Nuclear reactor with improved efficiency

Abstract

Abstract 1. A nuclear reactor with improved efficiency comprising a vessel (1) containing a core (7) consisting of fissile fuel assemblies (6) arranged side by side and vertically, immersed in pressurized light water forming the moderator and cooling fluid of the reactor, control bars (24) of neutron-absorbing material movable vertically in the core to control the power of the reactor, and neutron energy spectrum variation bars (27) associated with devices for vertical movement permitting their total insertion into at least a part of the assemblies (6) of the core or their total extraction so as to vary the ratio of the volume of the moderator to the volume of fissile material in the core (7) and to shift the neutron energy spectrum, the bars (27) being distributed throughout the cross-section to the core, characterized in that it comprises : - a solid metal partition (18) of material which reflects high energy neutrons, aranged at the circumference of the core (7) and over its entire height, and - two layers (19 and 20) of material absorbing low energy neutrons and containing fertile material, aranged one at the lower part of the core (7) and the other at its upper part, throughout its cross-section, and - in that the neutron energy spectrum variation bars (27) are of a material which absorbs low energy neutrons.

Inventors

• 👤 Jean-Paul Millot
• 👤 Guy Desfontaines

Bibliographic Details