Abstract: A reactor vessel filled with coolant fluid is divided by a wall into an upper region and a lower region which contains the reactor core, part of the coolant fluid in the upper region being injected into the lower region. The injection flow rate is regulated as a function of the variations in pressure in the lower region by means of a baffle-plate container which communicates with a leak-tight chamber and with a storage reservoir, a flow of fluid from the chamber to the reservoir being established only at the time of a reduction in the rate of injection into the container. The reactor can be employed for the production of hot water which is passed through a heat exchanger and supplied to a heating installation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermogenic swimming-pool type nuclear reactor adapted to produce hot water for use in a heating installation.The reactor comprises a generally cylindrical enclosure open at the top and filled with a cooling liquid. The enclosure is divided by a horizontal partition and the bottom zone below the partition contains the reactor core and at least one heat exchanger and at least one venturi. The cooling liquid is circulated between the outlet and inlet of the core through the heat exchanger and the venturi. At least one conduit extends through the partition so that its top end discharges into the upper zone and its bottom end discharges into an aperture formed in the wall of the venturi at its neck.