INTEGRAL FAST NUCLEAR REACTOR, COOLED BY A LIQUID METAL, COMPRISING AN INTERMEDIATE ANNULAR EXCHANGER AND PASSIVE SAFETY MEANS

摘要

Integral fast nuclear reactor, cooled by a liquid metal, comprising an intermediate annular exchanger and passive safety means. It comprises main (48) and internal (50) tanks that are separated by a space containing at least one intermediate exchanger (57), which comprises lower (60) and upper (62) manifolds and a central duct (66) the lower end of which receives the liquid metal from the internal tank and the upper end of which is under the upper manifold. According to the invention, this duct comprises holes in its base and a member (82) for obstructing the holes is provided, which member is able to move in the duct and is provided with a float (84) that floats in the metal and keeps the member in a position whereby it obstructs the holes during normal operation when the metal has a given level in the main tank. When the level drops, the float and the member descend, allowing the metal to pass through the holes.