Thorium Power, Inc.

Michael H Montgomery

Sergey Mikhailovich Bashkirtsev

Valery Vladimirovich Kevrolev

Valentin Fedorovich Kuznetsov

Alexey Glebovich Morozov

Alexei Glebovich Morozov

Nuclear fuel assemblies include fuel elements that are sintered or cast into billets and co-extruded into a spiral, multi-lobed shape. The fuel kernel may be a metal alloy of metal fuel material and a metal-non-fuel material, or ceramic fuel in a metal non-fuel matrix. The fuel elements may use more highly enriched fissile material while maintaining safe operating temperatures. Such fuel elements according to one or more embodiments may provide more power at a safer, lower temperature than possible with conventional uranium oxide fuel rods. The fuel assembly may also include a plurality of conventional UOfuel rods, which may help the fuel assembly to conform to the space requirements of conventional nuclear reactors.

Fuel assembly

Nuclear fuel assemblies include fuel elements that are sintered or cast into billets and co-extruded into a spiral, multi-lobed shape. The fuel kernel may be a metal alloy of metal fuel material and a metal-non-fuel material, or ceramic fuel in a metal non-fuel matrix. The fuel elements may use more highly enriched fissile material while maintaining safe operating temperatures. Such fuel elements according to one or more embodiments may provide more power at a safer, lower temperature than possible with conventional uranium oxide fuel rods. The fuel assembly may also include a plurality of conventional UO2 fuel rods, which may help the fuel assembly to conform to the space requirements of conventional nuclear reactors.

Method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel assembly

A method of manufacturing a fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor. The method includes manufacturing each of a plurality of elongated fuel elements by mixing powdered fuel material with powdered metal non-fuel material. The mixed powdered fuel material and metal non-fuel material is sintered to create a fuel core stock, the fuel core stock is surrounded with a cladding material, and the fuel core stock and cladding material are co-extruded to create the fuel element. The fuel element has a spirally twisted, multi-lobed profile that defines a plurality of spiral ribs. The multi-lobed profile includes lobe tips and intersections between adjacent lobes. The cladding is thicker at the tips than at the intersections. The plurality of elongated fuel elements are mounted to a frame of the fuel assembly. A moderator:fuel ratio in a region of the fuel elements is 2.5 or less.

A fuel assembly for use in a core of a nuclear power reactor. The fuel assembly can include a frame and a plurality of elongated, extruded fuel elements supported by the frame. The frame can include a lower nozzle that is shaped and configured to mount to an internal core structure of the nuclear power reactor. Each of the fuel elements can include a fuel kernel having fuel material disposed in a matrix of metal non-fuel material, the fuel material including fissile material, and a cladding surrounding the fuel kernel. The fuel assembly can have a moderator: fuel ratio in a region of the fuel elements of 2.4 or less.

Fuel elements are supported by fuel assemblies configured for use in land-based nuclear reactors such as the VVER-1000. The fuel elements include a kernel having a multi-lobed profile that forms spiral ribs that include fissionable material (e.g., uranium or plutonium), a central metal displacer extending along a longitudinal axis of the kernel, and a metal cladding (e.g., zirconium and/or other refractory metals) enclosing the kernel. The fuel element may be fabricated by joint extrusion of the displacer, kernel, and cladding through a die to metallurgically bond the kernel and cladding.

Growing community of inventors

Hamilton, VA, United States of America

Michael H Montgomery