from the proximal end and located distal to the proximal end, and a temperature-sensitive device mounting plate spaced apart from the heat shield plate and located distal to the heat shield plate. The temperature-sensitive device is mounted on the distal surface of the temperature-sensitive device mounting plate. The temperature control housing passively cools the heat from the container to maintain the temperature of the temperature-sensitive device below a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, the shaft extends from the temperature-sensitive device into the container.

[0016] In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a pressurized high-temperature apparatus. The pressurized high-temperature apparatus comprises a vessel housing a heat source and a temperature control housing attached to the vessel. Heat generated by the heat source enters the temperature control housing. The temperature control housing comprises a proximal end attached to the vessel, a heat shield plate spaced apart from the proximal end and located distal to the proximal end, a temperature-sensitive device mounting plate spaced apart from the heat shield plate and located distal to the heat shield plate, and a temperature-sensitive device attached to the temperature-sensitive device mounting plate. The temperature-sensitive device is connected to other devices within the vessel through a hole that penetrates the proximal end of the temperature control housing and extends into the vessel. The temperature control housing is for passively cooling the heat to maintain the temperature in the temperature-sensitive device below a predetermined temperature threshold. The pressurized high-temperature apparatus further comprises a pressurized working fluid. The vessel maintains the working fluid at a first pressure. The temperature control housing maintains the working fluid at a second pressure. In equilibrium, the first pressure is equal to the second pressure.

[0017] The novel features of the various aspects are specifically set forth in the appended claims. In the several drawings, like reference numerals denote like or corresponding parts. The aspects described will be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, both as to construction and method of operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a micro nuclear reactor according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0019] [Figure 2] A perspective view of a micro nuclear reactor core according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0020] [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view of the micro nuclear reactor of FIG. 1 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0021] [Figure 4] A schematic view of the micro nuclear reactor of FIG. 1 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0022] [Figure 5] A detailed view of FIG. 4 showing an example of a shaft seal according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0023] [Figure 6] A perspective view of a temperature control housing according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0024] [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view of the temperature control housing of FIG. 6 taken along section line 7-7 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0025] [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view of the temperature control housing of FIG. 6 taken along section line 7-7 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0026] [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of a temperature control housing cut along section line 7-7 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, showing the support features.

[0027] [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of a temperature control housing cut along section line 7-7 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, showing the support features.

[0028] [Figure 11] These are schematic diagrams of the exemplary coupling interface shown in Figures 10 and 11, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0029] [Figure 12] This is a cross-sectional view of a temperature control housing according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, showing a shaft thermal break.

[0030] [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view of a temperature control housing according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, showing a shaft thermal break.

[0031] [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of a micro reactor according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0032] [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control housing shown in Figure 14, according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0033] [Figure 16] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a temperature control housing according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, showing the support features. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Various specific details are provided to provide a full understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings. Known operations, parts, and elements are not described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Readers of this specification should understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and therefore, certain structural and functional details disclosed herein should be understood to be representative and illustrative. Modifications and changes may be made without departing from the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that terms such as “up,” “down,” “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “upward,” and “downward” are used for convenience and should not be interpreted restrictively.

[0035] The exemplary examples are not limited to the details of the configuration and arrangement of components described in the accompanying drawings and specification with respect to their use or application. The exemplary examples may be implemented or incorporated in other embodiments, variations, and modifications, and may be implemented or performed in a variety of ways. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions used herein have been selected for the convenience of the reader to illustrate the exemplary examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, one or more embodiments, expressions of embodiments, and / or examples described below may be combined with any one or more of the other embodiments, expressions of embodiments, and / or examples described below.

[0036] During reactor operation, the internal temperature of the reactor core can reach 800-1200°C. This core temperature may be too high for some required electronic equipment to function properly. For example, a stepper motor that rotates the control drum within the reactor and controls the drum's electromechanical mechanism (e.g., an electromechanical latch) needs to be maintained at a temperature below 250°F. Thus, some electronic equipment must be kept in a temperature-controlled environment to prevent overheating.

[0037] One solution to this problem is to use a temperature-controlled housing that creates a temperature-controlled environment around the electronic equipment and maintains the temperature below a predetermined threshold (e.g., 250 degrees Fahrenheit) during reactor operation. In at least one embodiment, the temperature-controlled housing passively creates the temperature-controlled environment. In at least one embodiment, the temperature-controlled housing is designed not only to passively create the temperature-controlled environment but also to minimize the mass and volume of the housing. In some embodiments, the temperature-controlled housing is part of a canister or container that houses the reactor core. In these embodiments, this design prevents the working fluid (e.g., helium) of the reactor core environment from leaking into the external environment of the reactor.

[0038] Temperature-controlled housings can offer several advantages. In at least one embodiment, a temperature-controlled housing provides a temperature-controlled environment required for temperature-sensitive electronic components within the reactor canister. In at least one embodiment, this design limits the leakage of working fluid, which is part of the internal environment of the reactor core, from the reactor core environment to the external environment. In at least several embodiments, there is a working fluid supply unit that supplies the working fluid (e.g., helium gas) of the required environment to the reactor core. The design and placement of the temperature-controlled housing minimize working fluid leakage, thus reducing the amount of working fluid required. Furthermore, the temperature-controlled housing is configured to passively create a temperature-controlled environment, which is more efficient than requiring an active cooling system (e.g., a power-driven system) to create the temperature-controlled environment. In at least several embodiments, passively creating a temperature-controlled environment eliminates the need for any active components to cool the temperature-controlled environment, thus reducing the overall size and mass of the temperature-controlled housing.

