Patent ID: 9336907
Filing Date: 2016-05-10
CPC Classification: G21C,Y02E

Claim Text:
1. A pressure-tube nuclear reactor comprising: an outer shell having at least one shell side wall and a shell tubesheet that cooperate to define an interior to contain a heavy water moderator at a first pressure; a coolant plenum having a plenum cover, at least one plenum side wall and a plenum tubesheet that cooperate to define a plenum chamber to receive a coolant fluid at a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure, wherein the plenum tubesheet seals an open end of the outer shell and is in physical contact with the heavy water moderator; a plurality of pressure tubes received within and extending through the interior of the outer shell from the plenum tubesheet to at least the shell tubesheet, each pressure tube configured to releasably retain at least one fuel bundle and having an outer surface in direct physical contact with the heavy water moderator, a first end of each pressure tube being coupled to the plenum tubesheet in fluid communication with the plenum chamber and a second end of each pressure tube fluidly connected to a coolant conduit to enable the coolant fluid to flow between the coolant plenum and each pressure tube and to flow from the nuclear reactor for further processing; and an insulator liner disposed within each pressure tube to inhibit heat transfer between the coolant fluid and the pressure tube.