A method of a method of irradiating a target material in a heavy water reactor for the production of an isotope, including the steps of providing a target comprised of a material suitable for producing the isotope by way of a neutron capture event, placing the target in a primary fluid side of the heavy water reactor, and irradiating the target.

Methods, processes, and systems of nuclear reactor cores are provided. In one embodiment, the reactor core may comprise a nuclear fuel rod inserted into each of a plurality of moderator blocks in the reactor core; e.g., wherein the fuel comprises plutonium, carbon, hydrogen, zirconium and thorium. In some embodiments, the fuel may comprise hydrogen-containing glass microspheres, wherein the glass microspheres may be coated with a burnable poison, and other coating materials that may aid in keeping the hydrogen within the microsphere glass at relatively high temperature. The disclosed methods, processes and systems may aid in providing energy to remote areas.

Methods, processes, and systems of nuclear reactor cores are provided. In one embodiment, the reactor core may comprise a nuclear fuel rod inserted into each of a plurality of moderator blocks in the reactor core; e.g., wherein the fuel comprises plutonium, carbon, hydrogen, zirconium and thorium. In some embodiments, the fuel may comprise hydrogen-containing glass microspheres, wherein the glass microspheres may be coated with a burnable poison, and other coating materials that may aid in keeping the hydrogen within the microsphere glass at relatively high temperature. The disclosed methods, processes and systems may aid in providing energy to remote areas.

Systems and methods for providing and using molten salt reactors are described. While the systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a graphite reactor core defining an internal space that houses one or more fuel wedges, where each wedge defines one or more fuel channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the wedge. In some cases, one or more of the fuel wedges comprise multiple wedge sections that are coupled together end to end and/or in any other suitable manner. In some cases, one or more alignment pins also extend between two sections of a fuel wedge to align the sections. In some cases, one or more seals are also disposed between two sections of a fuel wedge. Thus, in some cases, the reactor core can be relatively long (e.g., to be a pipeline reactor). Other implementations are also described.

While the described systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a graphite reactor core defining an internal space that, in some cases, houses one or more fuel wedges, where each wedge defines one or more fuel channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the wedge. In some cases, one or more of the fuel wedges comprise multiple wedge sections that are coupled together end to end and/or in any other suitable manner. In some cases, one or more alignment pins also extend between two sections of a fuel wedge to align the sections. In some cases, one or more seals are also disposed between two sections of a fuel wedge. Thus, in some cases, the reactor core can be relatively long (e.g., to be a pipeline reactor). In some cases, the reactor core is also disposed within a graphite reflector. Other implementations are described.

Systems and methods for providing and using molten salt reactors are described. While the systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a graphite reactor core defining an internal space that houses one or more fuel wedges, where each wedge defines one or more fuel channels that extend from a first end to a second end of the wedge. In some cases, one or more of the fuel wedges comprise multiple wedge sections that are coupled together end to end and/or in any other suitable manner. In some cases, one or more alignment pins also extend between two sections of a fuel wedge to align the sections. In some cases, one or more seals are also disposed between two sections of a fuel wedge. Thus, in some cases, the reactor core can be relatively long (e.g., to be a pipeline reactor). Other implementations are also described.

Systems and methods for providing a molten salt reactor are described. While the systems can include any suitable component, in some cases, they include a graphite reactor core that defines an internal space, with multiple fuel wedges being received in the internal space, and with the wedges each defining a fuel channel extending from a first end to a second end of each of the wedges. In some cases, the reactor further includes a fuel pin rod that defines an internal fuel conduit and that is disposed between at least two of the wedges. In some cases, the reactor core defines a fuel ingress port and a fuel egress port. In some such cases, the reactor core is rotatably received within a reactor housing such that the ports are configured to become at least one of more occluded and less occluded as the reactor core rotates. Other implementations are described.