[0039] Although temperature control housings are described in relation to nuclear reactors (e.g., micro-reactors), housings can also be connected to any other enclosed high-temperature system. For example, housings may house non-nuclear high-temperature boilers or other high-temperature industrial applications that require temperature-sensitive control equipment that structurally penetrates a pressurized boundary and is attached to components within the vessel in order to perform its function. In at least one embodiment, temperature control housings are used in high-temperature industrial applications where a rotating shaft must enter a high-temperature environment through the boundary of a pressurized vessel.

[0040] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a microreactor according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The microreactor comprises a reactor core 100 surrounded by a canister or vessel 120, a temperature control housing 300, a heat exchanger 200, and a shutdown rod housing 130. The temperature control housing 300 has a proximal end 302 and a distal end 304, with the direction toward the reactor core 100 being the proximal direction and the direction toward the reactor core 100 being the distal direction. The proximal end 302 of the temperature control housing 300 is attached to the canister 120. In at least one aspect, the temperature control housing 300 is part of the canister 120. In at least one aspect, the temperature control housing 300 is an annular housing. In this aspect, the shutdown rod housing 130 is attached to the canister 120 via an opening 306 located in the center of the temperature control housing 300. Although the temperature control housing 300 is illustrated as an annular housing, the shape adopted for the temperature control housing 300 is not limited to an annular shape. The external shape of the temperature control housing 300 may be any shape. If the temperature control housing 300 is not annular, the shutdown rod housing 130 may be attached to the temperature control housing 300.

[0041] The temperature control housing 300 is designed to house electronic components at a temperature below a predetermined threshold at the distal end 304. In at least one embodiment, this temperature is below 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat generated during the operation of the reactor core 100 enters the temperature control housing 300 from the proximal end 302 and is passively cooled by external heat transfer via natural convection through the inner wall 324, outer wall 326, and end plate 322, so that the internal temperature at the distal end 304 is below a predetermined threshold. In at least one embodiment, the reactor core reaches 800 to 1200°C. While it is conceivable to lower the internal temperature by actively cooling the outer surface of the temperature control housing 300, the temperature control housing 300 is designed so that active cooling is not required to keep the internal temperature at the distal end 304 below a predetermined threshold.

[0042] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a reactor core 100 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. The micro-reactor uses heat pipes 113 to transfer thermal energy from the reactor core 100 to a heat exchanger 200. The micro-reactor is a transportable micro-reactor and, being a solid-state design, is inherently simpler and smaller than conventional reactors. The number of moving parts within the reactor core 100 is limited, and maintenance required between refueling is minimal. Decay heat is removed by natural convection and radiative heat transfer.

[0043] Referring to Figure 2, the reactor core 100 may be assembled to include fuel 111 (e.g., a stack of rods and / or pellets), heat pipes 113, and reactivity shutdown rods 115 located in a plurality of unit cells 102 and reactivity control unit cells 104. In at least one embodiment, the reactivity shutdown rods 115 are housed in a shutdown rod housing 130. Specifically, the fuel 111 may be located in the fuel channels of one or more unit cells 102, the heat pipes 113 may be located in the heat pipe channels of one or more unit cells 102, and the reactivity shutdown rods 115 may be located in the reactivity control channels (not shown) of one or more reactivity control cells 104. In some non-limiting embodiments, the fuel 111 and heat pipes 113 are configured to extend over the length of the reactor core 100. In another, non-limiting embodiment, the heat pipe 113 is configured to extend beyond the length of the reactor core 100 to support downstream extracore connections and / or devices (e.g., heat exchangers 200, power conversion systems, condensers, structural support members). Such a design allows the reactor core 100 to be customized to various applications and / or user preferences, making it versatile for use according to customer needs. In the assembled reactor core 100 design shown in Figure 2, the fuel 111 and heat pipe 113 can be configured to accommodate various specific power requirements and / or structural configurations without altering the basic design of the reactor core 100 or incurring inherent development risks.

[0044] Referring further to Figure 2, the neutron reflector 106 may further comprise a plurality of control drums 108 configured to house neutron-absorbing reflective material. In the event of a reactor accident and / or power outage, the control drums 108 rotate toward the reactor core 100 so that the absorbing material that shuts down the reactor core 100 faces inward. In an unrestricted embodiment of Figure 2, the neutron reflector 106 may further comprise a neutron shield, a gamma shield configured to substantially surround the reactor core 100 and internal components 102, 104, 111, 113, and 115 to further reduce radiation.

[0045] Referring further to Figure 2, the reactor core 100 may further comprise a plurality of shutdown rods 115 configured to be located in a plurality of reactivity control cells 104. For example, the reactivity control cells 104 may include shutdown rods 115 or shutdown channels similar to fuel channels and / or heat pipe channels, but specifically are configured to accommodate the shutdown rods 115. Each shutdown rod 115 may include a neutron absorber configured to slow and / or stop reactor reactions within the reactor core 100 in an emergency. The shutdown rods 115 function collectively to prevent the reactor core 100 from exceeding a structural temperature threshold and to reduce reactivity in the event of a reactor accident and / or power outage.

