An aqueous assembly has a negative coefficient of reactivity with a magnitude. The aqueous assembly includes a vessel and an aqueous solution, with a fissile solute, supported in the vessel. A reactivity stabilizer is disposed within the aqueous solution to reduce the magnitude of the negative coefficient of reactivity of the aqueous assembly during operation of the aqueous assembly.

An aqueous assembly has a negative coefficient of reactivity with a magnitude. The aqueous assembly includes a vessel and an aqueous solution, with a fissile solute, supported in the vessel. A reactivity stabilizer is disposed within the aqueous solution to reduce the magnitude of the negative coefficient of reactivity of the aqueous assembly during operation of the aqueous assembly.

A nuclear power reactor may include a plurality of power modules, each including a nuclear fuel and a power conversion system configured to convert heat generated from the nuclear fuel to electricity, where the nuclear fuel of the plurality of power modules collectively forms a reactor core. The nuclear power reactor may also include a sleeve being disposed between the plurality of power modules, where the sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The nuclear power reactor may further include a reactivity booster having a neutron source and a reactivity quencher having a neutron absorber. The reactivity booster may be movable between a first location adjacent the first end of the sleeve and a second location adjacent the reactor core, and the reactivity quencher may be movable between a third location adjacent the second end and the second location adjacent the reactor core.

A nuclear power reactor may include a plurality of power modules, each including a nuclear fuel and a power conversion system configured to convert heat generated from the nuclear fuel to electricity, where the nuclear fuel of the plurality of power modules collectively forms a reactor core. The nuclear power reactor may also include a sleeve being disposed between the plurality of power modules, where the sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The nuclear power reactor may further include a reactivity booster having a neutron source and a reactivity quencher having a neutron absorber. The reactivity booster may be movable between a first location adjacent the first end of the sleeve and a second location adjacent the reactor core, and the reactivity quencher may be movable between a third location adjacent the second end and the second location adjacent the reactor core.

This patent application is for a process of nuclear power generation with ˜KW output by making the Thorium fuel of LiF+BeF.sub.2+ThF.sub.4 in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (Th-MSR) to undergo fission along the thorium fuel cycle by providing thermal neutrons which were obtained by slowing down of fast neutrons from n external neutron generators with the help of graphite moderators carefully arranged inside the Th-MSR.

The molten salt that entered the reactor at a temperature of 600° C. becomes hot to 750° C. due to nuclear fission, goes through a heat exchanger and returns to the reactor. The output power of this reactor is proportional to the number of thermal neutrons supplied to the inside of the reactor, and when the external neutron generator is turned ON-OFF, nuclear power generation is also ON-OFF.

This Th-MSR power generation process with thermal neutron generators, which Dr. Choi is applying for a patent, will be one of the most innovative ways to generate ˜kW range nuclear power with the use of 100% non-radioactive nuclear fuel since until now all the Th-MSR power generation scheme relied upon neutrons from the natural decay of Uranium-235 mixed with the Thorium fuel of LiF+BeF.sub.2+ThF.sub.4 with a mixing ratio of 80% ThF4 to 20% UF4. Key Word Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, Thermal Neutron Generator

This patent application is for a process of nuclear power generation with ˜KW output by making the Thorium fuel of LiF+BeF.sub.2+ThF.sub.4 in a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (Th-MSR) to undergo fission along the thorium fuel cycle by providing thermal neutrons which were obtained by slowing down of fast neutrons from n external neutron generators with the help of graphite moderators carefully arranged inside the Th-MSR.

The molten salt that entered the reactor at a temperature of 600° C. becomes hot to 750° C. due to nuclear fission, goes through a heat exchanger and returns to the reactor. The output power of this reactor is proportional to the number of thermal neutrons supplied to the inside of the reactor, and when the external neutron generator is turned ON-OFF, nuclear power generation is also ON-OFF.

This Th-MSR power generation process with thermal neutron generators, which Dr. Choi is applying for a patent, will be one of the most innovative ways to generate ˜kW range nuclear power with the use of 100% non-radioactive nuclear fuel since until now all the Th-MSR power generation scheme relied upon neutrons from the natural decay of Uranium-235 mixed with the Thorium fuel of LiF+BeF.sub.2+ThF.sub.4 with a mixing ratio of 80% ThF4 to 20% UF4. Key Word Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, Thermal Neutron Generator

A nuclear power reactor may include a plurality of power modules, each including a nuclear fuel and a power conversion system configured to convert heat generated from the nuclear fuel to electricity, where the nuclear fuel of the plurality of power modules collectively forms a reactor core. The nuclear power reactor may also include a sleeve being disposed between the plurality of power modules, where the sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The nuclear power reactor may further include a reactivity booster having a neutron source and a reactivity quencher having a neutron absorber. The reactivity booster may be movable between a first location adjacent the first end of the sleeve and a second location adjacent the reactor core, and the reactivity quencher may be movable between a third location adjacent the second end and the second location adjacent the reactor core.

A nuclear power reactor may include a plurality of power modules, each including a nuclear fuel and a power conversion system configured to convert heat generated from the nuclear fuel to electricity, where the nuclear fuel of the plurality of power modules collectively forms a reactor core. The nuclear power reactor may also include a sleeve being disposed between the plurality of power modules, where the sleeve has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The nuclear power reactor may further include a reactivity booster having a neutron source and a reactivity quencher having a neutron absorber. The reactivity booster may be movable between a first location adjacent the first end of the sleeve and a second location adjacent the reactor core, and the reactivity quencher may be movable between a third location adjacent the second end and the second location adjacent the reactor core.

A rod transfer assembly has an outer rotating plug. A pick-up arm assembly extends from the outer rotating plug and includes a pivoting arm. An inner rotating plug is disposed off-center from and within the outer rotating plug and is rotatable independent of a rotation of the outer rotating plug. An access port rotating plug is disposed off-center from and within the inner rotating plug and is rotatable independent of rotation of the outer and inner rotating plugs. A pull arm extends from the access port rotating plug.

The invention relates to nuclear engineering and more particularly to controlled reactor start-up. The invention addresses a secondary startup neutron source by creating additional safety barriers between the coolant and the source active part materials. The secondary startup neutron source is designed as a steel enclosure housing an ampule containing antimony in the central enclosure made of a niobium-based alloy unreactive with antimony, with a beryllium powder bed located between the antimony enclosure and the ampule enclosure. An upper gas collector, located above the ampule serves as a compensation volume collecting gaseous fission products. The ampule is supported by a reflector and a bottom gas collector. The gas collectors, reflector, ampule enclosure and washers are made of martensite-ferrite grade steel.