Abstract

A fast nuclear reactor, provided with a protection system for shutdown of the reactor in accidental conditions and comprising shutdown devices that surround the core of the reactor and have an upper volume and a lower volume separated by a septum. The upper volume contains an operating fluid partly facing the active part of the core with neutron reflecting function to facilitate reaching the critical mass of the reactor. The lower volume contains a neutron transparent medium (for example gas) or a neutron absorbing medium (for example boron carbide balls immersed in the primary coolant). Replacement in the volume of the neutron reflecting medium with a neutron transparent or absorbing medium reduces the reactivity of the reactor and causes its shutdown.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 9/033 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse by an absorbent fluid
• G21C 9/02 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse
• G21C 11/06 - Reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons

Abstract

A nuclear reactor (1) comprises a vessel (2) closed at the top by a roof (3) and housing a core (4), comprising a bundle of fuel elements (5) and immersed in a primary fluid (F) for cooling the core (4); and a heat exchanger (40) for removing heat from the primary fluid (F) via a secondary fluid circulating in the heat exchanger (40); the core (4) being supported by a lower support (90) supporting a lower portion of the core (4) below an active zone of the fuel elements (5); and an upper support (80) supporting an upper portion of the core (4) above the active zone of the fuel elements (5); the upper support (80) is joined to the roof (3) by a support structure (6) extending from the roof (3) and has an end element (16) centrally open and internally provided with a plurality of jaws (14) for vertical support and elastic radial constraint of the fuel elements (5).

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 1/02 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator
• G21C 5/08 - Means for preventing undesired asymmetric expansion of the complete structure
• G21C 5/10 - Means for supporting the complete structure
• G21C 7/30 - Control of nuclear reaction by displacement of reactor fuel or fuel elements
• G21C 13/04 - Arrangements for expansion and contraction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fast nuclear reactor (1), preferably cooled by a heavy liquid metal, provided with a protection system (13A) for shutdown of the reactor in accidental conditions and comprising shutdown devices (13B) that surround the core (4) of the reactor (1) and have an upper volume (V1) and a lower volume (V2) separated by a septum (15). The upper volume (V1) contains an operating fluid (F) partly facing the active part (5) of the core, in particular the same primary coolant (10), with neutron reflecting function to facilitate reaching the critical mass of the reactor. The lower volume (V2) contains a neutron transparent medium (for example gas) or a neutron absorbing medium (for example boron carbide balls immersed in the primary coolant). Replacement in the volume (V1) of the neutron reflecting medium with a neutron transparent or absorbing medium reduces the reactivity of the reactor and causes its shutdown. This can take place both through transfer of operating fluid (F) from the upper volume (V1) to the lower volume (V2) by at least one siphon passing through the septum (15) to drain the portion facing the core of the volume (V1) of operating fluid (F) and replace it with the neutron transparent or absorbing medium previously floating on top of the operating fluid (F), and by fusion or breakage of the septum (15) to allow the neutron transparent or absorbing material to flow upward by floating.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 9/02 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse
• G21C 9/033 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse by an absorbent fluid
• G21C 11/06 - Reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fast nuclear reactor (1), preferably cooled by a heavy liquid metal, provided with a protection system (13A) for shutdown of the reactor in accidental conditions and comprising shutdown devices (13B) that surround the core (4) of the reactor (1) and have an upper volume (V1) and a lower volume (V2) separated by a septum (15). The upper volume (V1) contains an operating fluid (F) partly facing the active part (5) of the core, in particular the same primary coolant (10), with neutron reflecting function to facilitate reaching the critical mass of the reactor. The lower volume (V2) contains a neutron transparent medium (for example gas) or a neutron absorbing medium (for example boron carbide balls immersed in the primary coolant). Replacement in the volume (V1) of the neutron reflecting medium with a neutron transparent or absorbing medium reduces the reactivity of the reactor and causes its shutdown. This can take place both through transfer of operating fluid (F) from the upper volume (V1) to the lower volume (V2) by at least one siphon passing through the septum (15) to drain the portion facing the core of the volume (V1) of operating fluid (F) and replace it with the neutron transparent or absorbing medium previously floating on top of the operating fluid (F), and by fusion or breakage of the septum (15) to allow the neutron transparent or absorbing material to flow upward by floating.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 9/033 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse by an absorbent fluid
• G21C 11/06 - Reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons
• G21C 9/02 - Means for effecting very rapid reduction of the reactivity factor under fault conditions, e.g. reactor fuse