[0046] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the micro reactor of Figure 1 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. A monolith is formed inside the reactor core 100 by stacking a plurality of unit cells 102 and a plurality of reactivity control unit cells 104. Heat pipes 113 extend from the reactor core 100 into a heat exchanger 200. Fuel 111 is held inside the reactor core 100. In one aspect, a shutdown rod 115 is moved by an energy storage system (e.g., a spring or compressed gas) that applies force in the event of an accident / emergency to insert the shutdown rod 115 into the reactor core 100, thereby slowing / stopping the nuclear reaction inside the reactor core 100. In another aspect, the shutdown rod 115 may be moved by motors, each motor inserting one shutdown rod 115 into the reactor core 100, thereby slowing / stopping the nuclear reaction inside the reactor core 100. A sensor 132 is configured to detect the position of the shutdown rod 115. The canister 120 is connected to a working fluid-filled tank 210 (e.g., a helium-filled tank), which supplies and pressurizes the working fluid to the canister 120, which is a pressure boundary vessel for the working fluid. The reactor core 100 is located within the pressurized environment of the canister 120, thereby providing a suitable internal environment for the reactor core.

[0047] In the temperature control housing 300, the motor 330 is mounted on the motor mounting plate 318. During operation of the micro reactor, the internal temperature of the temperature control housing 300 in the motor 330 is maintained below a predetermined threshold. The motor 330 is connected to the shaft 340 by the motor coupling 342. The shaft 340 extends through the temperature control housing 300 into the reactor core 100 and is operatively coupled to the control drum 108 by the control drum coupling 344. The rotation of the motor 330 causes the control drum 108 to rotate.

[0048] The temperature control housing 300 is an extension of the canister 120 that houses the reactor core 100 within a pressurized vessel environment. This design confines the working fluid within a sealed volume, thereby reducing leakage of the working fluid from the environment of the canister 120 to the external environment. For example, if the motor 330 is located outside the canister 120 and a rotating shaft seal is provided where the shaft 340 enters the reactor core 100, without the temperature control housing 300, a large amount of working fluid could leak into the external environment via the shaft seal. However, if the temperature control housing 300 is designed as an extension of the canister 120, even if working fluid leaks where the shaft 340 enters the reactor core 100, it will remain inside the temperature control housing 300 and will not leak into the external environment. Furthermore, in at least one embodiment, the annular design of the temperature control housing 300 has an opening in the center, so that the shutdown rod housing 130 can be placed outside this environment to avoid additional penetration.

[0049] Figure 4 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the micro reactor of Figure 1 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the temperature control housing 300 has a base plate 310 attached to the canister 120 at its proximal end 302, with the distal surface 311 of the base plate 310 facing away from the reactor core 100. In at least one aspect, the temperature control housing 300 has an inner wall 324 and an outer wall 326 extending distally from the base plate 310. An end plate 322 is provided at the distal end 304 of the temperature control housing 300, and the end plate 322 is attached to the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326 to form the housing of the temperature control housing 300. The temperature control housing 300 has a heat shield plate 314 spaced apart from the base plate 310 and located distal to the base plate 310. The heat shield plate 314 is attached to the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326, extending over the distance between the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326 to form a first internal space 312. The motor mounting plate 318 is spaced apart from the heat shield plate 314 and is located distal to the heat shield plate 314. The motor mounting plate 318 is attached to the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326, extending over the distance between the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326 to form a second internal space 316 and a third internal space 320. The third internal space 320 is located distal to the second internal space 316, and the second internal space 316 is located distal to the first internal space 312. The temperature control housing 300 is illustrated to have two internal plates 314, 318, but any number of internal plates may be added inside the temperature control housing 300.

[0050] In at least one embodiment, both the heat shield plate 314 and the motor mounting plate 318 are welded to the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326. In another embodiment, the heat shield plate 314 and the motor mounting plate 318 are positioned with a gap between them and the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326. In this embodiment, the heat shield plate 314 and the motor mounting plate 318 are supported by a support member (e.g., support member 382 as described in Figures 9 and 10) attached to the base plate 310. The gap between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326 facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the temperature control housing 300. For example, this gap allows the internal components of the temperature control housing 300 (e.g., the base plate 310, the heat shield plate 314, and the motor mounting plate 318) to be attached to the canister 120 even when the outer housing (e.g., the inner wall 324, the outer wall 326, and the end plate 322) is not attached. In this embodiment, the motor 330 and shaft 340 can be installed even before the inner wall 324, outer wall 326, and end plate 322 are installed. The inner wall 324, outer wall 326, and end plate 322 may be installed after the motor 330 and shaft 340 have been installed inside the temperature control housing 300 and other components (e.g., insulation and coatings) have been connected and / or installed inside the temperature control housing. This process allows the user easy access to the internal components of the temperature control housing 300 and facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the temperature control housing 300 required for the installation, maintenance, and / or repair of the components.

[0051] In at least one embodiment, the motor 330 is mounted on the distal surface 319 of the motor mounting plate 318 within a third internal space 320. During operation of the micro-reactor, the temperature in the third internal space and the temperature at the mounting location of the motor mounting plate 318 are below a predetermined temperature threshold. In at least one embodiment, the distance L between the motor mounting plate 318 and the reactor core 100 is related to the temperature at the motor. For example, increasing the distance L moves the motor away from the reactor core 100 and the heat generated by the reactor core 100 during operation, thus lowering the temperature at the motor. On the other hand, decreasing the distance L brings the motor closer to the reactor core 100, thus raising the temperature at the motor. In at least one embodiment, the distance L is minimized so that the mass and volume of the temperature control housing 300 are kept low while the temperature at the motor is maintained below a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0052] Referring mainly to Figures 3 and 4, as described above, the motor 330 is mounted on a shaft 340, which extends from the motor 330 inside the temperature control housing 300 to the control drum 108 inside the reactor core 100. The motor shaft 332 of the motor 330 (Figure 12) passes through a hole 366 in the motor mounting plate 318 and extends to a motor coupling 342 that operatively connects the motor shaft 332 and the shaft 340. The shaft 340 passes through a hole 364 in the heat shield plate 314 and a hole 362 in the base plate 310. When the temperature control housing 300 is mounted on the canister 120, the hole 362 in the base plate 310 aligns with a hole 360 ​​in the wall 122 of the canister 120. Thus, the shaft 340 extends through the hole 360 ​​in the wall 122 to the control drum 108. In at least one embodiment, when the motor 330 rotates the shaft 340, the control drum 108 also rotates.

