GAS COOLED PEBBLE BED REACTOR FOR A LARGE CENTRAL STATION. Reactor Design and Feasibility Study

An optimum econonic design for a high temperature, helium cooled, central station reactor power plant of about 400 Mw of electric power was determined. The core consists of a randomly packed bed of unclad graphite spheres, approximately one in. in diameter, impregnated with U/sup 233/ and thorium such that a conversion ratio of near unity is achieved. The high temperature helium permits steam conditions, at the turbine throttle, of 1000 deg F and 1450 psia. (auth)