IP Library Granted Patent US 11,854,709
Granted Patent B2
US 11,854,709 · App. 17/185,009 · Granted Dec 26, 2023

Fast reactor with primary and backup control rods

Inventors: Koji Fujimura (Hitachi, JP); Kazuhiro Fujimata (Hitachi, JP); Sho Fuchita (Hitachi, JP); Junichi Miwa (Hitachi, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
G21C1/02G21C1/03G21C3/28G21C1/024G21C7/08G21C7/28G21C7/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,854,709
App. No.
17/185,009
Granted
Dec 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fast reactor core includes a sodium plenum installed above the fuel. The sodium plenum is capable of reducing a void reactivity. During operation, a tip of a primary control rod is inserted in a core fuel region, and a tip of a backup control rod is arranged near an upper end of the sodium plenum.

Claims (15)

1. A core of a fast reactor including a sodium plenum installed above a core fuel, comprising:

a core fuel region in which the core fuel is disposed;

a sodium plenum region in which the sodium plenum is disposed;

a primary control rod; and

a backup control rod;

wherein only a lower tip of the primary control rod is inserted into an upper end of the core fuel region in a normal operation state of the fast reactor, and

in the sodium plenum region, in which the sodium plenum is disposed above an upper end of the core fuel region, only a central portion of the primary control rod above the lower tip of the primary control rod and only a lower tip of the backup control rod are arranged in the sodium plenum region in the normal operation state of the fast reactor,

wherein the lower tip of the backup control rod is arranged at a position substantially same as an upper end of the sodium plenum for operation.

2. The core of a fast reactor according to claim 1 , wherein

in a radial direction of the core, the core fuel region has an inner core fuel region arranged on a center side and an outer core fuel region arranged around the inner core fuel region, and

in an axial direction of the core, a length of a fuel rod of an inner core fuel assembly loaded in the inner core fuel region is shorter than that of a fuel rod of an outer core fuel assembly loaded in the outer core fuel region, and a length of the sodium plenum on the inner core fuel assembly is longer than that of the sodium plenum on the outer core fuel assembly.

3. The core of a fast reactor according to claim 2 , wherein

a radial blanket region radially outward of the outer core fuel region, and a shield region radially outward of the radial blanket region are provided.

4. The core of a fast reactor according to claim 3 , wherein

a gas expansion module assembly is provided between the outer core fuel region and the radial blanket region.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 5, 2026
From: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
To: HITACHI GE VERNOVA NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 074188/0822 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2021
From: FUJIMURA, KOJI; FUJIMATA, KAZUHIRO; FUCHITA, SHO; MIWA, JUNICHI
To: HITACHI-GE NUCLEAR ENERGY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 057286/0846 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-033566 · Feb 28, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210287811A1 · Sep 16, 2021