An enhanced architecture for a nuclear reactor core includes several technologies: (1) nuclear fuel tiles (S-Block); and (2) a high-temperature thermal insulator and tube liners with a low-temperature solid-phase moderator (U-Mod) to improve safety, reliability, heat transfer, efficiency, and compactness. In S-Block, nuclear fuel tiles include a fuel shape designed with an interlocking geometry pattern to optimize heat transfer between nuclear fuel tiles and into a fuel coolant and bring the fuel coolant in direct contact with the nuclear fuel tiles. Nuclear fuel tiles can be shaped with discontinuous nuclear fuel lateral facets and have fuel coolant passages formed therein to provide direct contact between the fuel coolant and the nuclear fuel tiles. In U-Mod, tube liners with low hydrogen diffusivity retain hydrogen in the low-temperature solid-phase moderator even at elevated temperatures and the high-temperature thermal insulator insulates the solid-phase moderator from the nuclear fuel tiles.

A molten salt reactor is disclosed. In some embodiments, the molten salt reactor comprises a containment vessel; a molten salt chamber disposed within the containment vessel; a molten salt mixture disposed within the molten salt chamber; and a heat exchange system at least partially disposed within the molten salt chamber. In some embodiments, the molten salt reactor comprises one or more of a shutdown mechanism, a thermally activated failsafe mechanism, and/or a passive reactivity control system. The shutdown mechanism, for example, may be coupled with the molten salt chamber, the shutdown mechanism comprising a material that when inserted into the molten salt chamber will inhibit fission reactions within the molten salt mixture. The thermally activated failsafe mechanism, for example, may be coupled with the molten salt chamber, the thermally activated failsafe mechanism passively inhibits fission reactions within the molten salt mixture.

A molten salt reactor is disclosed. In some embodiments, the molten salt reactor comprises a containment vessel; a molten salt chamber disposed within the containment vessel; a molten salt mixture disposed within the molten salt chamber; and a heat exchange system at least partially disposed within the molten salt chamber. In some embodiments, the molten salt reactor comprises one or more of a shutdown mechanism, a thermally activated failsafe mechanism, and/or a passive reactivity control system. The shutdown mechanism, for example, may be coupled with the molten salt chamber, the shutdown mechanism comprising a material that when inserted into the molten salt chamber will inhibit fission reactions within the molten salt mixture. The thermally activated failsafe mechanism, for example, may be coupled with the molten salt chamber, the thermally activated failsafe mechanism passively inhibits fission reactions within the molten salt mixture.

The invention concerns a nuclear reactor comprising a vessel closed at the top by a radially external fixed closing structure and by a radially internal mobile closing structure. The vessel contains a core immersed in a primary cooling fluid and comprising fuel elements, control rods, shutdown rods, and a hydraulic separation structure delimiting a hot manifold and a cold manifold in which the primary fluid circulates. The control rods and the shutdown rods are inserted in respective penetrations of the fixed closing structure and are therefore located radially external to the mobile closing structure and external to an upper portion of the separation structure containing respective heads of the fuel elements.

An electro-technical device includes a first housing portion electrically isolated from a second housing portion with a point source being disposed within the first housing portion. A movable conductor is connected to the first portion and is responsive to an electric field generated by the point source to cause the movable conductor to contact the second housing portion to complete a circuit and send out a control signal.

An electro-technical device includes a first housing portion electrically isolated from a second housing portion with a point source being disposed within the first housing portion. A movable conductor is connected to the first portion and is responsive to an electric field generated by the point source to cause the movable conductor to contact the second housing portion to complete a circuit and send out a control signal.

A secondary shutdown system for a nuclear reactor using melting seal includes a guide pipe located inside the nuclear reactor, a storage container communicating with the guide pipe and storing a neutron absorber therein, a sealing member provided in the storage container and configured to close an outlet of the storage container so that the neutron absorber stored in the storage container is not moved, and a hot wire configured to supply heat to the sealing member, wherein the sealing member is melted by the heat supplied by the hot wire to open the storage container and move the neutron absorber to the guide pipe.

A secondary shutdown system for a nuclear reactor using melting seal includes a guide pipe located inside the nuclear reactor, a storage container communicating with the guide pipe and storing a neutron absorber therein, a sealing member provided in the storage container and configured to close an outlet of the storage container so that the neutron absorber stored in the storage container is not moved, and a hot wire configured to supply heat to the sealing member, wherein the sealing member is melted by the heat supplied by the hot wire to open the storage container and move the neutron absorber to the guide pipe.

The invention concerns a nuclear reactor, comprising a vessel closed at the top by a radially external fixed closing structure and by a radially internal mobile closing structure and containing a core, immersed in a primary cooling fluid and comprising fuel elements and control and shutdown rods, and a hydraulic separation structure delimiting a hot manifold and a cold manifold in which the primary fluid circulates; the control rods and shutdown rods are inserted in respective penetrations of the fixed closing structure and are therefore located radially external to the mobile closing structure and external to an upper portion of the separation structure containing respective heads of the fuel elements.

An electro-technical device includes a first housing portion electrically isolated from a second housing portion with a point source being disposed within the first housing portion. A movable conductor is connected to the first portion and is responsive to an electric field generated by the point source to cause the movable conductor to contact the second housing portion to complete a circuit and send out a control signal.