Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors

Title: Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors

Abstract

A modular nuclear reactor comprises a plurality of sections arranged in a pattern and a side reflector material surrounding the plurality of sections. Each section includes a tank comprising a front plate, a back plate, side plates, a top plate, and a bottom plate. A plurality of grid plates are located within the tank. Each grid plate comprises a plurality of apertures and is vertically separated from an adjacent grid plate. The tank further includes a plurality of fuel elements extending through each grid plate. A plurality of heat pipes extend through each grid plate, the top plate, and an upper reflector. Methods of forming the modular nuclear reactor are also disclosed.

Inventors:: Sterbentz, James; Werner, James E.

Issue Date:: 2020-02-11

Research Org.:: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1632549

Patent Number(s):: 10559389

Application Number:: 15/425,414

Assignee:: Battell Energy Alliance, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):: 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

G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS

Show more

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
G21C15/06 - in fuel elements
G21C3/16 - Details of the construction within the casing
G21C3/626 - {Coated fuel particles}
G21C15/257 - using heat-pipes {
G21C3/326 - comprising fuel elements of different composition
G21C3/623 - {Oxide fuels}

Show less

DOE Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

Resource Type:: Patent

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 02/06/2017

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS

Citation Formats


                    Sterbentz, James, and Werner, James E. Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors.  United States: N. p., 2020. 
        Web.

Copy to clipboard


                    Sterbentz, James, & Werner, James E. Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors.  United States.

Copy to clipboard


                    Sterbentz, James, and Werner, James E. Tue .  
        "Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1632549.

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1632549,

  title        = {Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors},

  author       = {Sterbentz, James and Werner, James E.},

  abstractNote = {A modular nuclear reactor comprises a plurality of sections arranged in a pattern and a side reflector material surrounding the plurality of sections. Each section includes a tank comprising a front plate, a back plate, side plates, a top plate, and a bottom plate. A plurality of grid plates are located within the tank. Each grid plate comprises a plurality of apertures and is vertically separated from an adjacent grid plate. The tank further includes a plurality of fuel elements extending through each grid plate. A plurality of heat pipes extend through each grid plate, the top plate, and an upper reflector. Methods of forming the modular nuclear reactor are also disclosed.},

  doi          = {},

  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2020},

  month        = {2}

}

Copy to clipboard

Patent:

View Patent

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Works referenced in this record:

Heat exchanger for passive residual heat removal system
patent, August 2015

Bae, Young Min; Kim, Young In; Kim, Keung Koo
US Patent Document 9,111,651
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=9111651

Heat exchanger system
patent, April 2004

Docter, Andreas; Wiesheu, Norbert
US Patent Document 6,719,041
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6719041

Heat exchanger
patent, December 2004

Master, Bashir I.; Chunangad, Krishnan S.; Pushpanathan, Venkateswaran
US Patent Document 6,827,138
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6827138

Nuclear Reactors and Related Methods and Apparatus
patent-application, August 2015

Dewan, Leslie C.; Massie, Mark; Wilcox, Russell
US Patent Application 14/426204; 20150228363
URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220150228363%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20150228363&RS=DN/20150228363

Thermionic nuclear reactor with flux shielded components
patent, April 1995

Ball, Russell M.; Madaras, John J.
US Patent Document 5,408,510
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5408510

Nuclear reactor fuel assembly spacer grid
patent, August 1979

Jabsen, Felix S.
US Patent Document 4,163,690
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4163690

Heat exchanger
patent, February 2003

Hughes, Steve John
US Patent Document 6,513,583
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6513583

Heat pipe device and heat pipe fabricating process
patent, August 1982

Busch, Jr., Charles H.
US Patent Document 4,343,349
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4343349

Passive power production during a nuclear station blackout
patent, January 2017

Dederer, Jeffrey T.; Perego, Catherine M.
US Patent Document 9,536,629
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=9536629

Thermionic reactor
patent, September 1993

Malloy, III, John D.; Rochow, Richard F.; Westerman, Kurt Ogg
US Patent Document 5,247,548
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5247548

Heat pipe type heat exchanger
patent, December 1989

Nakai, Satoru; Kamei, Mitsuru
US Patent Document 4,886,111
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4886111