Goods & Services

Chemical products, preparations and compositions used in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics industries; chemical materials used in the nuclear cycle, nuclear materials, uranium ores, thorium ores, plutonium ores, in any chemical form or isotopic composition; chemicals produced by nuclear fission; fuel for nuclear reactors; fuel elements for nuclear reactors; moderating materials for nuclear reactors; nuclear reactors (moderating materials for -); chemical accelerators; graphites for nuclear energy; fissionable material for nuclear energy; accelerators for organic chemical reactions; accelerators for speeding up chemical reactions. Fuels, fuel compositions, nuclear fuels; oils, greases and lubricants for use in the nuclear energy and connectics industries. Pharmaceutical preparations for nuclear medicine and medical imaging; diagnostic preparations for medical purposes, particularly for locating malignant tumors within the human body. Couplings, non-electric couplings (except for land vehicles); transmission components or belts (except for land vehicles); pumps (machines); mechanical equipment (machines) used for and in the nuclear sector and in the field of combatting climate change; robots (machines) and replacement parts of all kinds therefor; robot arms, telescopic arms, remotely operated arms, parts and replacement parts therefor; robots for intervening, checking, measuring, collection, removal or inspection in contaminated environments, in particular land robots, underwater robots and drones; electrically or electronically operated hand tools; electric or electronic cutting tools; electrically controlled energy production tools; machine tools; machines, machine tools and apparatus used in the nuclear energy industry or for isotope production, for ground surveying, drilling, extraction, manufacture, handling, processing, warehousing, isotope separation, immobilisation and storage of ores, metals, nuclear materials, nuclear fuels, plutonium, uranium, thorium, actinides and lanthanides, xenon, krypton, platinoids, in particular ruthenium, palladium, rhodium and platinum, and nuclear waste; motor control centre; revolving and static electric machines, actuators, in particular pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, regulators (parts of machines); speed governors for machines, motors and engines, tension governors (machines), electric motors and engines; machines, machine tools, industrial or remote-controlled robots for conducting measurements, inspections, removal or analysis, for collecting, processing and recycling nuclear materials, used nuclear fuels, nuclear waste and purifying and disassembling nuclear sites or installations; industrial devices and robots for manufacturing and preparing radiopharmaceuticals. Scientific, surveying, electrical, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision) and life-saving apparatus and instruments used in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics industries; apparatus, instruments and devices for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics industries; radioactivity detection devices, geiger counters; computer programs, software packages, software and alarms for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant; computer programs, software packages and software for use in the nuclear industry and mineral processing; connectics equipment and connectors for civil and military communications, information technology, aeronautical and automotive applications; electric and electronic components, in particular semiconductors, semiconductor devices, electronic microcircuits, chips (integrated circuits) and sets of these components; apparatus and instruments for the manufacture of connectors and electric and electronic components, apparatus and instruments for testing the functioning of connectors and electric and electronic components; particle accelerators; electron beam accelerators; electrical power distribution blocks; topographic apparatus and instruments; protective masks; smartcards; computer software; radiology screens for industrial purposes. Heating, steam production, heat exchange, heat and steam accumulation, heat and steam control, cooking, refrigerating, drying and ventilating apparatus intended for nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, plants and centers for storage, warehousing, isotopic separation, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, ores, nuclear materials, uranium, plutonium and nuclear waste; nuclear reactors; steam generators; boilers; nuclear islands, installations for processing nuclear moderators and fuels, nuclear assemblies, nuclear reactors, nuclear generators; gas generators especially ones using electrolysis, reforming, gasification, decomposition of water. Construction, installation, operation and maintenance of infrastructures, plants, installations, equipment and apparatus in the fields of energy including renewable energies and fight against climate change, and electronics; construction, installation and maintenance of plants and centers for storage, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, ores, nuclear materials, uranium and plutonium; construction, installation and maintenance of nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, non-nuclear boilers, installations and equipment for research and engineering in the fields of energy, renewable energies and fight against climate change; construction, installation and maintenance of facilities and equipment used for transporting materials in the field of nuclear energy; inspection of construction sites, building construction supervision, construction information in the fields of nuclear energy, renewable energy and efforts to combat climate change; maintenance and renovation of nuclear installations, equipment and apparatus in the nuclear field. Energy supply and distribution; operation and management, for others, of networks for the supply and distribution of energy; information and advice in relation to services for the supply and distribution of energy; collection by air, land and water, assembling, sorting, packaging, warehousing and storage of fuels, ores, nuclear material, uranium, thorium, plutonium and nuclear waste. Production of energy and nuclear energy; processing, reprocessing, isotope separation, recycling and recovery of fuels, ores, materials used in the nuclear sector, nuclear material, uranium, plutonium, thorium and nuclear waste; decontamination of mining sites and soils, nuclear installations, equipment and apparatus in the nuclear sector; destruction, incineration and disposal of waste, nuclear waste and used fuels. Providing of training and education in the fields of energy and combatting climate change; providing of training, education and assistance (providing of training, teaching) to the staff and operators of mining sites and nuclear installations, factories, power plants and infrastructures; arranging and conducting of colloquiums, conferences, congresses, exhibitions, forums, seminars, symposiums, teleconferences and videoconferences in the fields of energy and combatting climate change. Research and development in the field of nuclear energy; surveying, laboratories, engineering (not for construction) in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics fields; chemistry in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics fields; research and technical project studies in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics fields; consultancy, surveys and materials testing in the nuclear energy, connectics and electronics fields; professional consultancy and drafting of plans (non-business) in the fields of nuclear energy, connectics and electronics; prospecting and drilling, particularly for nuclear material; monitoring of nuclear material, monitoring and surveillance of nuclear plant and equipment; computer programming and software development in the fields of nuclear energy, connectics and electronics; scientific and industrial research services in the field of environmental protection; studies, surveys, consultancy and information in the field of environmental protection; risk and pollution prevention in the nuclear industry; environmental audits for sites, plant and equipment in the nuclear, connectics and electronics industries. Security, surveillance and monitoring of mines and premises for the warehousing, storage, processing, isotope separation, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, minerals, nuclear material, uranium, plutonium and nuclear waste and for nuclear power stations and nuclear reactors.

