Gas cooled reactor - with core and primary coolant circuit incorporated in concrete pressure vessel

摘要

A gas cooled reactor concept applicable to prismatic cores with rod type fuel or pebble bed type cores with gravity discharge. The basic configuration is for a central reactor core within a column supported concrete pressure vessel. Primary coolant circulators and heat exchangers are arranged in liners in the concrete pressure vessel spaced circumferentially around and beneath the core but integrally connected to the reactor chamber. Gas flow which may be CO2 or He is downward through the core, heat exchangers and circulators with an upward return flow. Secondary coolant circulation through the heat exchangers is counter to the primary to maximise heat transfer. Improved thermal efficiency leads to reduced plant dimensions with consequent advantage to high pressure and high power reactors.