A liquid metal cooled molten salt reactor having a liquid metal vessel connected to a gas chamber that is connected to a molten salt chamber that is connected with a hot liquid metal vessel. A fuel salt that is withdrawn from the fuel salt tank through a feeding tube into the molten salt chamber from which the fuel salt is withdrawn into a salt separator. A purging gas is inserted into the gas chamber and withdrawn. A liquid metal coolant is dispensed from the liquid metal vessel through a plurality of dispensing nozzles into the molten salt chamber. The liquid metal coolant flows through the molten salt into a hot liquid metal vessel and then through a liquid metal filter into a liquid metal pump. The liquid metal coolant flows through a thermal exchanger subsequently returning to the liquid metal vessel.

A closed-vessel molten salt reactor (cvMSR) is described herein. A cvMSR may comprise a suspended container, such as a metallic container, within a trench surrounded by a concrete enclosure and a concrete cover having a number of channels. The suspended container may be hollow and a solution of fissile materials and salt materials may be provided within the suspended container. The solution may be capable of undergoing a chain reaction nuclear fission process once a threshold temperature is reached. Heat generated by the solution may heat a fluid surrounding the suspended container. The heated fluid may be transported, through the number of channels of the concrete cover, to an external location where the heated fluid may be used in distributing heat and/or electricity generation.

A combined power generation system and method of a small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor and solar tower is provided, which belongs to the field of new energy and renewable energy application and includes: a nuclear reactor power generation system, a solar tower power generation system and a heat compensation system. Both the nuclear reactor power generation system and the solar tower power generation system adopt supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system to generate electricity efficiently; molten salt pool in the nuclear reactor power generation system stores high-temperature heat from the modular reactor, and multi-stage temperature heat is utilized for generating power and compensating heat required by the solar tower power generation system.

A combined power generation system and method of a small fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor and solar tower is provided, which belongs to the field of new energy and renewable energy application and includes: a nuclear reactor power generation system, a solar tower power generation system and a heat compensation system. Both the nuclear reactor power generation system and the solar tower power generation system adopt supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle system to generate electricity efficiently; molten salt pool in the nuclear reactor power generation system stores high-temperature heat from the modular reactor, and multi-stage temperature heat is utilized for generating power and compensating heat required by the solar tower power generation system.

A nuclear reactor cooled by liquid metal or by molten salts, provided with a heat exchanger, having inlet of the primary fluid in the lower part and circumferential outlet window in the vicinity of the free surface of the primary fluid in the cold collector. The outlet window is located in an intermediate position with respect to the tube bundle partially raised with respect to the free surface in the cold collector and supplied with primary fluid throughout its height by means of an ancillary device for creating an underpressure in the cover gas of the exchanger with respect to the cover gas in the vessel. The raising of the exchanger and the positioning of the outlet window in the vicinity of the free surface of the primary coolant help to minimize the displacement of primary fluid in the event of accidental release of secondary fluid inside the heat exchanger.

A nuclear reactor cooled by liquid metal or by molten salts, provided with a heat exchanger, having inlet of the primary fluid in the lower part and circumferential outlet window in the vicinity of the free surface of the primary fluid in the cold collector. The outlet window is located in an intermediate position with respect to the tube bundle partially raised with respect to the free surface in the cold collector and supplied with primary fluid throughout its height by means of an ancillary device for creating an underpressure in the cover gas of the exchanger with respect to the cover gas in the vessel. The raising of the exchanger and the positioning of the outlet window in the vicinity of the free surface of the primary coolant help to minimize the displacement of primary fluid in the event of accidental release of secondary fluid inside the heat exchanger.

This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.

In various embodiments, the stabilizing face ring joint flange and assemblies thereof can be adapted to include a ring joint gasket and resist leaks when a fluid flowing through a pipe at high temperatures and pressures. The stabilizing face ring joint flange assembly with the ring grooves in each flange can be situated in such a way that once full compression is achieved on the ring groove by the gasket, raised faces of the two flanges can meet to ensure that the rotation of the pump or any potential perpendicular loading do not provide a stress on the gasket that would cause the gasket to deform or cause a seal to be lost.

A nuclear reactor, in particular a liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactor, includes a main vessel with a hot leg and a cold leg, the cold leg encompassing the hot leg; a core submerged in the hot leg; at least one heat exchanger; at least one primary fluid circulation pump pressurizing one of the legs; a reactor lid; a gas plenum; and an inner lid provided beneath the reactor lid to cover the pressurized leg.

A nuclear reactor, in particular a liquid-metal-cooled nuclear reactor, includes a main vessel with a hot leg and a cold leg, the cold leg encompassing the hot leg; a core submerged in the hot leg; at least one heat exchanger; at least one primary fluid circulation pump pressurizing one of the legs; a reactor lid; a gas plenum; and an inner lid provided beneath the reactor lid to cover the pressurized leg.