Goods & Services

(1) Industrial chemicals, chemical isotopes, and radioactive chemical compositions used in the nuclear energy and electronics industries; nuclear materials, namely industrial chemicals in the nature of uranium ores, thorium ores, plutonium ores, all in stable chemical form and in isotopic composition; industrial chemicals and chemical isotopes produced by nuclear fission; fuel for nuclear reactors; fuel elements being fuel for nuclear reactors; moderating materials for nuclear reactors; chemical accelerators being industrial chemicals for use in the nuclear reactors; graphites for nuclear energy; fissionable material for nuclear energy; accelerators being catalysts for organic chemical reactions; (2) Fuel gas and fuel oils for use in the nuclear industry; oils, greases and lubricants for use in nuclear energy industry; industrial oils, industrial greases and industrial lubricants for use in electronic industries (3) Pharmaceutical preparations for nuclear medicine and medical imaging; diagnostic preparations for medical purposes, particularly for locating malignant tumors within the human body. (4) Power transmission couplings and non-electric gear couplings for nuclear reactors, except for land vehicles; transmission components and belts, namely dynamos belts, conveyor belts, machine belts, fan belts, power transmission belts all for use in nuclear power plants, except for land vehicles; pumps for machines; machines used for and in the nuclear industry and in the field of combating climate change, namely industrial robots, electric generators; industrial robots for use in nuclear power plants and replacement parts of all kinds therefor; parts of industrial robots, namely robot arms, telescopic arms, remotely operated arms, and structural and replacement parts therefor; industrial land robots, and industrial underwater robots and drones for intervening, checking, measuring, collection, removal and inspection of nuclear and chemical contaminants; electrically operated hand tools, namely electric hand-held drills and power-operated hand-held crimpers for use in the nuclear industry; electronically operated hand tools, namely electric hand-held drills, power-operated hand-held crimpers for use in the nuclear industry; electric cutting tools for the cutting of metal ores used in the nuclear industry; electronic cutting tools being for the cutting of metal ores used in the nuclear industry; electrical apparatus, namely dynamos and nuclear reactors, for use in generating energy obtained from alternative energy sources; nuclear fuel processors, industrial chemical reactors, nuclear and industrial chemical handlers and nuclear and industrial chemical separators, all used in the nuclear energy industry and for isotope production, for ground surveying, drilling, extraction, handling, warehousing, isotope separation, immobilisation and storage of ores, metals, chemical isotopes, nuclear fuels, plutonium, uranium, thorium, actinides and lanthanides, xenon, krypton, platinoids, namely ruthenium, palladium, rhodium and platinum, and nuclear waste; nuclear fuel processors, industrial chemical reactors, nuclear and industrial chemical handlers and nuclear and industrial chemical separators, all used in the nuclear energy industry and for isotope production, for manufacture and processing of ores, metals, chemical isotopes, nuclear fuels, plutonium, uranium, thorium, actinides and lanthanides, xenon, krypton, platinoids, namely ruthenium, palladium, rhodium and platinum, and nuclear waste; pneumatic and hydraulic controls for motors, namely air filters; pneumatic valve actuators, pneumatic valve regulators, hydraulic valve actuators and hydraulic valve regulators, all for use in nuclear industry; speed governors for machines, motors and engines; cable tension governors for machines, electric motors and engines; compression molding machines, forging machines, packing machines; industrial robots to measure, inspect, remove and analyze, collect, process and recycle nuclear chemicals, used nuclear fuels, nuclear waste and purifying and disassembling nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors; Industrial robots for manufacturing and preparing radiopharmaceuticals (5) Scientific, surveying, electrical, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking and life-saving apparatus and instruments used in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics industries, namely ultracapacitors for energy storage and electrical energy utilization metering devices; apparatus, instruments and devices for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics industries, namely cameras for monitoring and inspecting equipment in a nuclear power station, security surveillance robots; radioactivity detection devices, geiger counters; downloadable computer programs and downloadable software, all for the supervision and surveillance of industrial and nuclear plants; gas alarms, fire alarms, anti-intrusion alarms, temperature alarms and door alarms, all for the supervision and surveillance of industrial and nuclear plants; downloadable computer programs and downloadable software all for database management and analytics in the nuclear industry and for nuclear plants and mineral processing plants; connected technologies equipment to process data from nuclear plants and power connectors for civil and military communications, information technology, aeronautical and automotive applications namely, data processing equipment and power connectors, all for use in the nuclear energy; electric and electronic components, namely semiconductors, electronic microcircuits, integrated circuit chips, all sold separately and in selected combinations; apparatus and instruments for the manufacture of connectors and electric and electronic components, namely electronic chips for the manufacture of integrated circuits; apparatus and instruments for testing the functioning of connectors and electric and electronic components, namely probes for testing semiconductors and integrated circuits; particle accelerators; electron beam accelerators; electrical power distribution blocks; topographic apparatus and instruments, namely surveying instruments; protective industrial face masks; blank Smartcards; downloadable computer software packages and downloadable software, all for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant; downloadable computer programs, downloadable computer