I have heard the argument that solid fueled gas cooled reactors have a
dangerous failure mode if the fuel melts and goes to a more critical
arrangement, resulting in a runaway meltdown.
This is the reason for the integration of a spreader point in the bottom of
some reactor core designs. If the core fuel melts, it flows outward from the
center forming a flat, non-critical geometry. This feature was used in the
Fermi sodium cooled reactor. Someone got the idea of cladding the point in
zirconium sheeting for additional protection but neglected to document it in
the final prints. A sheet broke away and clogged a flow channel causing a
partial core meltdown. It took a year to find it and fish it out.
Windscale was air cooled. It was plagued with many design and operating
problems that could have been prevented in the US hadnt slammed the door in
Britains face regarding nuclear technology exchange after the war. Its fuel
tubes were horizontal. When it caught fire, anything that melted went out
the back into the spent fuel pool. The burning uranium and graphite was a
challenge to extinguish and resulted in a lost reactor. As with many reactor
accidents, it was preventable.
Anthony J. Cesaroni
President/CEO
Cesaroni Technology/Cesaroni Aerospace
<http://www.cesaronitech.com/> http://www.cesaronitech.com/
(941) 360-3100 x101 Sarasota
(905) 887-2370 x222 Toronto
From: arocket-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <arocket-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf
Of Valtteri Maja
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2019 12:37 PM
To: arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AR] Re: MSR reactors.
The MSR was designed by Alvin Weinberg & co for the aircraft reactor
program. I assume high power density, fast control and high temperature were
needed.
Kirk Sorensen, the current main proponent of thorium MSR:s used to work for
NASA earlier.
I have heard the argument that solid fueled gas cooled reactors have a
dangerous failure mode if the fuel melts and goes to a more critical
arrangement, resulting in a runaway meltdown.
pe 12. heinäk. 2019 klo 19.02 Loron, Peter <peterl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:peterl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > kirjoitti:
IIRC, the past work on solid-core nuclear thermal rockets had reactors with
core temperatures up to 3000K. Offhand, Im not sure how an MSR would
improve on that. Seems like the additional plumbing to carry the salt would
be heavier and more complex. Temperatures would probably be even more
limited than solid-core designs as you would need pumps for the salt.
-Pete
From: < <mailto:arocket-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> arocket-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
on behalf of Anthony Cesaroni < <mailto:anthony@xxxxxxxxxxx>
anthony@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: < <mailto:arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, July 12, 2019 at 8:43 AM
To: < <mailto:arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [AR] MSR reactors.
Is anyone on the list familiar with thorium and mixed fueled, molten salt
reactors? The designs are not mainstream but there are several examples and
configurations in operation or in development. There are a number of MSR
design possibilities that use various fueling and control approaches.
Operational temperatures cited range between 700~1000 C depending on the
design. Apparently higher temperatures are possible but have not been
tested. Has the MSR design ever been considered for use with hydrogen as a
propulsion system? The AHTR/FHR design at ORNL also suggests that it could
be used in thermochemical hydrogen manufacturing.
<https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-genera
tion/molten-salt-reactors.aspx>
https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generat
ion/molten-salt-reactors.aspx
Anthony J. Cesaroni
President/CEO
Cesaroni Technology/Cesaroni Aerospace
<http://www.cesaronitech.com/> http://www.cesaronitech.com/
(941) 360-3100 x101 Sarasota
(905) 887-2370 x222 Toronto