[0053] In at least one embodiment, the shaft 340 penetrates the seal in the hole 360. Figure 5 is a detail view of Figure 4 and shows an exemplary shaft seal 346 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The shaft seal 346 is configured to limit the amount of working fluid moving between the reactor core 100 and the temperature control housing 300. In at least one embodiment, the shaft seal 346 is a rotating seal and forms a flow path that limits the amount of fluid flowing between the reactor core 100 and the temperature control housing 300. For example, the shaft seal 346 may be a labyrinth seal. In at least one embodiment, this fluid flow path prevents hot working fluid from entering the temperature control housing 300 from the reactor core 100. In at least one embodiment, the shaft seal 346 comprises a first seal component 348 attached to the hole 360 ​​and a second seal component 350 attached to the shaft 340, the shaft 340 rotating the second seal component 350 in the space formed by the first seal component 348. The working fluid is able to move between the reactor core 100 and the temperature control housing 300 through the space formed between the first seal component 348 and the second seal component 350. In at least one embodiment, the seal is configured to control the flow rate of the working fluid into the temperature control housing 300 so that large temperature fluctuations do not occur due to the working fluid flowing into the temperature control housing 300.

[0054] In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing 300 is used as a functional unit to control the pressure in the environment of the reactor core 100 by exchanging working fluid between the reactor core 100 and the temperature control housing 300. For example, the working fluid in the temperature control housing 300 has a first pressure, and the working fluid in the reactor core 100 has a second pressure. In at least one embodiment, the microreactor is in equilibrium when the first pressure is equal to the second pressure. When the microreactor is in a non-equilibrium state, it passively attempts to reach equilibrium. In at least one embodiment, the microreactor is in a non-equilibrium state where the first pressure is greater than the second pressure. In this embodiment, the working fluid in the temperature control housing 300 moves into the reactor core 100, causing the first and second pressures to become equal and the microreactor to reach equilibrium. In another embodiment, the microreactor is in a non-equilibrium state where the second pressure is greater than the first pressure. In this embodiment, the working fluid in the reactor core 100 moves into the temperature control housing 300, causing the first pressure and the second pressure to become equal, and the micro-reactor reaches a state of equilibrium.

[0055] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a temperature control housing 300 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. Figure 6 shows the temperature control housing 300 with the outer wall 326 removed. As described above with respect to Figures 3 and 4, the temperature control housing 300 houses a number of motors 330 connected to a shaft (not shown) that extends to a control drum 108 located inside the reactor core 100. In at least one aspect, each of the holes 362 in the base plate 310 allows some leakage of working fluid from the reactor core 100 to the temperature control housing 300. The temperature control housing 300 is designed to minimize leakage of working fluid to the external environment and to keep the working fluid inside the canister 120 and the temperature control housing 300. As described above with respect to Figure 5, the working fluid can move between the reactor core 100 and the temperature control housing 300 through the holes 362.

[0056] Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the temperature control housing 300 along section line 7-7. As described above with respect to Figures 3 and 4, the base plate 310 is attached to the reactor core 100 at its proximal end 302. In at least one embodiment, the base plate has an outer edge 313 that extends outside the outer wall 326. During operation of the micro reactor, heat is generated in the reactor core 100, and this heat is transferred to the temperature control housing 300 by thermal conduction and radiative heat conduction. For example, heat enters the temperature control housing 300 by thermal conduction through the base plate 310, thereby heating the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326 as well. Heat can also be radiated from the first internal space 312, the second internal space 316, and the third internal space 320. In at least one embodiment, as heat is transferred to the temperature control housing 300, the heat is passively removed from the temperature control housing 300 to the external environment by convective heat transfer through the inner wall 324, the outer wall 326, and the end plate 322. In at least one embodiment, the temperature in the motor is maintained below a predetermined threshold by sufficient passive heat removal. In at least one embodiment, as described above with respect to Figure 4, the distance L (Figure 4) is determined such that the temperature in the motor is maintained below a predetermined threshold by sufficient passive heat removal by the temperature control housing 300.

[0057] The temperature control housing 300 is designed to reduce heat transfer from the reactor core 100 and to facilitate passive heat removal from the temperature control housing 300. In at least one embodiment, the temperature control housing 300 is made of stainless steel, C-103 niobium, Ultramet CC zirconium carbide, Novoltex Sepcarb, and / or iridium / rhenium. The heat shield plate 314 is designed to shield some of the radiative heat transfer in the first internal space 312 from going further into the temperature control housing 300. In at least one embodiment, the heat shield plate 314 is made of a common material such as stainless steel and has a highly conductive interface (e.g., a connecting interface 384 as described in Figures 9 to 11) between the heat shield plate 314 and the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326. The highly conductive interface facilitates the drawing of heat from the heat shield plate 314 to the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326, and the heat is dissipated to the external environment by convective heat transfer from the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326. In addition to and / or instead of the above, the heat shield plate 314 may be made of a low emissivity material, further reducing the amount of radiant heat transferred through the material.