software packages and downloadable software all for database management and analytics for use in the nuclear industry and mineral processing; radiology screens for industrial purposes (6) Heating, steam production, heat exchange, heat and steam accumulation, heat and steam control, cooking, refrigerating, drying and ventilating apparatus for storage, warehousing, isotopic separation, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuel oils, fuel gas, ores, nuclear isotopes, uranium, plutonium and nuclear waste in nuclear power plants, nuclear generators, nuclear reactors and nuclear plants; Nuclear reactors; Steam generators; industrial boilers; Nuclear islands being nuclear power plants, installations for processing nuclear moderators and fuels being nuclear reactors, nuclear assemblies being nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, and nuclear generators; Gas generators especially ones using electrolysis, reforming, gasification, decomposition of water (1) Building construction of nuclear power plant facilities in the fields of energy including renewable energies and fight against climate change; installation and maintenance of nuclear power plant infrastructure facilities, nuclear power plants, nuclear power plants installations, nuclear power reactors in the fields of nuclear energy, renewable energies and fight against climate change; building construction of nuclear power plant facilities and buildings for storage, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, ores, nuclear materials, uranium and plutonium; installation and maintenance of nuclear power plants for storage, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuel oils, fuel gases, metal ores, chemical isotopes, uranium and plutonium; construction, installation and maintenance of nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors and non nuclear boilers for research and engineering in the fields of energy, renewable energies and fight against climate change; installation and maintenance of nuclear power plant installations and nuclear power equipment for research and engineering in the fields of energy, renewable energies and fight against climate change; building construction installations and equipment for research and engineering in the fields of energy, renewable energies and fight against climate change; building construction of facilities used for transporting materials in the field of nuclear energy; installation and maintenance of nuclear power equipment used for transporting industrial chemicals and chemical isotopes in the field of nuclear energy; Inspection of construction sites, building construction supervision, providing information on building construction in the fields of nuclear energy, renewable energy and efforts to combat climate change; maintenance of nuclear power plant installations, nuclear power equipment and nuclear reactors; renovation in the field of nuclear power plant buildings (2) Energy supply being distribution of electrical energy, wind energy, solar energy and nuclear energy; information and advice to others in relation to services for the supply and distribution of electrical energy, wind energy, solar energy and nuclear energy; Collection of industrial nuclear waste by air, land and water; sorting, packaging, warehousing and storage of nuclear fuels, fuel oils, fuel gas, ores, uranium, thorium, plutonium and nuclear waste for others (3) Production of energy and nuclear energy; chemical and chemical isotope processing, separation, recycling and recovery being reprocessing of fuel oils, fuel gas, metal ores, chemicals used in nuclear plants; Processing, reprocessing, isotope separation, recycling and recovery of uranium, plutonium, thorium and nuclear waste; Decontamination of mining sites and soils, nuclear installations, equipment and apparatus in the nuclear sector; Destruction, incineration and disposal of waste, nuclear waste and used fuels (4) Providing of training and instruction in the fields of nuclear energy management, operation of nuclear plants, and combating climate change; Providing of training, instruction and teaching to the staff and operators of mining sites and nuclear plants, nuclear reactors, power plants and infrastructure thereof, all in the field of nuclear energy production; Arranging and conducting of colloquiums, conferences, congresses, educational exhibitions, in-person learning forums, seminars, symposiums, teleconferences and videoconferences, all in the fields of nuclear energy management, operation of nuclear plants, and combating climate change (5) Research and development in the field of nuclear energy; surveying, scientific laboratory services, and chemical engineering services in the fields of nuclear energy and electronics; chemical engineering in the fields of nuclear energy and electronics; research and technical project studies in the fields of nuclear energy and electronics; consultancy, surveying and materials testing in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics fields; professional engineering consultancy and drafting of engineering plans for others in the fields of nuclear energy and electronics; Prospecting and drilling, particularly for nuclear material; monitoring of nuclear fuels, chemical isotopes, industrial chemicals and nuclear plants and equipment used in nuclear plants for others, all for quality control purposes; monitoring and surveillance of nuclear plant and equipment; computer programming and software development in the fields of nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics; scientific and industrial research services in the field of environmental protection; conducting of scientific feasibility studies, surveying, engineering consultancy and scientific research information in the field of environmental protection; environmental engineering services namely environmental risk and pollution prevention in the nuclear industry; environmental audits namely energy auditing for sites, plant and equipment in the nuclear, connected technologies and electronics industries (6) Security guarding services, surveillance services and monitoring services of security alarms systems, all for mines, nuclear power plants, nuclear power stations, nuclear reactors, and premises for the warehousing, storage, processing, isotope separation, reprocessing and recycling of nuclear fuels, fuel oils, fuel gases, minerals, uranium, plutonium and nuclear waste

