Conceptual Design of a Fluidized Bed Nuclear Reactor

摘要

A new type of nuclear reactor is presented that consists of a graphite-walled tube partly filled with TRISO-coated fuel particles. Helium is used as a coolant that flows from bottom to top through the tube, thereby fluidizing the particle bed. Only when the coolant flow is large enough does the reactor become critical because of the surrounding graphite that moderates and reflects the neutrons The fuel particle designed for this reactor is strongly undermoderated and has a temperature coeffi- Cient of reactivity that is sufficiently negative.