Abstract: Alternative designs for a modular test reactor are presented. In one aspect, a molten fuel salt nuclear reactor includes a vessel defining a reactor volume, the vessel being open-topped and otherwise having no penetrations. A neutron reflector is provided within the vessel and displacing at least some of the reactor volume, the neutron reflector defining a reactor core volume. A plurality of heat exchangers are contained within the vessel above the neutron reflector. A flow guide assembly is provided within the neutron reflector that includes a draft tube draft tube separating a central portion of the reactor core volume from an annular downcomer duct. Fuel salt circulates from the reactor core volume, through the heat exchangers, into the downcomer duct and then back into the reactor core volume.

Abstract: A simple nuclear reactor in which most of the reflector material is outside of the reactor vessel is described. The reactor vessel is a cylinder that contains all of the fuel salt and a displacement component, which may be a reflector, in the upper section of the reactor vessel. Other than the displacement component, the reflector elements including a radial reflector and a bottom reflector are located outside the vessel. The salt flows around the outside surface of the displacement component through a downcomer heat exchange duct defined by the exterior of the displacement component and the interior surface of the reactor vessel. This design reduces the overall size of the reactor vessel for a given volume of salt relative to designs with internal radial or bottom reflectors.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a system for preventing the automatic retraction of a seatbelt. The system generally includes one or more processors, one or more host vehicle status sensors, one or more seatbelt braking mechanisms, and one or more memory modules. The one or more host vehicle status sensors output a status signal that a host vehicle is stopped an off-road driving condition. The one or more memory modules store logic that causes the one or more processors to determine that the host vehicle is in the off-road driving condition based on the status signal output by the one or more host vehicle status sensors and activate the one or more seatbelt braking mechanisms in response to detecting the host vehicle is in the off-road driving condition to prevent automatic retraction of the seatbelt.

Abstract: Alternative designs for a modular test reactor are presented. In one aspect, a molten fuel salt nuclear reactor includes a vessel defining a reactor volume, the vessel being open-topped and otherwise having no penetrations. A neutron reflector is provided within the vessel and displacing at least some of the reactor volume, the neutron reflector defining a reactor core volume. A plurality of heat exchangers are contained within the vessel above the neutron reflector. A flow guide assembly is provided within the neutron reflector that includes a draft tube draft tube separating a central portion of the reactor core volume from an annular downcomer duct. Fuel salt circulates from the reactor core volume, through the heat exchangers, into the downcomer duct and then back into the reactor core volume.

Abstract: A simple nuclear reactor in which most of the reflector material is outside of the reactor vessel is described. The reactor vessel is a cylinder that contains all of the fuel salt and a displacement component, which may be a reflector, in the upper section of the reactor vessel. Other than the displacement component, the reflector elements including a radial reflector and a bottom reflector are located outside the vessel. The salt flows around the outside surface of the displacement component through a downcomer heat exchange duct defined by the exterior of the displacement component and the interior surface of the reactor vessel. This design reduces the overall size of the reactor vessel for a given volume of salt relative to designs with internal radial or bottom reflectors.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a system for preventing the automatic retraction of a seatbelt. The system generally includes one or more processors, one or more host vehicle status sensors, one or more seatbelt braking mechanisms, and one or more memory modules. The one or more host vehicle status sensors output a status signal that a host vehicle is stopped an off-road driving condition. The one or more memory modules store logic that causes the one or more processors to determine that the host vehicle is in the off-road driving condition based on the status signal output by the one or more host vehicle status sensors and activate the one or more seatbelt braking mechanisms in response to detecting the host vehicle is in the off-road driving condition to prevent automatic retraction of the seatbelt.

Abstract: A molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a plurality of reflectors defining a central core having a core geometric center. A flow channel fluidically connected to the central core. The flow channel includes an outlet flow channel downstream of the central core and an inlet flow channel upstream from the central core. A primary heat exchanger (PHX) disposed outside the central core and between the outlet flow channel and the inlet flow channel. The MCFR also includes a decay heat heat exchanger (DHHX). At least a portion of the DHHX is disposed above the core geometric center, and a fuel salt is configured to circulate at least partially through the outlet flow channel, the DHHX, the PHX, the inlet flow channel, and the central core.

Abstract: Designs for a low power, fast spectrum molten fuel nuclear reactor that can be used to advance the understanding of molten salt reactors, their design and their operation are described. Furthermore, the designs described may be adapted to extra-terrestrial use as described herein for use as a low-gravity, moon-, Mars-, or space-based power generator. These low power reactors include a reactor core volume defined by a radial neutron reflector enclosed in a reactor vessel, in which heated fuel salt flows from the reactor core through a duct between the radial neutron reflector and the reactor vessel and back into the reactor core. Heat generated from the fission in the reactor core is transferred from the molten fuel through the reactor vessel to a coolant, in the case of an experimental design, or directly to an extra-terrestrial environment, in the case of an extra-terrestrial design.

Abstract: A molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a plurality of reflectors defining a central core having a core geometric center. A flow channel fluidically connected to the central core. The flow channel includes an outlet flow channel downstream of the central core and an inlet flow channel upstream from the central core. A primary heat exchanger (PHX) disposed outside the central core and between the outlet flow channel and the inlet flow channel. The MCFR also includes a decay heat heat exchanger (DHHX). At least a portion of the DHHX is disposed above the core geometric center, and a fuel salt is configured to circulate at least partially through the outlet flow channel, the DHHX, the PHX, the inlet flow channel, and the central core.