Abstract

A device for detecting neutrons and gamma rays comprises at least one detector and an acquisition and data-analysis system, connected to the detector; the detector comprises an active part that is formed by a plurality of: scintillator layers, made of a scintillator material, in particular a plastic scintillator; and absorber layers, containing at least one neutron-absorbing material, in particular cadmium or gadolinium; the acquisition and data-analysis system is configured so as to: analyze the signals coming from the detector and calculate the total energy released within the detector following upon an interaction with gamma rays or neutrons; and discriminate between gamma rays and neutrons impinging upon the detector according to whether the energy detected is higher or lower than a pre-set threshold.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01T 1/20 - Measuring radiation intensity with scintillation detectors
• G01V 5/00 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of nuclear radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity
• G01T 3/06 - Measuring neutron radiation with scintillation detectors

Abstract

A device (1) for detecting neutrons and gamma rays comprises at least one detector (2) and an acquisition and data-analysis system (3), connected to the detector (2); the detector (2) comprises an active part (7) that is formed by a plurality of: scintillator layers (8), made of a scintillator material, in particular a plastic scintillator; and absorber layers (9), containing at least one neutron-absorbing material, in particular cadmium or gadolinium; the acquisition and data- analysis system (3) is configured so as to: analyse the signals coming from the detector (2) and calculate the total energy released within the detector (2) following upon an interaction with gamma rays or neutrons; and discriminate between gamma rays and neutrons impinging upon the detector (2) according to whether the energy detected is higher or lower than a pre-set threshold.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01T 1/20 - Measuring radiation intensity with scintillation detectors
• G01T 3/06 - Measuring neutron radiation with scintillation detectors
• G01V 5/00 - Prospecting or detecting by the use of nuclear radiation, e.g. of natural or induced radioactivity

Abstract

A thermal exchange system (1) with passive regulation of the amount of heat removed, in particular for a nuclear reactor, comprises an evaporating-condensing circuit (3), in which a condensable secondary fluid (4) circulates via which heat is removed from a primary fluid (2) by means of evaporation and subsequent condensation of the secondary fluid (4) in a main heat exchanger (11) and an auxiliary heat exchanger (12) respectively; and a passive regulation device (5), configured so as to passively regulate the thermal power removed by condensation by the auxiliary heat exchanger (12), matching it with the thermal power removed from the primary fluid (2) by means of incondensable gas injection into the evaporating- condensing circuit (3).

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 15/18 - Emergency cooling arrangements; Removing shut-down heat
• G21D 1/02 - Arrangements of auxiliary equipment
• G21D 3/06 - Safety arrangements responsive to faults within the plant
• 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 1/06 - Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated

Abstract

A thermal-energy storage tank (1) comprising a containing structure (2) designed to house a store of thermovector fluid in the liquid state, a regenerating circuit (6) designed to draw the thermovector fluid from a bottom of the containing structure (2) and, once heated outside the tank, to deposit it in a surface portion of the store of thermovector fluid, at least one steam generator (13) comprising a heat exchanger (14, 16b) with vertical extension housed within the containing structure (2) and having at least one top opening (18) designed for inlet of the thermovector fluid and a bottom opening designed for outlet of the thermovector fluid (15).

IPC Classes  ?

• F01K 3/00 - Plants characterised by the use of steam or heat accumulators, or intermediate steam heaters, therein
• F22B 21/00 - Water-tube boilers of vertical or steeply-inclined type, i.e. the water-tube sets being arranged vertically or substantially vertically
• F22B 29/06 - Steam boilers of forced-flow type of once-through type, i.e. built-up from tubes receiving water at one end and delivering superheated steam at the other end of the tubes
• F01K 3/16 - Mutual arrangement of accumulator and heater

Abstract

A nuclear reactor (1) is provided, in particular a nuclear reactor cooled with a liquid metal (for example, a heavy liquid metal, such as lead or lead-bismuth eutectic), of the type having a cylindrical inner vessel (15) that divides a hot collector (6) over a core (4) from a substantially annular cold collector (7) surrounding the hot collector; housed in the cold collector (7) is a plurality of integrated circulation and heat-exchange assemblies (20), each of which includes a pump (9), two heat exchangers (10) set at the sides of the pump, and a conveying structure (21) through which a primary fluid (8) for cooling the core passes from the pump to the heat exchanger, all of which are fixedly connected to one another to form a unitary structure; each integrated assembly has an inlet (26) connected to the hot collector (6) and two outlet sections (34) in the cold collector (7).

IPC Classes  ?

• G21C 1/00 - Reactor types
• G21C 1/02 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator
• 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