A molten fuel salt nuclear reactor core assembly including a fluid neutron reflecting material defining a fast spectrum fuel volume configured to breed fissile fuel from fertile fuel, a first inlet channel, and a first outlet channel through which cooled molten fuel salt can enter and heated molten fuel salt can exit the fast spectrum fuel volume. The core assembly also includes a set of neutron absorbing members sized to fit within the fast spectrum fuel volume. The set of neutron absorbing members define a thermal spectrum fuel volume for a fission reaction of the fissile fuel, a second inlet channel, and a second outlet channel through which cooled molten fuel salt can enter and heated molten fuel salt can exit the thermal spectrum fuel volume.

A nuclear reactor core mechanical support bracket is disclosed. The support bracket includes a housing, a spring disposed internally within the housing, a shaft slidingly disposed within the housing, a shaft travel pin, and a flange. The shaft is configured to engage the spring to compress and decompress the spring as the shaft travels in and out of the housing. The shaft travel pin controls the travel of the shaft. The flange is configured to mount the nuclear reactor core mechanical support bracket to a canister of a nuclear reactor. The shaft includes an inset configured to interface with a nuclear reactor core component.

A nuclear reactor is disclosed including a reactor core and a reflector assembly surrounding the reactor core. The reflector assembly includes a stationary reflector component including a graphite support structure comprising a plurality of channels defined therein and a plurality of beryllium-oxide pins positioned in the channels.

A nuclear reactor is disclosed including a reactor core and a reflector assembly surrounding the reactor core. The reflector assembly includes a stationary reflector component including a graphite support structure comprising a plurality of channels defined therein and a plurality of beryllium-oxide pins positioned in the channels.

Various example embodiments are directed towards an improved control drum, as well as systems, apparatuses, and/or methods for operating a nuclear reactor with a plurality of improved control drums. The control drum includes an outer shell, an inner shell, a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes including at least one neutron absorbing tube and at least one neutron scattering tube, and at least one baffle plate arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, the at least one baffle plate including a plurality of perforations, and at least one perforation of the plurality of perforations configured to support a tube of the plurality of tubes.

Various example embodiments are directed towards an improved control drum, as well as systems, apparatuses, and/or methods for operating a nuclear reactor with a plurality of improved control drums. The control drum includes an outer shell, an inner shell, a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes including at least one neutron absorbing tube and at least one neutron scattering tube, and at least one baffle plate arranged between the outer shell and the inner shell, the at least one baffle plate including a plurality of perforations, and at least one perforation of the plurality of perforations configured to support a tube of the plurality of tubes.

A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.

A control drum system for a nuclear reactor including a reactor core, including an ex-core reflector including a plurality of cylindrical apertures, a plurality of control drum assemblies, each control drum assembly including a drive shaft, a drum cylinder affixed to a bottom end of the drive shaft, and a planetary gear attached to a top end of the drive shaft, wherein each drum cylinder is rotatably received in a cylindrical aperture, a first control drum drive motor operably connected to a first control drum assembly, and an annular ring gear that is operably connected to the planetary gear of each of the control drum assemblies so that all the control drum assemblies rotate simultaneously.

A reflector assembly for a molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a support structure with a substantially cylindrical base plate, a substantially cylindrical top plate, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending between the base plate and the top plate. The support structure is configured to encapsulate a reactor core for containing nuclear fuel. The MCFR also includes a plurality of tube members disposed within the support structure and extending axially between the top plate and the bottom plate. The plurality of tube members are configured to hold at least one reflector material to reflect fission born neutrons back to a center of the reactor core.

A reflector assembly for a molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a support structure with a substantially cylindrical base plate, a substantially cylindrical top plate, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending between the base plate and the top plate. The support structure is configured to encapsulate a reactor core for containing nuclear fuel. The MCFR also includes a plurality of tube members disposed within the support structure and extending axially between the top plate and the bottom plate. The plurality of tube members are configured to hold at least one reflector material to reflect fission born neutrons back to a center of the reactor core.