Nuclear reactor
patent, April 2004

Hidaka, Masataka; Fujii, Tadashi; Ohtsuka, Masaya
US Patent Document 6,718,001
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6718001

High thermal power density heat transfer apparatus providing electrical isolation at high temperature using heat pipes
patent, March 1985

Morris, James F.
US Patent Document 4,506,183
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4506183

Dual-tube heat pipe type heat exchanger
patent, March 1990

Kamei, Mitsuru; Sakai, Takao; Sugihara, Shinich
US Patent Document 4,909,316
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4909316

Integral heat exchanger and method of construction
patent, June 1993

Killebrew, Joseph B.
US Patent Document 5,217,066
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5217066

Heat exchanger using heat pipes
patent, June 1989

Yatsuhashi, Motoharu; Mochizuki, Masataka; Sugihara, Shinich
US Patent Document 4,842,053
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4842053

Tube type heat exchanger
patent, November 1982

Funke, Karl-Heinz
US Patent Document 4,360,059
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=4360059

Decay heat removal system comprising heat pipe heat exchanger
patent, October 2012

Jeong, Hae Yong; Cho, Chungho; Lee, Yong Bum
US Patent Document 8,300,759
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=8300759

Emergency heat removal system for a nuclear reactor
patent, January 1976

Dunckel, Thomas L.
US Patent Document 3,935,063
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=3935063

Passive three-phase heat tube for the protection of apparatus from exceeding maximum or minimum safe working temperatures
patent, March 1993

Wylie, Roger
US Patent Document 5,195,575
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5195575

Nuclear reactor for breeding U.sup.233
patent, June 1976

Bohanan, Charles S.; Jones, David H.; Raab, Jr., Harry F.
US Patent Document 3,960,655
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=3960655

Apparatus for separating a product of sublimation from a gas
patent, June 1976

Langbroek, Johannes; Koolen, Jan W. A. M.
US Patent Document 3,961,665
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=3961665

Heat exchanger
patent, June 1999

Fix, Michael; Blach, Matthias; Nassauer, Konrad
US Patent Document 5,915,465
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=5915465

Similar Records in DOE Patents and OSTI.GOV collections:

Support grid for fuel elements in a nuclear reactor

Patent Finch, Lester M [Pasco, WA]

A support grid is provided for holding nuclear fuel rods in a rectangular array. Intersecting sheet metal strips are interconnected using opposing slots in the strips to form a rectangular cellular grid structure for engaging the sides of a multiplicity of fuel rods. Spring and dimple supports for engaging fuel and guide rods extending through each cell in the support grid are formed in the metal strips with the springs thus formed being characterized by nonlinear spring rates.
Full Text Available
Zirconium-based alloys, nuclear fuel rods and nuclear reactors including such alloys, and related methods

Patent Mariani, Robert Dominick

Zirconium-based metal alloy compositions comprise zirconium, a first additive in which the permeability of hydrogen decreases with increasing temperatures at least over a temperature range extending from 350.degree. C. to 750.degree. C., and a second additive having a solubility in zirconium over the temperature range extending from 350.degree. C. to 750.degree. C. At least one of a solubility of the first additive in the second additive over the temperature range extending from 350.degree. C. to 750.degree. C. and a solubility of the second additive in the first additive over the temperature range extending from 350.degree. C. to 750.degree. C. ismore »« less
Full Text Available
Catalyst support structure, catalyst including the structure, reactor including a catalyst, and methods of forming same

Patent Van Norman, Staci A.; Aston, Victoria J.; Weimer, Alan W.

Structures, catalysts, and reactors suitable for use for a variety of applications, including gas-to-liquid and coal-to-liquid processes and methods of forming the structures, catalysts, and reactors are disclosed. The catalyst material can be deposited onto an inner wall of a microtubular reactor and/or onto porous tungsten support structures using atomic layer deposition techniques.
Full Text Available
Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors

Patent Youchison, Dennis L [Albuquerque, NM]; Williams, Brian E [Pocoima, CA]; Benander, Robert E [Pacoima, CA]

