Pellet Power Ratio in a Pellet-Suspension Fission Core

The average fuel pellet power ratio in a pellet-suspension core is investigated. This ratio relates the electric power required to sustain the pellet suspension to the electric power derivable from the fission process. For 2% enriched uranium in a suspending medium of helium gas, a power ratio >2 × 10⁴ for a range of particle sizes is found. Comparable ratios of 1 × 10⁴ for light water and 2 × 10³ for liquid lead as suspending mediums are determined. For each fluid, the power ratio appears sufficiently favorable to warrant further investigation of such fission reactor cores