Abstract: A nuclear reactor containment vessel faced internally with a metal liner is provided with thermal insulation for the liner, comprising one or more layers of compressible material such as ceramic fiber, such as would be conventional in an advanced gas-cooled reactor and also a superposed layer of ceramic bricks or tiles in combination with retention means therefor, the retention means (comprising studs projecting from the liner, and bolts or nuts in threaded engagement with the studs) being themselves insulated from the vessel interior so that the coolant temperatures achieved in a High-Temperature Reactor or a Fast Reactor can be tolerated with the vessel.The layer(s) of compressible material is held under a degree of compression either by the ceramic bricks or tiles themselves or by cover plates held on the studs (in which case the bricks or tiles are preferably bedded on a yielding layer (for example of carbon fibers) rather than directly on the cover plates.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor core comprises an array of closely packed components which include fuel elements and may include control rod guide tubes. The components are arranged with their longitudinal axes vertical and in groups. The components of each group are urged laterally into firm engagement with one another by tilting at least some of them towards the centre of the group. The fuel elements of the group have interlocking bearing pads to resist relative lateral movement of fuel elements.