Goods & Services

Production of energy and nuclear energy; Processing, reprocessing, isotope separation being processing, recycling and recovery being reprocessing of fuels, ores, chemicals used in the nuclear sector, nuclear chemicals, uranium, plutonium, thorium and nuclear waste; decontamination of hazardous materials, namely of mining sites and soils, nuclear installations, equipment and apparatus in the nuclear sector; Destruction of waste, waste incineration and disposal being destruction of waste, including nuclear waste and used fuels Industrial chemicals, including chemical compositions, used in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics industries; industrial chemicals used in the nuclear cycle; nuclear materials, namely industrial chemicals in the nature of uranium ores, thorium ores, plutonium ores, all in any chemical form or isotopic composition; industrial chemicals produced by nuclear fission; fuel for nuclear reactors; fuel elements being fuel for nuclear reactors; moderating materials being industrial chemicals for nuclear reactors; moderating materials for nuclear reactors in the nature of industrial chemicals; chemical accelerators being industrial chemicals; natural graphites for nuclear energy, fissionable material being industrial chemicals for nuclear energy; accelerators being catalysts for chemical processes, namely for organic chemical reactions; accelerators being catalysts for chemical processes, namely for speeding up chemical reactions Fuels, fuel compositions in the nature of fuel oils; industrial oils, industrial greases and industrial lubricants for use in the nuclear energy and connected technologies industries Pharmaceutical preparations being radioactive substances for nuclear medicine and medical imaging; Diagnostic preparations for medical purposes, particularly for locating malignant tumors within the human body Machine couplings and non-electric machine couplings, except for land vehicles; machine transmission components and belts for machines, except for land vehicles; pumps for machines; mechanical equipment being machines used for and in the nuclear sector and in the field of combating climate change, namely industrial robots, electric generators; industrial robots and replacement parts of all kinds therefor; parts of industrial robots, namely robot arms, telescopic arms, remotely operated arms, and structural and replacement parts therefor; industrial robots for intervening, checking, measuring, collection, removal or inspection in contaminated environments, in particular industrial land robots and industrial underwater robots; electrically or electronically operated hand tools, namely electric hand-held drills, power-operated hand-held crimpers; electric or electronic cutting tools being machine tools for the cutting of materials; electrically controlled energy production tools, namely electrical apparatus for use in generating energy obtained from alternative energy sources; machine tools, namely reamers, taps, broaches, chasers, milling cutters; machines, machines tools and apparatus, namely fuel processing machines, industrial chemical reactors, cargo handling machines, separating machines for chemical processing, all used in the nuclear energy industry or for isotope production, for ground surveying, drilling, extraction, manufacture, handling, processing, warehousing, isotope separation, immobilisation and storage of ores, metals, nuclear materials, nuclear fuels, plutonium, uranium, thorium, actinides and lanthanides, xenon, krypton, platinoids, in particular ruthenium, palladium, rhodium and platinum, and nuclear waste; Motor control centre, namely pneumatic and hydraulic controls for motors; revolving and static electric machines and actuators, namely pneumatic valve and hydraulic valve actuators and regulators being parts of machines; speed governors for machines, motors and engines; tension governors for machines, electric motors and engines; machines in the nature of compressing machines, forging machines, packing machines; machine tools being reamers, taps, broaches, chasers, milling cutters, and industrial robots including remote-controlled industrial robots, all for conducting measurements, inspections, removal or analysis, for collecting, processing and recycling nuclear materials, used nuclear fuels, nuclear waste and purifying and disassembling nuclear sites or installations; Industrial robots for manufacturing and preparing radiopharmaceuticals; industrial devices being machines for manufacturing and processing radiopharmaceuticals Scientific, surveying, electrical, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking and life-saving apparatus and instruments used in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics industries, namely cameras for monitoring and inspecting equipment in a nuclear power station, ultracapacitors for energy storage, electrical energy utilization metering devices; apparatus, instruments and devices for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics industries, namely cameras for monitoring and inspecting equipment in a nuclear power station, security surveillance robots; radioactivity detection devices, geiger counters; downloadable computer programs, downloadable computer software packages and downloadable software, all for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant; alarms for the supervision and surveillance of industrial plant; downloadable computer programs, downloadable computer software packages and downloadable software all for database management and analytics for use in the nuclear industry and mineral processing; connected technologies equipment and connectors for civil and military communications, information technology, aeronautical and automotive applications namely, data processing equipment and power connectors; electric and electronic components, namely semiconductors, semiconductor devices, electronic microcircuits, integrated circuit chips, all sold separately or in selected combinations; apparatus and instruments for