A PROLIFERATION-RESISTANT NUCLEAR REACTOR

摘要

Proliferation-resistant nuclear reactors are disclosed according to some aspects. In one embodiment the proliferation-resistant nuclear reactor comprises a plurality of spherically-shaped micro-fuel elements (MFEs), each comprising a MFE core having one or more fuel kernels, a buffer external to the fuel kernels, and one or more coatings external to the MFE core providing corrosion resistance, erosion resistance, fission product containment, or a combination thereof. The MFEs are not suspended in a solid material and each MFE is sized such that its delay time is less than its accident time. The nuclear reactor further comprises a reactor core containing at least a portion of the plurality of MFEs, wherein the reactor core is configured for cross-flow of a coolant.