Granted Patent B2

US 12,640,277 · App. 18/045,398 · Granted May 26, 2026

Inventors: Ryan Abbott (Woodinville, WA); Darryl Appelgate (Woodinville, WA); Haley Barsa (Issaquah, WA); Michael T. Blatnik (Seattle, WA); Karl Britsch (Mukilteo, WA); Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr. (Seattle, WA); Brian C. Kelleher (Edmonds, WA); Samuel S. Goodrich (Richland, WA); Ramesh Rajasekaran (Bellevue, WA); Daniel J. Walter (North Bend, WA); Kent E. Wardle (Renton, WA); Matthew D. Wargon (Seattle, WA)

Assignee: TerraPower, LLC

G21C11/06G21C13/024G21C1/03G21C3/54G21C13/02G21C15/247

Abstract

Claims (39)

1 . A nuclear reactor system comprising:

a vessel encompassing a reactor core, the reactor core configured to receive molten fuel and achieve criticality of the molten fuel via fission therein, the vessel comprising a vessel exterior surface;

an external loop line external to the vessel and comprising a loop line exterior surface, the external loop line being:

configured to circulate molten fuel;

fluidly coupled to a bottom portion of the vessel at a first end of the external loop line;

fluidly coupled to an upper portion of the vessel above the reactor core at a second end of the external loop line; and

configured to:

receive the molten fuel from the vessel at the first end;

allow the molten fuel to circulate through the external loop line; and

allow the molten fuel to return to the vessel at the second end;

a pump configured to circulate the molten fuel through the reactor core and through the external loop line;

one or more heaters external to the vessel and configured to provide heat to at least a portion of the loop line external surface and at least a portion of the vessel exterior surface; and

a neutron reflector encompassing the vessel exterior surface, wherein the neutron reflector is heated by the one or more heaters.

2 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises one or more heat transfer elements on the vessel exterior surface, such that heat generated by fission in the molten fuel transfers into an external environment around the vessel.

3 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , wherein the neutron reflector comprises a plurality of modular pieces coupled to each other.

4 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of modular pieces comprise at least one upper reflector piece, at least one lower reflector piece, and at least one radial reflector piece.

5 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is located on a fluid path of the external loop line.

6 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , wherein the pump is coupled to an upper portion of the vessel.

7 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises an irradiation tube; the irradiation tube including:

an access end penetrating a first side of the vessel; and

an opposite distal end fixed at an interior of the vessel at a second side of the vessel,

wherein the irradiation tube is sealed from the molten fuel.

8 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 7 , further comprising a sensing device, wherein the irradiation tube is configured to provide an access point for the sensing device into the reactor core, wherein the sensing device does not contact the molten fuel.

9 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , further comprising a floor insulation layer supporting the vessel, and a floor supporting the floor insulation layer, the vessel being thermally insulated from the floor by the floor insulation layer.

10 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a standpipe fluidly connected to the external loop line;

a salt supply line coupled at a first end to the standpipe;

a fuel salt drain tank and a fuel salt flush tank fluidly coupled to the salt supply line at a second end of the salt supply line; and

a cover gas system connected to the vessel and positioned above the vessel, wherein a level of molten fuel within the standpipe is higher than a level of molten fuel at the cover gas system.

11 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , further comprising insulation covering at least part of the one or more heaters, wherein:

the one or more heaters comprises a first heater,

the first heater and the insulation cover a length of the external loop line; and

the insulation comprises ceramic wool.

12 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 11 , wherein the first heater includes a heating jacket through which a heated fluid is circulated.

13 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 11 , wherein the first heater comprises an electrical heat trace system.

14 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more heaters comprises a second heater, the second heater being configured to provide heat to at least a portion of an outside surface of the vessel.

15 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 1 , further comprising a support structure coupled to the vessel, the support structure being configured to provide structural stability to the nuclear reactor system.

16 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 15 , wherein the support structure has a symmetric polyhedral shape.

17 . The nuclear reactor system of claim 16 , further comprising a pump coupled to an upper portion of the vessel, the pump having a pump housing, wherein the pump housing is coupled to the support structure.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (300)