A Thorium molten salt energy system is disclosed that includes a proton beam source for producing a proton beam, that can vary between a first energy level and a second energy level of, where the generated proton bean can be directed into a main assembly containing both Thorium-containing molten salt and Thorium fuel rods, each containing an inner Beryllium element and an outer solid Thorium element. The generated proton beam can be shaped and directed to impinge upon Lithium within the molten salt to promote the generation of thermal neutrons and the fission of Uranium within the molten salt. The generated proton beam can also be shaped and directed to impinge upon the Beryllium within the Thorium fuel rods to promote the generation of high energy neutrons.

A nuclear device including a plurality of heat pipes; a first fuel configured to surround respective of the plurality of heat pipes coaxially with respect to a central axis of each of the respective heat pipes, the first fuel containing a fissile material at a first enrichment level; a second fuel configured to directly abut the first fuel on the outside of the first fuel and farther than the first fuel from the respective heat pipes surrounded by the first fuel, the second fuel containing the fissile material at a second enrichment level less than the first enrichment level; and a core including the heat pipes arranged in parallel with each other.

An enclosure for non-organic electronic components is provided which includes an inner cavity for housing non-organic electronic components and a neutron shielding barrier surrounding the inner cavity and the electronic components housed within the cavity. The barrier is formed from a neutron reflecting material in solid or powdered form and a neutron absorbing material in solid or powdered form. An optional structural support is provided in certain aspects of the enclosure design.

Provided is a body, a method for manufacturing the body and a method of using of the body for nuclear shielding in a nuclear reactor. The body may include boron, iron, chromium, carbon and tungsten.

A component cooling water system for a nuclear power plant. In one embodiment, the system includes an inner containment vessel housing a nuclear reactor and an outer containment enclosure structure. An annular water reservoir is formed between the containment vessel and containment enclosure structure which provides a heat sink for dissipating thermal energy. A shell-less heat exchanger is provided having an exposed tube bundle immersed in water held within the annular water reservoir. Component cooling water from the plant flows through the tube bundle and is cooled by transferring heat to the annular water reservoir. In one non-limiting embodiment, the tube bundle may be U-shaped.

A component cooling water system for a nuclear power plant. In one embodiment, the system includes an inner containment vessel housing a nuclear reactor and an outer containment enclosure structure. An annular water reservoir is formed between the containment vessel and containment enclosure structure which provides a heat sink for dissipating thermal energy. A shell-less heat exchanger is provided having an exposed tube bundle immersed in water held within the annular water reservoir. Component cooling water from the plant flows through the tube bundle and is cooled by transferring heat to the annular water reservoir. In one non-limiting embodiment, the tube bundle may be U-shaped.

A nuclear power plant comprises a nuclear reactor, the nuclear reactor comprising reactor fuel elements, a reactor vessel surrounding the nuclear reactor and a primary shield surrounding the reactor vessel. The reactor fuel elements are arranged between a first height and a second height above the first height. The primary shield comprises a base portion, an intermediate portion and a top portion. The base portion has an upper height below the first height and the base portion comprises concrete. The top portion has a lower height above the second height and the top portion comprises concrete. The intermediate portion is arranged vertically between the base portion and the top portion of the primary shield. The intermediate portion comprises at least one support structure and a matrix material containing tungsten or boron, and the least one support structure extends between the top portion and the bottom portion of the primary shield.

The present disclosure provides for cementitious shielding compositions, methods of making the cementitious shielding composition, structures incorporating the concrete cementitious shielding composition, and the like, where the cementitious shielding composition includes elemental boron and/or a boron compound, for example as boron particles. The boron particles can be homogeneously distributed throughout the cementitious shielding composition and can have a largest least dimension of about 100 microns or less. The present disclosure, in some aspects, can reduce or eliminate problems associated with minerals found in concrete aggregates, because those materials are degraded over time by neutron radiation, which leads to disorganized lattice structures, manifested as damage by radiation-induced volumetric expansion (RIVE), and potentially further damage from alkali-silica reaction (ASR).

The present disclosure provides for cementitious shielding compositions, methods of making the cementitious shielding composition, structures incorporating the concrete cementitious shielding composition, and the like, where the cementitious shielding composition includes elemental boron and/or a boron compound, for example as boron particles. The boron particles can be homogeneously distributed throughout the cementitious shielding composition and can have a largest least dimension of about 100 microns or less. The present disclosure, in some aspects, can reduce or eliminate problems associated with minerals found in concrete aggregates, because those materials are degraded over time by neutron radiation, which leads to disorganized lattice structures, manifested as damage by radiation-induced volumetric expansion (RIVE), and potentially further damage from alkali-silica reaction (ASR).

Neutron shielding comprising a metal-hydride metal composite: the metal-hydride metal composite comprising: a metal matrix; and a plurality of metal-hydride particles dispersed within the metal matrix; wherein, the fraction of metal-hydride in the metal-hydride metal composite is at least 1 mol % and the volume fraction of metal-hydride in the metal hydride metal composite is no higher than the ratio of the solid solubility limit of hydrogen in the metal matrix and the molar fraction of hydrogen in the metal-hydride.