the manufacture of connectors and electric and electronic components, namely electronic chips for the manufacture of integrated circuits; apparatus and instruments for testing the functioning of connectors and electric and electronic components, namely probes for testing semiconductors and integrated circuits; particle accelerators; electron beam accelerators being particle accelerators; electrical power distribution blocks; topographic apparatus and instruments, namely surveying apparatus and instruments; protective industrial face masks; blank Smartcards; radiology projection screens for industrial purposes Heating, steam production, heat exchange, heat and steam accumulation, heat and steam control, cooking, refrigerating, drying and ventilating apparatus intended for nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, plants and centers for storage, warehousing, isotopic separation, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, ores, nuclear materials, uranium, plutonium and nuclear waste, namely nuclear fusion reactors, nuclear fission reactors, nuclear generators; Nuclear reactors; Steam generators; industrial boilers; Nuclear islands being nuclear power plants, installations for processing nuclear moderators and fuels being nuclear reactors, nuclear assemblies being nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, nuclear generators; electrochemical gas generators especially ones using electrolysis, reforming, gasification, decomposition of water Building Construction of nuclear power plant facilities in the fields of energy including renewable energies and fight against climate change; installation and maintenance of nuclear power plant infrastructure facilities, nuclear power plants, nuclear power plants installations, nuclear power equipment and apparatus in the fields of energy including renewable energies and fight against climate change, and electronic apparatus; building construction of nuclear power plant facilities and buildings for storage, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, ores, nuclear materials, uranium and plutonium; installation and maintenance of nuclear power plants for storage, processing, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, ores, nuclear materials, uranium and plutonium; building construction of nuclear power plant facilities in the fields of energy, renewable energy and efforts to combat climate change; installation and maintenance of nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, non-nuclear boilers, nuclear power plant installations and nuclear power equipment for research and engineering in the fields of energy, renewable energies and fight against climate change; building construction of facilities used for transporting materials in the field of nuclear energy; installation and maintenance of nuclear power equipment used for transporting materials in the field of nuclear energy; building inspection of construction sites, building construction supervision, providing construction information in the fields of nuclear energy, renewable energy and efforts to combat climate change; maintenance of nuclear power plants installations, nuclear power equipment and nuclear power apparatus in the nuclear field; renovation in the field of nuclear power plant buildings Energy supply being distribution of energy; Energy distribution information and advice in relation to services for the supply and distribution of energy; Collection of industrial nuclear waste by air, land and water; packaging, warehousing and storage of fuels, ores, nuclear material, uranium, thorium, plutonium and nuclear waste for others Providing of training and instruction in the fields of energy and combating climate change; Providing of training, instruction and teaching to the staff and operators of mining sites and nuclear installations, factories, power plants and infrastructures, all in the field of nuclear energy production; Arranging and conducting of colloquiums, conferences, congresses, educational exhibitions, in-person learning forums, seminars, symposiums, conferences via telephone and conferences via video, all in the fields of energy and combating climate change Research and development in the field of nuclear energy; Surveying, scientific laboratory services, and engineering in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics fields; chemical engineering in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics fields; scientific research and technical project studies being engineering in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics fields; engineering consultancy, surveying and materials testing in the nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics fields; professional engineering consultancy and drafting of engineering plans for others in the fields of nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics; geological prospecting and geotechnical drilling, particularly for nuclear material; quality control for others, namely monitoring of nuclear material and monitoring of nuclear plant and equipment, all for quality control purposes; computer programming and software development in the fields of nuclear energy, connected technologies and electronics; scientific and industrial research services in the field of environmental protection; conducting of scientific feasibility studies, surveying, engineering consultancy and scientific research information in the field of environmental protection; environmental engineering services namely environmental risk and pollution prevention in the nuclear industry, environmental audits namely energy auditing for sites, plant and equipment in the nuclear, connected technologies and electronics industries Security guarding for facilities, surveillance services and monitoring of security alarms systems, all for mines and premises for the warehousing, storage, processing, isotope separation, reprocessing and recycling of fuels, minerals, nuclear material, uranium, plutonium and nuclear waste and for nuclear power stations and nuclear reactors

