Stability of the reflector of a pebble bed reactor

Automatic translation: The spherical filling of a pebble bed reactor is Own weight, amplified by the pressure drop of the cooling gas in the Core and the additional larger pressures that arise when retracting the core rod in the pebble bed on the pressed reflector. During the tumbling of the balls in the reactor core of the pebble bed reactor the balls slide under contact pressure on the surfaces and joints of the graphite bricks, on the edges of the disruptive depressions and past the holes in the bottom stones of the core. The different high individual forces, with which the balls press on the reflector, stress it locally through surface pressure (Hertzian pressure) and thrust through the Movement of the pebble bed when taking off the pebbles. Also will the edges of the individual reflector stones are subjected to shearing. These specific stresses of the pebble bed reactor have not yet been investigated. The reflector surface which, as will be shown, can be designed to particularly reduce edge stresses are examined for their structural strength by means of comprehensive tests under conditions that are as close to operating conditions as possible. The results were discussed and the application of the results to the design of the reflector was presented.