79 patents
Page 4 of 4
Utility
Small Modular Mobile Fission Reactor
25 Nov 20
A mobile modular reactor, in particular, a graphite-moderated fission reactor, has an active core region and at least a portion of control region(s) that are located within an interior volume of a pressure vessel.
Craig D. GRAMLICH, William E. RUSSELL, II
Filed: 30 Apr 20
Utility
Functionally Graded Lattice Cermet Fuel Structure with Shape Corresponding to a Mathematically-based Periodic Solid, Particularly for NTP Applications
18 Nov 20
Nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure has an active core region including fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures (such as drum absorbers), and a core former conformal mating the outer surface of the fuel element structures to the reflector.
Benjamin D. FISHER, John R. SALASIN, Craig D. GRAMLICH, Jonathan K. WITTER
Filed: 30 Mar 20
Utility
Compositions for Additive Manufacturing and Methods of Additive Manufacturing, Particularly of Nuclear Reactor Components
11 Nov 20
Additive manufacturing methods use a surrogate slurry to iteratively develop an additive manufacturing protocol and then substitutes a final slurry composition to then additively manufacture a final component using the developed additive manufacturing protocol.
Benjamin D. FISHER, John R. SALASIN, Brian Blake WIGGINS
Filed: 30 Mar 20
Utility
Control Rod Drive Mechanism with Separate Latch and Drive Coils
11 Nov 20
A control rod drive mechanism for use in a nuclear reactor including a reactor core disposed in a pressure vessel, including a control rod configured for insertion into the reactor core, a lead screw, the control rod being secured to the bottom end of the lead screw, a drive mechanism including a torque tube having a top end and a bottom end, a pair of segment arms that are pivotably mounted to the torque tube, a pair of roller nuts, each roller nut being rotatably secured to the bottom end of a respective segment arm, and a drive motor including a stator and a rotor secured to the top end of the torque tube that includes a plurality of permanent magnets embedded therein, wherein the stator defines a central bore in which the rotor is disposed, and a latch coil assembly including a latch coil, wherein the latch coil assembly defines a central bore in which the top ends of the segment arms are disposed radially-inwardly of the latch coil.
Earl Brian Barger, Scott Lee Fitzner, Roger Dale Ridgeway, Scott James Shargots
Filed: 25 Mar 20
Utility
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Nuclear Reactor Interface Structure
11 Nov 20
An internal interface structure of a nuclear thermal propulsion nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel and a reactor head, including a substantially cylindrical body having a top end, a bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, and an annular flange extending radially-outwardly from the outer surface of the body, wherein the annular flange of the interface structure is mounted between an upper flange of the reactor vessel and a bottom flange of the reactor head.
James Brian Inman, Andrew C. Whitten
Filed: 18 Mar 20
Utility
Passive Techniques for Long-term Reactor Cooling
4 Nov 20
In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel.
John D. Malloy, III, Billy E. Bingham, Ronald C. Watson, Jason G. Williams, Matthew W. Ales, James B. Inman, Sean M. Boyle
Filed: 19 Jul 20
Utility
Alternating Offset U-Bend Support Arrangement
4 Nov 20
Arrangement for supporting U-bend tube sections in the high heat environment of steam generators using flat bars.
Kareem M.A. ALY
Filed: 20 Jul 20
Utility
Pellet Handling Apparatus and Fuel Rod Loading Method
4 Nov 20
A pellet magazine includes a plurality of pellet bores sized to receive pellets for loading into a fuel rod.
Earl Brian Barger, Jeffrey T. Lee
Filed: 19 Jul 20
Utility
Modified Polymer Derived Ceramics for Additive Manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing Using Same, and Ceramic Bodies Manufactured Thereby
30 Sep 20
Pre-ceramic particle solutions can prepared by a Coordinated-PDC process, a Direct-PDC process or a Coordinated-Direct-PDC process.
Benjamin D. FISHER, John R. SALASIN
Filed: 30 Mar 20
Utility
Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM) Mounting Method for Pressurized Water Reactors
9 Sep 20
A standoff supporting a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) in a nuclear reactor is connected to a distribution plate which provides electrical power and hydraulics.
