Fast neutron reactor

A fast-neutron reactor is described in which the core and the surrounding lateral, upper axial and lower axial blankets are made up of fuel element stacks having their walls provided with holes in the middle portion thereof with respect to the height of the core. These stacks are filled with main fuel elements disposed above or below the plane passing through the centres of the holes, as well as with additional fuel elements disposed opposite to the main fuel elements below or above the plane, respectively. The spacing between the main and additional fuel elements forming, together with the holes, an inlet header of the coolant washing the fuel elements, which is split by the inlet header into two oppositely directed flows lead away by outlet headers arranged above or below the upper and lower axial blankets, respectively. (author)