[0058] In at least one embodiment, multilayer insulation is provided on all inner surfaces of the temperature control housing 300 to reduce emissivity, thereby reducing radiant heat transfer to the temperature control housing 300. For example, the multilayer insulation may be foil. In addition to or instead of this, the inner and / or outer surfaces of the temperature control housing 300 may be coated to reduce emissivity, thereby reducing radiant heat transfer to the temperature control housing 300. In at least one embodiment, to promote convective heat transfer from the temperature control housing 300, the multilayer insulation and / or coating is not provided on the surfaces of the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326.

[0059] Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of the temperature control housing 300 along section line 7-7, showing a support function according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. In at least one aspect, the temperature control housing 300 may further reduce heat transfer into the interior of the temperature control housing 300 by placing a thermal conductive shield 380 or an insulating layer in contact with the distal surface 311 of the base plate 310. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, a hole 362 penetrates the thermal conductive shield 380. For example, the thermal conductive shield 380 may reduce heat transfer into the temperature control housing by blocking some of the heat entering the temperature control housing 300 through the base plate 310. For example, the insulating material may be one or a combination of Excelfrac 1800 board, Microsil, ZYFB-3, Duraboard 2600, Pyro-Log H, Microcal 1100, AL-30, and Saffil. In this embodiment, the base plate 310 becomes hotter, and some of the heat is transferred to the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326 by heat transfer, and that heat is transferred from the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326 of the temperature control housing 300 to the external environment by convective heat transfer. In some embodiments, the base plate 310 is designed so that some of the heat is transferred from the outer edge 313 of the base plate 310 to the external environment by convective heat transfer.

[0060] In at least one embodiment, the connecting interface 384 is located at the connection between the heat shield plate 314 and the inner wall 324, the connection between the heat shield plate 314 and the outer wall 326, the connection between the motor mounting plate 318 and the inner wall 324, and the connection between the motor mounting plate 318 and the outer wall 326. In other words, additional material may be added where the heat shield plate 314 contacts the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326, and where the motor mounting plate 318 contacts the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326. In at least one embodiment, the connecting interface 384 may be stainless steel added between the inner plates 314 and 318 and the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326. For example, the stainless steel connecting interface 384 may be formed between the heat shield plate 314 and the inner wall 324 by welding the heat shield plate 314 to the inner wall 324, and the connection between the heat shield plate 314 and the inner wall 324 can be enlarged by adding additional stainless steel. In at least one embodiment, the internal plates 314, 318 include a lip 315 (Figure 11) where the distance "d" is zero, and the lip 315 abuts against the inner wall 324 or the outer wall 326, thereby increasing the contact area between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326.

[0061] In at least one embodiment, a gap exists between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner walls 324 and outer walls 326. In this embodiment, the coupling interface 384 is a working fluid (e.g., helium) that can move between the reactor core 100 and the temperature control housing 300. Thus, heat is conductively transferred from the internal plates 314, 318 to the inner walls 324 and outer walls 326 via the working fluid. Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary coupling interface (e.g., the coupling interface 384 in Figures 9 and 10) according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The gap has a distance "d" between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner walls 324 and outer walls 326. In at least one embodiment, the distance "d" may be shortened to increase the conductive interface between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner walls 324 and outer walls 326. As described above, the gap between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326 allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the temperature control housing 300 during component installation, maintenance, and / or repair. In at least one embodiment, the connecting interface 384 is provided with a lip 315 on the edge of the internal plates 314, 318. For example, the lip 315 can increase the proximity area between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner wall 324 and outer wall 326. In Figure 11, the lip 315 is shown on both sides of the internal plates 314, 318, but the lip 315 may be present on only one side of the internal plates 314, 318. In at least one embodiment, the lip 315 is made of the same material as the internal plates 314, 318 (e.g., stainless steel).

[0062] In at least one embodiment, the coupling interface 384 facilitates heat conduction from the heat shield plate 314 to the inner wall 324, from the motor mounting plate 318 to the inner wall 324, from the heat shield plate 314 to the outer wall 326, and from the motor mounting plate 318 to the outer wall 326. For example, increasing the size of the coupling interface 384 can increase heat conduction through the coupling interface 384. Through heat conduction, heat is removed from the internal components of the temperature control housing 300, and that heat is guided to the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326, where it is removed to the external environment by convective heat transfer.

[0063] Referring to Figures 9 and 10, in at least one embodiment, the motor mounting plate 318 and the heat shield plate 314 have a support member 382, ​​which attaches the motor mounting plate 318 and the heat shield plate 314 to the base plate 310. The support member 382 is configured to structurally support the motor mounting plate 318 and the heat shield plate 314. In at least one embodiment, the support member 382 allows a gap between the internal plates 314, 318 and the inner wall 324 and the outer wall 326. In at least one embodiment, the support member 382 can attach the heat shield plate 314 and the motor mounting plate 318 to the base plate 310 without the inner wall 324, the outer wall 326, and the end plate 322. In this embodiment, the inner wall 324, the outer wall 326, and the end plate 322 may form an outer housing, which may be attached to the base plate 310 after the internal components of the temperature control housing 300 (e.g., shaft 340, motor 330, etc.) have been mounted. This process facilitates access to the temperature control housing 300 during assembly and disassembly. In at least one embodiment, the support member 382 is made of a low-conductivity material to minimize heat transfer from the base plate 310 to the temperature control housing 300 via the support member 382. For example, the support member 382 may be made of zirconia or other low-conductivity material.

