G - Physics – 21 – C
Patent
G - Physics
21
C
G21C 3/326 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2710432
The invention relates to light water reactor designs in which thorium is used as fuel and in particular to designs of jacketless fuel assemblies, which make up the cores of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) such as the VVER-1000. Nuclear reactor cores containing seed and blanket subassemblies that make up the fuel assemblies are used to burn thorium fuel together with conventional reactor fuel that includes nonproliferative enriched uranium, as well as weapons-grade and reactor-grade plutonium. In the first alternative, the reactor core is fully "nonproliferative," since neither the reactor fuel nor the wastes generated can be used to produce nuclear weapons. In the second version of the invention, the reactor core is used to burn large amounts of weapons-grade plutonium together with thorium and provides a suitable means to destroy stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium and convert the energy released to electric power. The cores in both embodiments of the invention are made up of a set of seed-blanket assemblies, which have central seed areas surrounded by annular blanket areas. The seed areas contain uranium or plutonium fuel rods, while the blanket areas contain thorium fuel rods. The volume ratio of moderator to fuel and the relative sizes of the seed area and the blanket area have been optimized so that neither embodiment of the invention generates wastes that can be used to produced nuclear weapons. A new refueling system is also used for the first embodiment of the invention to maximize recycling of the seed fuel; the system also ensures that the spent nuclear fuel cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons. 5 pages and 21 claims, 9 illustrations.
L'invention concerne la conception de réacteurs nucléaires à eau légère dans lesquels on utilise en tant que combustible du thorium, et notamment les structures d'assemblages de combustible sans gaine qui servent à former les zones actives de réacteurs à eau pressurisée de production d'énergie tels que le VVER-1000. Dans la zone active du réacteur nucléaire comprenant un assemblage de combustible constitué de modules d'allumage et de reproduction, du combustible à base de thorium est consumé dans le module de reproduction, conjointement avec du combustible de réacteur ordinaire comprenant de l'uranium enrichi non profilé ou du plutonium de production d'énergie dans le module d'allumage. Le module d'allumage comprend un faisceau de crayons de combustible qui possèdent un profil à trois lobes, qui forme des nervures d'écartement. Les modules d'allumage et de reproduction peuvent être rigidement connectés entre eux au moyen d'un assemblage à joint saillant ou ne pas avoir de liaison mécanique rigide. La structure de l'assemblage de combustible de l'invention assure son entière compatibilité avec les assemblages de combustible existants utilisés dans les VVER-1000. La possibilité de désassemblage d'un assemblage à deux sections permet d'assurer le rechargement indépendant du module d'allumage.
Bashkirtsev Sergey Mikhailovich
Kevrolev Valery Vladimirovich
Kuznetsov Valentin Fedorovich
Morozov Alexei Glebovich
Graham Lorelei G.
Thorium Power Inc.
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