PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION OF COOLANT TO HEATING SURFACES IN A METAL-COOLED REACTOR OR EVAPORATOR

1291728 Cooling reactors EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY 14 Oct 1969 [6 Nov 1968] 50423/69 Heading G6C In a liquid sodium, or molten salt cooled nuclear reactor, the fuel elements are cooled by a film of the liquid covering the outer surface. The film is formed either by a flow of liquid from a duct in the element surface or by spray nozzles directed at or along the element surface. Spreading of the liquid film over the fuel element surface is effected by the vapour flow produced. The reactor core is divided into preheat, evaporation and vapour superheat zones. The superheated vapour passes to an MHD generator, a turbine from which it is returned to the reactor by a pump via a purifier and condenser. A conventional steam cycle may be heated by the condenser.