Patent attributes
A nuclear fission reactor comprising a core, a pool of coolant liquid, and a heat exchanger. The core comprises an array of hollow tubes which contain molten salts of fissile isotopes. The tube array is at least partly immersed in the pool of coolant liquid. The tube array comprises a critical region, where the density of the fissile isotopes during operation of the reactor is sufficient to cause a self-sustaining fission reaction. Heat transfer from the molten salts of fissile isotopes to the tubes is achieved by any one or more of natural convection of the molten salts, mechanical stirring of the molten salts, and oscillating fuel salt flow within the tubes. The molten salts of fissile isotopes are contained entirely within the tubes during operation of the reactor.