Rapid temp. activated emergency shut=down system for nuclear reactor - using passive pressurised release of light helium isotope gas into reactor core causing rapid neutron absorption

摘要

A pneumatic safety system for the emergency shut down of nuclear reactors. The system is activated by the superceeding of a critical temperature and is passive or self-acting. A highly pressurised container of neutron absorbing gas (e.g. 3He) is positioned above the reactor core and linked to it by means of an apperture, which is sealed (under normal conditions) by a diapragm, and a hollow pipe and further hollow pipes (22) which are distributed amongst the fuel rods of the reactor core that conducting pipes correct the diapragm to reactor core gratings. Under accident conditions heat energy transferred along the pipes activates the diapragm which in turn releases the 3He and rapidly shuts down the reactor. USE/ADVANTAGE - The system enables the rapid shut down of nuclear reactors in emergency conditions. Advantages (claimed) are; (1) system is passive i.e. independent of human operators; (2) the system reacts quickly to a critical temperature; (3) system reacts much faster than was possible with known technology.