PRESSURE-TUBE REACTOR WITH COOLANT PRENUM

摘要

A pressure-tube nuclear reactor can include an outer shell having an interior to contain a moderator at a first pressure and a coolant plenum to receive the coolant fluid at a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure. The reactor also includes a plurality of pressure tubes. Each pressure tube is received within and extends through a corresponding shell tube and is configured to releasably retain at least one fuel bundle. A first end of each pressure tube being coupled to the plenum tubesheet in fluid communication with the plenum chamber and a second end of each pressure tube fluidly connected to a coolant conduit to enable the coolant fluid to flow between the coolant plenum and each pressure tube and to flow from the nuclear reactor for further processing.