[0064] Figures 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of the temperature control housing 300, showing a shaft thermal break 390 according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure. In at least one aspect, the shaft 340 has a shaft thermal break 390 to reduce heat transfer through the shaft 340. For example, heat transfer can be reduced by providing a cut in the shaft 340. In this aspect, the shaft 340 defines a longitudinal axis LA and has a proximal shaft 396 and a distal shaft 394. The proximal shaft 396 extends from a control drum 108 located inside the reactor core 100 into the temperature control housing 300. The distal end 397 of the proximal shaft 396 is connected to the proximal end 395 of the distal shaft 394 in the shaft thermal break 390, and the proximal shaft 396 and / or the distal shaft 394 are movable in either direction along the longitudinal axis LA. In at least one embodiment, the shaft thermal break 390 has a biasing member 392 between the proximal shaft 396 and the distal shaft 394. For example, when the shaft is installed between the motor 330 and the control drum 108, the biasing member 392 may be configured to apply a force to the proximal shaft 396 and the distal shaft 394 that pushes the proximal shaft 396 toward the control drum 108 and the distal shaft 394 toward the motor 330. In at least one embodiment, the proximal shaft 396 and / or the distal shaft 394 expand or contract along the longitudinal axis LA due to the heat generated by the reactor core 100. For example, when heat is applied to shaft 340, shaft 340 may expand, and when heat is removed from shaft 340, shaft 340 may contract. In this case, the shaft thermal break 390 allows the proximal shaft 396 and distal shaft 394 to move along the longitudinal axis LA, thereby reducing the stress caused by thermal expansion of the proximal shaft 396 and / or distal shaft 394.

[0065] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the micro reactor 100 with multiple temperature control housings 400 installed, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control housing 400 in Figure 14, and Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control housing 400 in Figure 14, showing the support function part, each of which represents at least one embodiment. Each of the multiple temperature control housings 400 is similar in many respects to the temperature control housing 300. For example, the proximal end 402, distal end 404, base plate 410, first internal space 412, outer edge 413, heat shield plate 414, second internal space 416, motor mounting plate 418, third internal space 420, end plate 422, outer wall 426, holes 462, holes 464, holes 466, thermal conductive shield 480, support member 482, and connecting interface 484 each function in the same way as the proximal end 302, distal end 304, base plate 310, first internal space 312, outer edge 313, heat shield plate 314, second internal space 316, motor mounting plate 318, third internal space 320, end plate 322, outer wall 326, holes 362, holes 364, holes 366, thermal conductive shield 380, support member 382, ​​and connecting interface 384, and are essentially the same. For the sake of brevity, not all similar features or components will be described in detail.

[0066] Similar to the temperature control housing 300, each temperature control housing 400 has a motor 330 mounted on a motor mounting plate 418, the motor shaft of which is connected to a shaft 340 through a hole 466 (not shown in Figures 15 and 16). The shaft 340 is connected to a control drum 108 located inside the canister 120 through a hole 464 in the heat shield plate 414, a hole 462 in the base plate 410, and a hole 360 ​​in the wall 122 of the canister 120.

[0067] The temperature control housing 400 differs from the temperature control housing 300 in that each control drum motor 330 has its own separate temperature control housing 400, whereas in the temperature control housing 300 shown in Figure 6, all control drum motors 330 are housed in a single temperature control housing 300. Referring to Figure 14, the proximal end 402 of each temperature control housing 400 is attached to the canister 120. In at least one embodiment, each temperature control housing 400 is part of the canister 120. In at least one embodiment, each temperature control housing 400 is cylindrical. Although the temperature control housing 400 is illustrated as a cylindrical housing, this is not the only shape that can be used for the temperature control housing 400. The external shape of the temperature control housing 400 may be any shape.

[0068] Each temperature control housing 400 is designed to house electronic components at a temperature below a predetermined threshold at its distal end 404. In at least one embodiment, the predetermined temperature threshold is 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Similar to the temperature control housing 300, the heat generated during the operation of the reactor core 100 enters each temperature control housing 400 from the proximal end 402 and is passively cooled by external heat transfer, such as convective heat transfer through the outer wall 426 and end plate 422, so that the internal temperature at the distal end 404 is below the predetermined threshold.

[0069] Similar to the temperature control housing 300, the temperature control housing 400 includes a heat shield plate 414 and a motor mounting plate 418. In at least one embodiment, both internal plates 414 and 418 are welded to the outer wall 426. In another embodiment, there is a gap between the internal plates 414 and 418 and the outer wall 426. In this embodiment, the heat shield plate 414 and the motor mounting plate 418 are supported by support members 482 attached to the base plate 410. The gap between the internal plates 414 and 418 and the outer wall 426 facilitates access during assembly and disassembly of the temperature control housing 400. For example, the outer wall 426 and the end plate 422 may form an outer housing, which may be attached to the base plate 410 after the internal components of the temperature control housing 400 (e.g., shaft 340, motor 330, etc.) have been installed. Although the temperature control housing 400 is illustrated to have two internal plates, any number of internal plates may be added inside the temperature control housing 400.

