HETEROGENEOUS CHANNEL NUCLEAR REACTOR ON THERMAL NEUTRONS Russian patent published in 2019 - IPC G21C1/02 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to design of energy heterogeneous channel thermal neutron reactors. Active zone of reactor consists of technological channels with nuclear fuel, heat carrier and layer of heat-insulating material, adjacent to inner surface of process channel pipe, there is combined retarder consisting of layers of solid components. Liquid moderator has a lower temperature compared to the temperature of the heat carrier, adjoins the outer surface of the pipe of the process channel and has a variable thickness which increases successively along the channel as heat carrier density drops from the inlet to the outlet of the channel. It is possible to control composition of liquid retarder due to use of light and heavy water and change of their proportions in mixture. In the solid retarder there are separate additional channels for placement of solid slowing materials having retarding properties in a wide range.

EFFECT: reduced sensitivity of the local neutron multiplication factor to random fluctuations of heat carrier density along the length of the process channel, including during transition to alternative fuel cycles using plutonium and thorium, while providing the possibility of controlling the local neutron spectrum in a wide range.

4 cl, 3 dwg