Nuclear Reactor Thermal Conduction and Doppler Criticality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Light-water nuclear reactors face challenges in stable heat extraction and criticality control due to high power output, requiring complex control mechanisms to prevent reactivity decreases.
Innovation Solution
A nuclear reactor design incorporating a reactor core with a nuclear fuel body, a shielding portion, and thermal conduction parts that transfer heat externally, utilizing a fissile material with a weight density of at least 5% and controlling criticality solely through temperature decreases due to the Doppler effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light water is used as a moderator and control rods with boron additives are employed for criticality control, then the nuclear reactor can control reactivity, but the system becomes complex and stable heat extraction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes control rods and boron additives from the system, extracting the complex control mechanisms while maintaining criticality control through alternative means (Doppler effect and temperature management), thereby simplifying the overall system structure
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor core utilizes the Doppler effect inherent in the nuclear fuel itself to automatically regulate reactivity based on temperature changes, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms and enabling self-regulating criticality control
2Power
If high power output is maintained to generate sufficient heat, then energy production increases, but reactivity decreases and criticality control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback control through the Doppler effect, where temperature increases from high power output automatically increase neutron absorption cross-sections, reducing reactivity and preventing runaway reactions, thus stabilizing criticality control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by maintaining high power output while allowing temperature to increase, which fundamentally alters the reactivity characteristics through Doppler broadening, enabling stable criticality control at high power levels
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables stable heat extraction with simplified criticality control, improving reliability and maintaining constant criticality by managing reactor core temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal conduction part that transfers heat generated in the reactor core to exterior of the shielding portion
Implementation Method 2
performs criticality control solely with a decrease in temperature of a reactor core due to the Doppler effect
Data Source
AI summary
Heat can be stably extracted with easy criticality control. A nuclear reactor includes: a fuel portion being a reactor core having a nuclear fuel body; a shielding portion covering all over outer sides of the fuel portion to shield against radiations generated from the reactor core; and a thermal conduction part that conducts heat generated in the reactor core to exterior of the shield part. The nuclear fuel body contains a fissile material with an enrichment not less than 5% by weight throughout an operation period.