Scott J. Shargots
Filed: 13 Apr 20
Utility
Spacer Grid Welding Fixture
5 Aug 20
A spacer grid welding fixture comprises a frame sized to receive an assembled spacer grid comprising a first set of parallel straps and a second set of parallel straps oriented orthogonally to the first set of parallel straps, the first and second sets of parallel straps interlocked together by slots cut into the straps.
Roger D. Ridgeway, Jeffrey W. Austin, Jeffrey T. Lee
Filed: 13 Mar 14
Utility
Apparatus for Desuperheating High Temperature, High Velocity Steam
29 Jul 20
A desuperheating spray chamber for use in a rocket exhaust recovery system for a nuclear thermal propulsion rocket, including a substantially-cylindrical outer tank with an upper end including an entrance port and two exhaust ports, a substantially-cylindrical shroud extending downwardly from an inner surface of the upper end of the tank, an annular inner spray ring that is both disposed within and concentric with the shroud; and an annular outer spray ring that is disposed between a side wall of the outer tank and the shroud, the annular outer ring being concentric with the shroud.
Robert Paul Martin, Jeremy Leslie Gustafson, Ryan Z. Ziegler, Charles Larry Fisher, James Brian Inman
Filed: 12 Jan 20
Utility
Nuclear Reactor Fuel Assemblies and Process for Production
22 Jul 20
A nuclear fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor core including at least one fuel cartridge having a lattice structure including an outer wall defining an interior volume, at least one flow channel extending through the interior volume of the lattice structure, at least one lattice site disposed in the interior of the lattice structure; and at least one fuel compact disposed within a corresponding one of the at least one lattice site.
Scott J. Shargots, Gary W. Neeley, Ryan Z. Ziegler
Filed: 30 Dec 19
Utility
Passive Techniques for Long-term Reactor Cooling
24 Jun 20
In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel.
John D. Malloy, III, Billy E. Bingham, Ronald C. Watson, Jason G. Williams, Matthew W. Ales, James B. Inman, Sean M. Boyle
Filed: 16 Mar 14
Utility
Pellet Handling Apparatus and Fuel Rod Loading Method
24 Jun 20
A pellet magazine includes a plurality of pellet bores sized to receive pellets for loading into a fuel rod.
Jeffrey T. Lee, Earl B. Barger
Filed: 12 Mar 14
Utility
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Fuel Element Packing Device
8 Apr 20
A packing device for filling fuel elements with a powder through a fill aperture in an outer shell of the fuel element, including a stationary base, a clamp assembly including a body defining a bore therein, the bore being configured to slidably receive a fuel element therein, wherein the clamp assembly is movable along a vertical axis with respect to the stationary base, a cam assembly including a cam and a drive motor configured to rotate the cam, wherein rotation of the cam alternatingly raises the clamp assembly up along the vertical axis and subsequently drops the clamping assembly, and a powder reservoir assembly including a powder reservoir and a fill needle in fluid communication with the powder reservoir.
Russell L. Lake, James B. Inman, Roger D. Ridgeway
Filed: 6 Oct 19
Utility
Metal Carbide/Nitride Precipitation Control in Fusion Welding
1 Apr 20
Properties and performance of weld material between metals in a weldment is controlled by modifying one or more of the nitrogen content and the carbon content to produce carbide (e.g.
Frank A. ARGENTINE
Filed: 3 Dec 19
Utility
Nuclear Reactor Refueling Methods and Apparatuses
1 Apr 20
Refueling of a nuclear reactor (40) includes removing a fuel assembly (10).
Lewis A. Walton, Matthew W. Ales
Filed: 21 Nov 19
Utility
Control Room for Nuclear Power Plant
4 Mar 20
A reactor control interface includes a home screen video display unit (VDU) displaying blocks representing functional components of a nuclear power plant and connecting arrows that connect blocks that are providing the current heat sinking path for the nuclear power plant.
Thomas G. Graham
Filed: 30 Sep 19