Safe nuclear reactor with continuous loading and unloading

摘要

A nuclear reactor has a core (1) containing loosely loaded (2) polyhedral (for example cubic) shaped fuel elements (3) which can be continually loaded and unloaded. The fuel elements consist of thousands of very small, coated spherical shaped fuel particles contained within a ceramic housing. Components are provided (7, 8) for loading and unloading under gravity of the fuel elements. Pipelines (11, 12) are provided for the supply of the coolant and moderating medium (10), which can be light or heavy water or a mixture. The core shape is either cylindrical or annular with a central column. The fuel particle coating is a double layer of silicon or zircon carbide with an intermediate layer.