ASSEMBLY TYPE REACTOR PROVIDED WITH FLOW OF PRIMARY COOLING FLUID BY MIXED CONVECTION

摘要

1. Fast neutron reactor comprising a suspended tank (2) containing a volume of liquid metal primary coolant (10), a core (1) immersed in the liquid metal (10), heat exchangers (24) immersed in the liquid metal (10) and distributed around the circumference of the tank (2), each exchanger (24) comprising a bundle of tubes (40) in which circulates a secondary fluid, the primary fluid (10) circulating between the tubes (40) of the bundle, a jacket (42) surrounding the tube bundle over a part of its height, said jacket comprising an inlet and an outlet for the liquid metal (10), circulation pumps (17) immersed in the liquid metal (10) pumping the metal to flow through the base of the core (1) whereby to produce a rising circulation of the metal through the core, and a deflector (25) surrounding the core, characterized in that said deflector (25) extends to a height such that hot metal liquid leaving the core spreads out near the free surface (11) of liquid metal in the tank (2), and in that circulation of the liquid metal around the tubes (40) is produced by natural convection, whereby to establish a descending circulation of liquid metal (10) between the tubes (40) of the bundle, separation of hot and cold liquid metal of the primary circuit being produced by density differences.