| CPC G21B 1/19 (2013.01) [G21B 1/05 (2013.01); G21B 1/13 (2013.01)] | 30 Claims |
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28. A thermal-hydraulic system comprising:
(i) a fusion reactor that includes
a first wall that encloses a vacuum chamber for containing a magnetically controlled plasma capable of sustaining a plurality of fusion reactions,
where the first wall comprises
a refractory material that forms an inner portion of the first wall and
steel that forms an outer portion of the first wall,
where the steel has channels for circulating a first inert gas through the first wall;
a structural ring that encloses the first wall; and
a nested pebble blanket sandwiched between the first wall and the structural ring, where the nested pebble blanket comprises
a plurality of nested pebbles packed directly adjacent to each other, where each nested pebble comprises
a neutron multiplier shell having a plurality of perforations passing through an inner surface and an outer surface of the neutron multiplier shell;
a plurality of perforated flow distributor elements in one-to-one correspondence with the perforations,
the perforated flow distributor elements fastened to the inner surface of the neutron
multiplier shell in line with the respective perforations
to let coolant flow from outside the neutron multiplier shell to its inner volume; and
a plurality of breeder spheroids encased within the neutron multiplier shell;
(ii) a first fluid loop that circulates the first inert gas through the channels of the first wall of the fusion reactor for cooling the first wall;
(iii) a second fluid loop that circulates a second inert gas through the nested pebbled bed blanket of the fusion reactor for
cooling the nested pebbled blanket
and sweeping out at least tritium, tritiated water, and helium; and
(iv) a third fluid loop thermally coupled with the first fluid loop and the second fluid loop, where the third fluid loop
removes heat from the first and second fluid loops, and
transfers at least a portion of energy corresponding to the removed heat to
a thermal energy storage
and/or a power loop that uses water steam, carbon dioxide, or other fluids to generate electricity.
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