[0070] All patents, patent applications, or other disclosures referenced herein are incorporated by reference in whole. All references, materials, or parts thereof incorporated herein are incorporated only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with any existing definitions, descriptions, or other disclosures in this disclosure. Therefore, where necessary, the disclosures herein take precedence over any conflicting materials incorporated by reference, and the express disclosures in this application take precedence.

[0071] Each aspect described herein is understood to provide illustrative features of different details of various aspects of the disclosure, and unless otherwise specified, one or more features, elements, components, ingredients, materials, structures, modules, and / or aspects of the disclosed aspects may, to the extent possible, be combined, separated, replaced, and / or rearranged with one or more other features, elements, components, ingredients, materials, structures, modules, and / or aspects of the disclosed aspects without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions, modifications, or combinations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will be able to recognize many equivalents of the various aspects of the disclosure by ordinary experimentation by reading this specification. Therefore, the disclosure is not limited to the descriptions of various aspects, but is limited by the claims.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms used herein and in particular in the appended claims (e.g., the text of the appended claims) are generally intended to be “open” terms (e.g., “contains” should be interpreted as “contains but is not limited to,” “has” should be interpreted as “has at least,” and “contains” should be interpreted as “contains but is not limited to,” etc.). Where a particular number is intended in a claim, this is explicitly stated in the claim. For example, for convenience of understanding, the appended claims may use introductory phrases such as “at least one” or “one or more,” but the use of these phrases does not imply that the element introduced by the singular “a” or “an” means strictly only one (e.g., “a” and / or “an” should generally be interpreted as “at least one” or “one or more”). The same applies to the definite articles used to introduce elements in a claim.

[0073] Furthermore, even when a specific number is explicitly stated in a claim, a person skilled in the art will generally recognize that such a statement means more than the number stated (for example, a statement of "two ~" without other modifiers usually means at least two, or more than two). In addition, when a construction such as "at least one of A, B, and C" is used, such a construction should generally be interpreted as understood by a person skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" includes, but is not limited to, a system having only A, a system having only B, a system having only C, a system having A and B, a system having A and C, a system having B and C, and / or a system having A, B, and C). Similarly, disjunctive phrases such as "A or B" are understood to include "A," "B," or "A and B" unless the context indicates otherwise. When a construction such as "at least one of A, B, and C" is used, such a construction should generally be interpreted as understood by a person skilled in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" includes, but is not limited to, a system having only A, a system having only B, a system having only C, a system having A and B, a system having A and C, a system having B and C, and / or a system having A, B, and C). Similarly, disjunctive phrases such as "A or B" are understood to include "A," "B," or "A and B" unless the context indicates otherwise. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will understand that in the specification, claims, or drawings, disjunctive words and / or disjunctive phrases presenting two or more alternative terms are usually interpreted to imply that they include only one of the terms, one of the terms, or both of the terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. For example, the phrase "A or B" is usually understood to include the cases of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

[0074] Those skilled in the art will understand that, with respect to the attached claims, the operations described herein may generally be performed in any order. Furthermore, although the description is presented sequentially, it should be understood that various operations may be performed in an order other than that illustrated, or simultaneously. Examples of such alternative orders include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, and preparation orders. Moreover, past tense adjectives such as "corresponding to" or "related to" are generally not intended to exclude such variations unless otherwise specified in the context.

[0075] It should be noted that references to "one aspect," "a certain aspect," "an example," or "an example" mean that the specific features, structures, or characteristics described in relation to that aspect are included in at least one aspect. Therefore, while expressions such as "in one aspect," "a certain aspect," "in an example," and "in an example" appear in various parts of this specification, they do not necessarily all refer to the same aspect. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable way in one or more aspects.

[0076] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include their plural forms unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise.

[0077] The terms relating to direction used in this disclosure (e.g., up, down, left, right, upward, downward, front, back, and variations thereof, but not limited thereto) relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the accompanying drawings and do not limit the scope of the claims unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0078] As used in this disclosure, the terms “about” or “approximately” mean, unless otherwise specified, an acceptable error to a particular value as determined by a person skilled in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the terms “about” or “approximately” mean within one, two, three, or four standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the terms “about” or “approximately” mean within 50%, 200%, 105%, 100%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

[0079] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, all numerical parameters should be understood to be preceded and modified in all cases by the word “approximately.” In this case, the numerical parameters have inherent variability characteristic of the underlying measurement technique used to determine the numerical value of the parameter. Not to the effect of limiting the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each of the numerical parameters described herein should be interpreted using ordinary rounding techniques, taking into account at least the number of significant figures reported.

[0080] Numerical ranges described herein include all subranges encompassed within the described range. For example, the range "1 to 100" includes all subranges (and including them) between the stated minimum value "1" and the stated maximum value "100," i.e., all subranges where the minimum value is 1 or greater and the maximum value is 100 or less. Furthermore, all ranges described herein include their endpoints. For example, the range "1 to 100" includes endpoints 1 and 100. The maximum numerical limit described herein is intended to include all subranges encompassed therewith, and the minimum numerical limit described herein is intended to include all upper numerical limits encompassed therewith. Accordingly, the applicant has the right to amend this specification, including the claims, to explicitly describe any subranges encompassed within an explicitly described range. All such ranges are essentially described herein.

[0081] Any patent applications, patents, non-patent publications, or other disclosure materials mentioned herein and / or included in application data sheets are incorporated herein by reference, to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with this Specified. To this extent, the disclosures expressly contained herein take precedence over any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material or any part thereof that is to be incorporated by reference that conflicts with existing definitions, descriptions, or other disclosure materials contained herein is incorporated only to the extent that it does not create a conflict between the incorporated material and the existing disclosure materials.

