Triad National Security, LLC

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC

Erik Luther

Tarik Saleh

Aditya Shivprasad

Venkateswara Rao Dasari

Stuart Andrew Maloy

Jeffery A Aguiar

Dustin Cummins

Joseph Wermer

Benjamin D Coryell

Joshua Taylor White

Howard T Hartman

Colleen V Shelton-Davis

Aj Fallgren

Various embodiments of the disclosure provide methods using spark plasma sintering (SPS) at moderate temperatures and moderate pressures to fabricate high-density graphite material. The moderate temperatures may be temperatures not exceeding about 1200° C. The moderate pressures may be pressures not exceeding about 300 MPa. The high density exhibited by the resulting, sintered, high-density graphite material may be greater than about 1.75 g/cm(e.g., greater than about 2.0 g/cm).

Spark plasma sintering methods for fabricating dense graphite

Hydrogen infused nuclear reactor core monoliths and processes for their production are disclosed. Such monoliths may function as both a core monolith and a moderator, providing structure and at least some moderation. Hydrogen infused monoliths may be complementary to or be used in lieu of separate moderators for thermalizing neutrons.

Hydrogen infused nuclear reactor core monoliths

High temperature moderators for nuclear reactors and processes for their production are disclosed. The moderators include at least one hydrided metal and/or hydride metal allow, such as yttrium hydride, thorium hydride, yttrium-cerium hydride, yttrium-gadolinium hydride, yttrium calcium hydride, cerium hydride, etc. Such metal hydrides and/or hydride alloys may have high thermal stability, a relatively low thermal neutron absorption cross section, the ability to retain hydrogen over a large temperature range, and have good mechanical properties. Such moderators may induce spectral shift in reactors which, in turn, magnifies the Doppler reactivity temperature coefficient. Such moderators to thermalize neutrons may also enhance fuel utilization and cost-effectiveness of the reactor while keeping the core portable.

Hydrided moderators for nuclear reactors

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Los Alamos, NM, United States of America

Erik Luther