Nuclear reactor incorporating means for preventing molten fuel from breaching the containment vessel thereof in the event of a core meltdown

Abstract

Abstract A CERAMIC OXIDE EUTECTIC WITH A RELATIVELY LOW MELTING POINT WHICH WILL DISSOLVE NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL IS EMPLOYED AS A BARRIER MATERIAL TO PREVENT MOLTEN FUEL FROM BREACHING THE CONTAINMENT VESSEL SURROUNDING A NUCLEAR REACTOR IN THE EVENT OF A CORE MELTDOWN. THE CERAMIC OXIDE EUTECTIC-PREFERABLY BASALT OR OTHER SIO2-AL2O3 MATERIAL USED IN THE FORM OF BRICK, BLOCK, OR GRAVEL-RESTS ON A LAYER OF DEPLETED URANIUM DIOXIDE AND A LAYER OF FIRE BRICK WHICH INSULATES A COOLED STEEL CONTAINMENT VESSEL FROM THE BASALT. IN THE EXTREMELY UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT TO A FAST REACTOR CAUSING A GROSS CORE MELTDOWN, THE MOLTEN MASS OF FUEL WILL FALL ONTO THE BASALT, MELTING THE BASALT AND DISSOLVING IN THE POOL OF MOLTEN BASALT THUS FORMED. THE FUEL IS THEREBY DISPERSED OVER A LARGE VOLUME AT A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENTLY LOW THAT THE REACTOR CONTAINMENT IS NOT THREATENED.

Inventors

• 👤 George Jansen Jr

Bibliographic Details