[0082] "To have" (and any form of "to have," such as "has" or "is having"), "to possess" (and any form of "to possess," such as "has" or "is having"), "to include" (and any form of "to include," such as "has" or "is including"), and "to contain" (and any form of "to contain," such as "has contained" or "is containing") are open-ended linking verbs. Therefore, a system that "has," "possesses," "possesses," or "contains" one or more elements has one or more of those elements, but is not limited to having only one or more of those elements. Similarly, an element of a system, device, or apparatus that "has," "possesses," "possesses," or "contains" one or more features has one or more of those features, but is not limited to having only one or more of those features.

Claims

1. It is a nuclear reactor, Canister and, The reactor core housed inside the aforementioned canister, Control drum and The reactor core comprises a shaft extending from the control drum to the outside of the reactor core, A temperature control housing attached to the canister, wherein heat generated by the reactor core enters the temperature control housing, comprising: The temperature control housing is The proximal end attached to the canister, A first internal plate is spaced apart from the proximal end and located distal to the proximal end, A second internal plate is spaced apart from the first internal plate and located distal to the first internal plate, The motor is attached to the second internal plate, The shaft passes through the proximal end and enters the temperature control housing, extending to the motor. The motor is operatively connected to the shaft, The temperature control housing passively maintains the motor at a temperature below a predetermined temperature threshold in a nuclear reactor.

2. The aforementioned temperature control housing defines the internal space, The first internal plate extends across the internal space, The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the second internal plate extends across the internal space.

3. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein a connecting interface is added to the portion where the first internal plate contacts the outer wall of the temperature control housing and to the portion where the second internal plate contacts the outer wall of the temperature control housing.

4. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control housing comprises a multilayer insulating material disposed on the inner surface of the temperature control housing to reduce emissivity.

5. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control housing is coated on the inner surface of the temperature control housing in order to reduce emissivity.

6. The temperature control housing is A base plate located at the proximal end and attached to the reactor, The reactor according to claim 1, further comprising a support member extending from the base plate to the second internal plate, which supports and attaches the first internal plate and the second internal plate to the base plate.

7. The temperature control housing further comprises an outer housing surrounding the first inner plate and the second inner plate, A first gap is defined between the first internal plate and the outer housing. The reactor according to claim 6, wherein a second gap is defined between the second internal plate and the outer housing.

8. The reactor according to claim 7, wherein the outer housing is removable.

9. The aforementioned proximal end defines the first hole, The first internal plate defines a second hole that is aligned with the first hole. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the shaft extends through the first hole and the second hole.

10. The reactor according to claim 9, wherein the shaft extends through a seal before leaving the reactor core.

11. The canister maintains the working fluid at a first pressure, The temperature control housing maintains the working fluid at a second pressure. The reactor according to claim 10, wherein in the equilibrium state of the reactor, the first pressure is equal to the second pressure.

12. The reactor according to claim 11, wherein in a non-equilibrium state of the reactor where the first pressure is greater than the second pressure, the working fluid in the reactor core flows into the temperature control housing until the equilibrium state is reached.

13. The reactor according to claim 11, wherein in a non-equilibrium state of the reactor where the first pressure is less than the second pressure, the working fluid in the temperature control housing flows into the reactor core until the equilibrium state is reached.

14. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control housing is an annular housing.

15. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature threshold is 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

16. The aforementioned shaft is Shaft thermal break, A proximal shaft having a distal end connected to the aforementioned shaft thermal break, The reactor according to claim 1, comprising: a distal shaft having a proximal end connected to the shaft thermal break.

17. The reactor according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control housing is one of a plurality of temperature control housings attached to the canister.

18. A temperature control housing for a temperature-sensitive device, The temperature control housing is attached to a container that houses a heat source. The heat generated by the heat source enters the temperature control housing from the container. The temperature control housing is The proximal end attached to the container, A heat shield plate that is spaced apart from the proximal end and located distal to the proximal end, The system includes a temperature-sensitive device mounting plate that is spaced apart from the heat shield plate and located distal to the heat shield plate, The temperature-sensitive device is attached to the distal surface of the temperature-sensitive device mounting plate. The temperature control housing passively cools the heat from the container and maintains the temperature in the temperature-sensitive device below a predetermined temperature threshold.

19. The temperature control housing according to claim 18, wherein the shaft extends from the temperature-sensitive device into the container.

20. A pressurized, high-temperature device, A container containing a heat source, A temperature control housing attached to the container, wherein the heat generated by the heat source enters the temperature control housing, The proximal end attached to the container, A heat shield plate that is spaced apart from the proximal end and located distal to the proximal end, A temperature-sensitive device mounting plate is spaced apart from the heat shield plate and located distal to the heat shield plate, A temperature-sensitive device is attached to the temperature-sensitive device mounting plate and connected to other devices within the container via a hole that penetrates the proximal end of the temperature control housing and extends into the container, wherein the temperature control housing comprises the temperature-sensitive device which passively cools the heat and maintains the temperature in the temperature-sensitive device below a predetermined temperature threshold, A pressurized working fluid comprising a container that maintains the pressurized working fluid at a first pressure, a temperature control housing that maintains the pressurized working fluid at a second pressure, and in equilibrium, the first pressure being equal to the second pressure, and the pressurized working fluid comprising a pressurized working fluid.

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