Abstract

A nuclear reactor is provided that comprises a vessel that houses a core, comprising a bundle of fuel elements, and immersed in a primary cooling fluid of the core; the fuel elements extend along respective longitudinal and parallel axes and are mechanically supported by respective heads joined to each other and joined to an anchoring structure by support devices acting between adjacent fuel elements, or acting between fuel elements situated on the periphery of the core and the anchoring structure, and which constitute an integral part of the heads of the fuel elements.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 3/33 - Supporting or hanging of elements in the bundleMeans forming part of the bundle for inserting it into, or removing it from, the coreMeans for coupling adjacent bundles
• G21C 19/19 - Reactor parts specifically adapted to facilitate handling, e.g. to facilitate charging or discharging of fuel elements
• G21C 5/10 - Means for supporting the complete structure
• G21C 1/14 - Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated moderator being substantially not pressurised, e.g. swimming-pool reactor
• G21C 3/10 - End closures
• G21C 1/03 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator cooled by a coolant not essentially pressurised, e.g. pool-type reactors

Abstract

A nuclear reactor cooled by liquid metal or by molten salts, provided with a heat exchanger, having inlet of the primary fluid in the lower part and circumferential outlet window in the vicinity of the free surface of the primary fluid in the cold collector. The outlet window is located in an intermediate position with respect to the tube bundle partially raised with respect to the free surface in the cold collector and supplied with primary fluid throughout its height by means of an ancillary device for creating an underpressure in the cover gas of the exchanger with respect to the cover gas in the vessel. The raising of the exchanger and the positioning of the outlet window in the vicinity of the free surface of the primary coolant help to minimize the displacement of primary fluid in the event of accidental release of secondary fluid inside the heat exchanger.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 15/12 - Arrangement or disposition of passages in which heat is transferred to the coolant, e.g. for coolant circulation through the supports of the fuel elements from pressure vesselArrangement or disposition of passages in which heat is transferred to the coolant, e.g. for coolant circulation through the supports of the fuel elements from containment vessel
• G21C 1/03 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator cooled by a coolant not essentially pressurised, e.g. pool-type reactors
• G21C 1/32 - Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core
• G21C 15/02 - Arrangement or disposition of passages in which heat is transferred to the coolant, e.g. for coolant circulation through the supports of the fuel elements
• F22B 35/00 - Control systems for steam boilers

Abstract

A nuclear reactor cooled with pressurized water, having a pressurized tank installed in which are compact steam generators; each steam generator comprises a plurality of heat-exchange tubes having respective spiral portions set in levels on top of one another to form at least one annular tube bundle delimiting a substantially cylindrical internal central zone, pre-arranged for supply from above with primary water, which then traverses the tube bundle radially.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 15/00 - Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the coreSelection of specific coolants
• G21C 1/32 - Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core
• F28D 7/04 - Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits being spirally coiled
• F22B 21/28 - Water-tube boilers of vertical or steeply-inclined type, i.e. the water-tube sets being arranged vertically or substantially vertically built-up from water tubes of form other than straight or substantially straight bent spirally
• F22B 1/16 - Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method by exploitation of the heat content of hot heat carriers the heat carrier being hot liquid or hot vapour, e.g. waste liquid, waste vapour
• F22B 37/12 - Forms of water tubes, e.g. of varying cross-section
• F28F 9/013 - Auxiliary supports for elements for tubes or tube-assemblies
• F28F 9/02 - Header boxesEnd plates
• F28F 27/02 - Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels
• G21D 1/00 - Details of nuclear power plant

Abstract

The present invention relates to a nuclear reactor, in particular a pool-type nuclear reactor cooled with liquid metal (for example, a heavy metal such as lead or lead-bismuth eutectic) or with sodium or molten salts, having a core formed by a bundle of fuel elements and immersed in a primary fluid circulating between the core and at least one heat exchanger; the fuel elements extend along respective parallel longitudinal axes and have respective bottom active parts immersed in the primary fluid to constitute the core, and respective service parts that extend at the top from the active parts and emerge from the primary fluid; the fuel elements are mechanically supported via respective top end heads anchored to supporting structures and can be operated via handling machines.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 1/03 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator cooled by a coolant not essentially pressurised, e.g. pool-type reactors
• G21C 3/32 - Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
• G21C 19/02 - Details of handling arrangements
• G21C 1/00 - Reactor types
• G21C 3/00 - Reactor fuel elements or their assembliesSelection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
• G21C 19/00 - Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel