Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Combined – With direct conversion means
Patent
1987-08-04
1989-05-16
Kyle, Deborah L.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Combined
With direct conversion means
310303, G21C 340
Patent
active
048308170
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a thermoelectric generator having a nuclear heat source as generically defined by the preamble to claim 1. From the information publication "Nucleonics", 22, Dec. 1964, a generator by the name of "Romashka" is known, in which the nuclear heat source is embodied by a cylindrical reactor. The core of the reactor contains ceramic material. The generator also has a cylindrical support for thermoelectric units that surrounds the reactor from which it is spaced apart by a defined distance. The transfer of heat from the reactor to the support and the dissipation of lost heat from the support takes place by thermal radiation directed radially outward.
It is the object of the invention to improve this known apparatus such that exact regulation of the reactor is possible, and the weight of the support becomes lighter.
The attainment of this object is disclosed in claim 1.
The high temperature reactor, which is entirely of ceramic materials, has a very high temperature at its surface and as a result can furnish sufficient output, in the form of thermal radiation, to the outside. The cylindrical shield having the thermoelectric units absorbs the heat radiated by the high temperature reactor, converts part of it into electrical current, and radiates the lost heat to the outside.
For generating sufficient current, the outside temperature of the shield must be approximately on the order of magnitude of 700-900K. The temperature difference from the inside to the outside of the shield must amount to approximately 400-600K. A sufficiently great thermal transport from the surface of the high temperature reactor to the inside of the shield requires temperatures on the order of magnitude of 1400-1600K. By present knowledge, 1400K must be set as the highest material temperature in the shield. For this internal shield temperature, the resultant temperature for the surface of the reactor is 1730K. In the interior of the reactor, calculated with known thermal transport data, temperatures of approximately 2400K are to assumed. Such high temperatures require that all the components of the reactor be manufactured from ceramic materials.
Radiation damage to the thermoelectric units and to the thermal insulating means by fast neutrons occurs to only a very limited extent, because the nuclear heat source is a thermal nuclear reactor. As a rough estimate shows, the fast neutron dose in the shield is so low that carbon-fiber-reinforced graphite can be used without reservation as the shield material.
A greater output of the thermoelectric generator than that sought can also be attained by increasing the surface area of the shield. Taking all the parameters of the height of the temperature and the possibilities of development of thermoelectric generators into account, even an output increase from 200kW.sub.el to approximately 1000 kW.sub.el appears to be possible, without having to increase the size of the overall apparatus substantially.
Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims as well as in the ensuing description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the schematic drawings.
The figures individually show the following:
FIG. 1, a perspective illustration of the thermoelectric generator according to the invention;
FIG. 2, a longitudinal section through this generator;
FIG. 3, a longitudinal section through a single fuel element;
FIG. 4, a section taken along the line A--B of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5, a section taken along the line C--D of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6, a detail of the shield along with the thermoelectric units, greatly enlarged; and
FIG. 7, the fastening of a thermoelectric unit to the shield.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a thermoelectric generator, which substantially has a cylindrical thermal high temperature reactor 1, a likewise cylindrical shield 2 made of carbon-fiber-reinforced graphite as the support for a multiplicity of thermo-electric units 3, and two plates 4 and 5 of thermally insulating material. The high temperature reactor, which has an output of 3 MW.sub.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3005766 (1961-10-01), Bartnoff
patent: 3117913 (1964-01-01), Shoupp
patent: 3189765 (1965-06-01), Danko et al.
patent: 3211586 (1965-10-01), McCoy et al.
patent: 3282741 (1966-11-01), Pigford et al.
patent: 3329532 (1967-07-01), Austin et al.
"Romashka in Perspective", (Sheldon D. Strauss), Nucleonics, vol. 22, No. 12, Dec. 1964, pp. 68-70.
Brown Boveri & Cie AG
Greenberg Laurence A.
Kyle Deborah L.
Lerner Herbert L.
Wendtland Richard W.
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