Framatome Gmbh

Novatome

Alain Cros

The internal structure comprises a bed (5) supporting the core (3) of the reactor and supplying liquid metal to the core, plating (6) resting on the bottom of the main vessel (1) of the reactor and an internal vessel (8) separating the hot collector (12) from the cold collector (13) of the liquid metal. The internal vessel (8) is directly fixed to the upper part of the bed (5) which rests on the plating (6) through the medium of slidable bearing means (21), (22). The bed (5) is connected to means (18) for supplying cooling liquid metal in a zone located at its periphery and outside the internal vessel (8) and the plating (6). Assemblies (31) providing a lateral neutronic protection are fixed to the bed (5) at the periphery of the fuel core (3).

Internal structure for a fast neutron nuclear reactor

The upper part of the vessel (3) is cooled as a result of the circulation of cooled sodium (27). The cooled sodium coming form the lower part of the reactor core is introduced into a first collector (15) via pipes (17) and then overflows into a second collector (16). The second collector (16) or return collector is delimited by an overflow sleeve (18) and by an inner sleeve (21), the height of which is substantially less than the height of the overflow sleeve (18). The lower part of the inner sleeve (21) is connected to the overflow sleeve (18) by an annular plate (22) ensuring the stiffening of the sleeve (18). The height of the sleeve (21) is preferably between one-third and third of the height of the sleeve (18). This prevents vibrations from being generated during the circulation of the sodium.

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Lyons, France

Alain Cros