Reactor internals design

A High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) is particularly attractive due to its capability of producing high-temperature helium-gas and its possibility to exploit inherent safety characteristic. To achieve high temperature helium-gas, reactor internals are made of graphite and heat resistant materials, its surroundings are composed of metals. The reactor internals of the HTTR consist of graphite and metallic core support structures and shielding blocks. This paper describes the reactor internal design of the HTTR, especially the core support graphite structures, and the program of an in-service inspection. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.