Methods for manufacturing porous nuclear fuel elements for use in advanced high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors (HTGR's). Advanced uranium bi-carbide, uranium tri-carbide and uranium carbonitride nuclear fuels can be used. These fuels have high melting temperatures, high thermal conductivity, and high resistance to erosion by hot hydrogen gas. Tri-carbide fuels, such as (U,Zr,Nb)C, can be fabricated using chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) to simultaneously deposit each of the three separate carbides, e.g., UC, ZrC, and NbC in a single CVI step. By using CVI, a thin coating of nuclear fuel may be deposited inside of a highly porous skeletal structure made,more »« less
Full Text Available
Underground nuclear power station using self-regulating heat-pipe controlled reactors

Patent Hampel, Viktor E [Pleasanton, CA]

A nuclear reactor for generating electricity is disposed underground at the bottom of a vertical hole that can be drilled using conventional drilling technology. The primary coolant of the reactor core is the working fluid in a plurality of thermodynamically coupled heat pipes emplaced in the hole between the heat source at the bottom of the hole and heat exchange means near the surface of the earth. Additionally, the primary coolant (consisting of the working flud in the heat pipes in the reactor core) moderates neutrons and regulates their reactivity, thus keeping the power of the reactor substantially constant. Atmore »« less
Full Text Available

Similar Records

Title: Modular nuclear reactors including fuel elements and heat pipes extending through grid plates, and methods of forming the modular nuclear reactors

Abstract

Citation Formats

Heat exchanger for passive residual heat removal system patent, August 2015

Heat exchanger system patent, April 2004

Heat exchanger patent, December 2004

Nuclear Reactors and Related Methods and Apparatus patent-application, August 2015

Thermionic nuclear reactor with flux shielded components patent, April 1995

Nuclear reactor fuel assembly spacer grid patent, August 1979

Heat exchanger patent, February 2003

Heat pipe device and heat pipe fabricating process patent, August 1982

Passive power production during a nuclear station blackout patent, January 2017

Thermionic reactor patent, September 1993

Heat pipe type heat exchanger patent, December 1989

Nuclear reactor patent, April 2004

High thermal power density heat transfer apparatus providing electrical isolation at high temperature using heat pipes patent, March 1985

Dual-tube heat pipe type heat exchanger patent, March 1990

Integral heat exchanger and method of construction patent, June 1993

Heat exchanger using heat pipes patent, June 1989

Tube type heat exchanger patent, November 1982

Decay heat removal system comprising heat pipe heat exchanger patent, October 2012

Emergency heat removal system for a nuclear reactor patent, January 1976

Passive three-phase heat tube for the protection of apparatus from exceeding maximum or minimum safe working temperatures patent, March 1993

Nuclear reactor for breeding U.sup.233 patent, June 1976

Apparatus for separating a product of sublimation from a gas patent, June 1976

Heat exchanger patent, June 1999

Heat exchanger for passive residual heat removal system
patent, August 2015

Heat exchanger system
patent, April 2004

Heat exchanger
patent, December 2004

Nuclear Reactors and Related Methods and Apparatus
patent-application, August 2015

Thermionic nuclear reactor with flux shielded components
patent, April 1995

Nuclear reactor fuel assembly spacer grid
patent, August 1979

Heat exchanger
patent, February 2003

Heat pipe device and heat pipe fabricating process
patent, August 1982

Passive power production during a nuclear station blackout
patent, January 2017

Thermionic reactor
patent, September 1993

Heat pipe type heat exchanger
patent, December 1989

Nuclear reactor
patent, April 2004

High thermal power density heat transfer apparatus providing electrical isolation at high temperature using heat pipes
patent, March 1985

Dual-tube heat pipe type heat exchanger
patent, March 1990

Integral heat exchanger and method of construction
patent, June 1993

Heat exchanger using heat pipes
patent, June 1989

Tube type heat exchanger
patent, November 1982

Decay heat removal system comprising heat pipe heat exchanger
patent, October 2012

Emergency heat removal system for a nuclear reactor
patent, January 1976

Passive three-phase heat tube for the protection of apparatus from exceeding maximum or minimum safe working temperatures
patent, March 1993

Nuclear reactor for breeding U.sup.233
patent, June 1976

Apparatus for separating a product of sublimation from a gas
patent, June 1976

Heat exchanger
patent, June 1999