Electric fission reactor for space applications

McClure, Patrick Ray; Dixon, David Duff; Poston, David Irvin; Mason, Lee; Gibson, Marc

Title: Electric fission reactor for space applications

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a power system utilizing a uranium-based reactor for space missions. For example, the power system may include a reactor configured to generate thermal energy using a uranium core. A plurality of heat pipes may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the reactor core to a plurality of Stirling engines to generate electricity for a spacecraft.

Inventors:: McClure, Patrick Ray; Dixon, David Duff; Poston, David Irvin; Mason, Lee; Gibson, Marc

Issue Date:: 2019-04-30

Research Org.:: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1568278

Patent Number(s):: 10276271

Application Number:: 14/770,894

Assignee:: Triad National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C15/04 - from fissile or breeder material {

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E30/30 - Nuclear fission reactors

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C3/08 - provided with external means to promote heat-transfer, e.g. fins, baffles
G21C11/06 - Reflecting shields, i.e. for minimising loss of neutrons
G21C3/22 - with fissile or breeder material in contact with coolant

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
G21H3/00 - Arrangements for direct conversion of radiation energy from radioactive sources into forms of energy other than electric energy, e.g. {into} light {or mechanic energy}

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21D - NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
G21D5/02 - Reactor and engine structurally combined, e.g. portable

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C7/08 - by displacement of solid control elements, e.g. control rods
G21C1/32 - Integral reactors, i.e. reactors wherein parts functionally associated with the reactor but not essential to the reaction, e.g. heat exchangers, are disposed inside the enclosure with the core
G21C15/257 - using heat-pipes {
G21C3/04 - Constructional details
G21C1/02 - Fast fission reactors, i.e. reactors not using a moderator {

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
Y02E30/00 - Energy generation of nuclear origin

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
G21C3/40 - Structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element for direct production of electric energy from fission heat

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21H - OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
G21H1/00 - Arrangements for obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources, e.g. from radioactive isotopes {, nuclear or atomic batteries}

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DOE Contract Number:: AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 03/26/2014

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS

Citation Formats


                    McClure, Patrick Ray, Dixon, David Duff, Poston, David Irvin, Mason, Lee, and Gibson, Marc. Electric fission reactor for space applications.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
        Web.

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                    McClure, Patrick Ray, Dixon, David Duff, Poston, David Irvin, Mason, Lee, & Gibson, Marc. Electric fission reactor for space applications.  United States.

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                    McClure, Patrick Ray, Dixon, David Duff, Poston, David Irvin, Mason, Lee, and Gibson, Marc. Tue .  
        "Electric fission reactor for space applications".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1568278.

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@article{osti_1568278,

  title        = {Electric fission reactor for space applications},

  author       = {McClure, Patrick Ray and Dixon, David Duff and Poston, David Irvin and Mason, Lee and Gibson, Marc},

  abstractNote = {Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a power system utilizing a uranium-based reactor for space missions. For example, the power system may include a reactor configured to generate thermal energy using a uranium core. A plurality of heat pipes may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the reactor core to a plurality of Stirling engines to generate electricity for a spacecraft.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2019},

  month        = {4}

}

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Works referenced in this record:

Apparatus and method for nuclear power and propulsion
patent, June 1995

El-Genk, Mohamed S.
US Patent Document 5,428,653
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5428653

Nuclear reactor core and fuel element therefor
patent, February 1986

Fortescue, Peter
US Patent Document 4,569,820
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4569820

"Dual annular rotating ""windowed"" nuclear reflector reactor control system"
patent, March 1994

Jacox, Michael G.; Drexler, Robert L.; Hunt, Robert M.
US Patent Document 5,299,242
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5299242

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Abstract

Citation Formats

Apparatus and method for nuclear power and propulsion patent, June 1995

Nuclear reactor core and fuel element therefor patent, February 1986

"Dual annular rotating ""windowed"" nuclear reflector reactor control system" patent, March 1994

Apparatus and method for nuclear power and propulsion
patent, June 1995

Nuclear reactor core and fuel element therefor
patent, February 1986

"Dual annular rotating ""windowed"" nuclear reflector reactor control system"
patent, March 1994