US 12,230,409 B2
Pool type liquid metal fast spectrum reactor using a printed circuit heat exchanger connection to the power conversion system
Alexander W. Harkness, Gibsonia, PA (US); and Cory A. Stansbury, Gorham, ME (US)
Assigned to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed by Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, PA (US)
Filed on Oct. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/450,507.
Application 17/450,507 is a continuation of application No. 16/149,595, filed on Oct. 2, 2018, granted, now 11,145,422.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/568,486, filed on Oct. 5, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/566,980, filed on Oct. 2, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0102016 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G21C 1/03 (2006.01); F28D 9/00 (2006.01); F28F 9/00 (2006.01); F28F 9/16 (2006.01); F28F 9/26 (2006.01); G21C 15/14 (2006.01); G21C 15/247 (2006.01); F28D 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 1/03 (2013.01) [F28D 9/0037 (2013.01); F28F 9/001 (2013.01); F28F 9/16 (2013.01); F28F 9/26 (2013.01); G21C 15/14 (2013.01); G21C 15/247 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0054 (2013.01); F28F 2275/061 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nuclear reactor, comprising:
a vessel comprising a lid, wherein the vessel houses a volume of a primary coolant therein, and wherein the volume of the primary coolant defines a maximum level within the vessel;
a reactor core disposed in the vessel, wherein the reactor core defines a lower plenum and an upper plenum;
a micro-channel heat exchanger at least partially submerged below the maximum level of the primary coolant, wherein the micro-channel heat exchanger comprises:
a core comprising a stack of plates bonded together, wherein the core comprises a top face, a bottom face, a first side face, and a second side face;
a plurality of primary channels defined in the core, wherein each primary channel of the plurality of primary channels extends from a primary inlet defined in the first side face to a primary outlet defined in the second side face; and
a plurality of secondary channels defined in the core, wherein each secondary channel of the plurality of secondary channels extends among the plurality of primary channels from a secondary inlet defined in the top face to a secondary outlet defined in the top face.