As shown in Fig. 1, the channels are formed between the spheres
and continuous through the entire ordered bed. The channels allow
entering of neutron detectors or activate wires for the measure of
the neutron flux profiles radial and axially during reactor power
started up or zero power operation. Before raising the power level,
these detectors are extracted from the core, which channels as coolant
paths through the entire core, resulting a lower pressure drop
across the core as listed in Table 1.
This is in contrast with the other
random packing pebble bed design which could not be equipped with these types of instruments and get experiment data of the neutron flux profiles. In addition, the coolant flux was well distributed
in the ordered packing core. Thus, the experimental value of
the power and temperature distribution could be obtained. This
was a significant improvement from unpredictable core temperature
and uncertain release of inadmissible fission products.