Molten lead as cooling medium - for fuel rods in fuel elements of a nuclear, reactor, utilising heat absorbed to generate steam

摘要

Cooling of the fuel rods is effected using a liq. metal (alloy) pref. Pb. The heated cooling medium is transferred to a steam generator. Pb can be heated above 300 degrees C (of water where steam bubbles form and damage may be caused. An additional benefit is the radiation shielding effect of lead. The steam generator is pref. a water tube boiler, with the molten lead circulating round the tubes. Advantageously, each water tube is surrounded concentrically with a boiling pipe through which the molten lead flows.