METHOD FOR PREHEATING A VESSEL AND THE INTERNAL STRUCTURES OF A FAST NEUTRON NUCLEAR REACTOR COOLED BY LIQUID METAL AND CORRESPONDING PREHEATING MEANS

摘要

1. A process for preheating a vessel and the internal structures of a fast neutron nuclear reactor of the integrated type cooled by liquid metal, for the filling thereof with liquid metal, consisting in continously circulating a neutral gas at a temperature higher than the melting point of the liquid metal, on one hand in contact with the exterior surface of the vessel (1) and on the other hand in contact with its interior surface and its internal structures (6, 8, 12, 15) comprising components having a hollow case, recovering the neutral gas having circulated in contact with the vessel and reheating it outside the vessel (1) before putting it back into circulation, characterised in that the neutral gas is circulated in contact both with the external surface and with the internal surface of the components.