US 11,942,229 B2
Molten metal fuel buffer in fission reactor and method of manufacture
Craig D. Gramlich, Forest, VA (US)
Assigned to BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed by BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/851,142.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/836,103, filed on Apr. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0373024 A1, Nov. 26, 2020
Int. Cl. G21C 3/16 (2006.01); G21C 3/22 (2006.01); G21C 21/00 (2006.01); G21C 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 3/22 (2013.01) [G21C 21/00 (2013.01); G21C 3/04 (2013.01); G21C 3/16 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fission reactor, comprising:
a plurality of heat generating sources, wherein each of the heat generating sources includes a fissionable nuclear fuel composition;
a plurality of primary coolant volumes through which a primary coolant is flowable during operation of the fission reactor;
a cladding encasing each of the plurality of heat generating sources; and
a molten metal,
wherein, for each of the plurality of heat generating sources:
the cladding has a first side oriented toward the heat generating source,
the cladding has a second side including a first portion oriented toward a first primary coolant volume and a second portion oriented toward a second primary coolant volume, and
the molten metal is in thermal transfer contact with the heat generating source and the first side of the cladding, and
wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fission reactor, the cladding encasing each of the plurality of heat generating sources has a shape of a cross-section of a hyperboloid of one sheet.