Pebble bed reactor support plate below hot gas header - composed of ceramic blocks with stepped joints to prevent dust penetration

摘要

Ceramic components, esp. assembled blocks constituting the bottom support for a nuclear reactor and resting upon a bottom plate are intended particularly for reactors where the core is composed of loose spherical fuel elements (pebble bed reactor). The horizontal bottom support carries the side reflector and/or the bottom reflector via support elements. Between the blocks (18,18a) of this bottom support, the joints (19) are stepped. Specifically, the blocks have projections (24) and recesses (25) engaging one into the other. The joints (19) may taper from the top face (20) towards the step (31). Pref. width for the joints (19) at the top (30) is approx. 12mm. Used for a gas-cooled, pebble bed reactor. During the life of the reactor considerable dust is produced in the core, partic. due to abrasion of fuel elements on the reflector.