Pool-Type Reactor With Drain Tank for Passive Fuel-Salt Shutdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional integral molten salt reactors lack the ability to passively shut down safely and transfer fuel salt to a subcritical region, posing risks of leaks and failure mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An integral molten salt reactor design with a critical region for fission reactions and a subcritical region for fuel salt storage, separated by an internal barrier, allowing passive transfer of fuel salt during shutdown events, utilizing inert gas pressure control to maintain fuel salt circulation and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional integral MSR design is used, then structural simplicity and leak reduction are improved, but ability to transfer fuel salt to subcritical region and passive safety are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor vessel is segmented into distinct functional regions: a critical region for active fission reactions, a subcritical region for safe fuel salt storage, and a drain tank for passive shutdown. This segmentation enables the fuel salt to be transferred between regions based on operational state, providing passive safety while maintaining integral reactor simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
An internal barrier with a fuel salt passage acts as an intermediary structure between the critical and subcritical regions. This barrier includes a controlled passage that allows fuel salt to flow from the critical region to the subcritical region during shutdown events, enabling passive safety transfer without requiring complex external piping or active pumping systems.
2Productivity
If fuel salt is continuously circulated in critical region, then heat production is maintained, but risk of leaks and failure mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The subcritical region and drain tank are prepared in advance as safe storage locations for fuel salt. During normal operation, the system maintains readiness to transfer fuel salt to these pre-prepared safe zones, reducing the consequences of potential leaks or failures in the critical region without interrupting heat production.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect of continuous fuel salt circulation in the critical region is addressed by providing an extraction path through the internal barrier passage. This allows fuel salt to be removed from the critical region and placed in the subcritical region when safety concerns arise, separating the fuel salt from the high-risk fission environment while maintaining the integral reactor configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pipes and connections are used for fuel salt circulation, then heat exchange functionality is improved, but possibility for leaks and failure mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (reactor core, heat exchangers, fuel salt storage, and control systems) are merged into a single integrally constructed vessel. This consolidation eliminates the need for external pipes and flange connections for fuel salt circulation, thereby maintaining versatile heat exchange functionality while significantly reducing leak pathways and failure mechanisms associated with multiple connection points.
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 safe, 'walk-away' operation by passively transferring fuel salt to a subcritical region during emergencies, reducing the risk of leaks and failure mechanisms, and ensuring continuous heat production capability.
Implementation Method 1
The reactor section is configured to receive the volume of fuel salt from the drain tank and heat the fuel salt through fission reactions
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchange section is configured to receive a flow of the heated fuel salt from the reactor section and remove heat therefrom
Implementation Method 3
the fuel salt passage may be pressurizable to maintain the fuel salt in circulation in the critical region
Implementation Method 4
the inert gas pressure held in the fuel salt passage may be equalized, allowing the fuel salt to exit the critical region and flow, gravitationally, into the drain tank section
Data Source
AI summary
An integral molten salt nuclear reactor includes a drain tank section configured to hold a volume of fuel salt. The integral molten salt nuclear reactor further includes a reactor section configured to receive the volume of fuel salt from the drain tank and cause fission reactions that heats the molten salt. The integral molten salt nuclear reactor further includes a heat exchange section configured to receive a flow of the heated fuel salt from the reactor section and remove heat therefrom.