Patent GB-1051339-A (GB)
IPC: G21C1/24
Abstract: 1,051,339. Reactors. ALLM€NNA SVENSKA ELEKTRISKA A.B. Sept. 20, 1963 [Sept. 25, 1962], No. 37034/63. Heading G6C. A nuclear reactor, comprising a vessel containing dissolved or dispersed fissile material in water coolant (light or heavy) from which steam is passed to a heat exchanger, is connected via a conduit to a sub-critical collecting vessel at a lower level than the reactor and of sufficient volume to contain the fuel composition necessary for reactor operation, which is in turn connected via further conduit to a storage vessel at the reactor level, said reactor and associated plant being operated by applying gas pressure to the collecting vessel so as to force the coolant-fuel into the reactor and storage vessels, in such proportions as to permit criticality in the reactor. After the reactor has commenced boiling at the required pressure, the gas pressures in the collecting and storage vessels are equalized at a higher pressure than that in the reactor, thereby transferring coolantfuel from the storage vessel to the reactor, via the collecting vessel, to bring the reactor up to the required power level. The invention enables a homogeneous boiling water reactor to be used in which the radioactive coolant-fuel does not come into contact with any moving parts (valves, pumps &c.). Apparatus (Fig. 1).-The reactor tank 1, collecting tank 7, storage tank 11, are connected by pipes 9, 10. Steam generated in the reactor passes through a heat exchanger 3, where it is condensed, and back to the reactor via pipe 6, and also via pipe 8, collecting tank 7, pipe 9. The pressurizing gas (deuterium. helium, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, neon or argon) is circulated by a pump 19, via a gas storage vessel 21 and a throttle valve 20, and passes through the reactor, heat exchanger and collecting tank, and various of the interconnecting pipes, depending on operating requirements. Gas coolers 14, 24 are cooled by secondary coolant, and condensate is led from them to the collecting tank 7. Fuel dispersions mentioned are thorium oxide with U233, U235 and Pu239, or a solution of uranyl sulphate containing enriched uranium. Operation.-When the reactor is shut down, valves 13 and 23 are fully open, and all the fuel composition is in the collecting vessel 7, since there are no gas pressure differences in the system. Decay heat is extracted in gas cooler 14. To start the reactor, valve 13 is shut; the rise in gas pressure in the collecting vessel 7 forces the fuel composition into the reactor and the storage vessels through pipes 9, 10; displacement rate may be controlled by valve 13. The relative quantities in the reactor and storage vessels will be that equivalent to a common fuel composition surface level. At this stage, gas is passing through pipe 18 to the collecting vessel 7, then through pipe 10 (valve 13 is still shut) and liquid 29, through valve 23 (fully open) and into the reactor. Fuel sedimentation in the storage tank 11 is prevented by the gas flow through the fuel-coolant liquid therein. To increase power output from starting preferably after working temperature and pressure have been reached in the reactor, the valve 13 is completely opened to allow fuel composition to flow from 11 to 7. Distribution between vessel 7 and the reactor 1 is controlled by the throttle valve 23. In a modification (Fig. 2, not shown) an additional valve to the valve 23 is provided which enables the gas to pass from the storage vessel direct to the pipe 2, instead of passing via the reactor.