Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC

University of Idaho

Other

Paul Marotta

Richard Christensen

Piyush Sabharwall

Jason Palmer

Nicholas Williams

John P Carter

A flow control device configured to be positioned in a reactor core. The flow control device including a central shaft and at least one blade extending helically from the central shaft. A nuclear reactor and related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Nuclear reactor flow control devices and associated reactors, components, and methods

Flow meters may include a body defining a fluid channel therein. At least one structure may be positioned within the fluid channel, and fixed relative to the body, that is shaped and positioned to produce a flow-induced vibration that varies according to a rate of fluid flow through the fluid channel. A method of measuring a fluid flow rate may include directing a fluid over a first structure located in a first channel, and producing a first flow-induced vibration that varies according to a rate of fluid flow in a first channel with the first structure. The method may further include measuring the vibration of a remote structure coupled to the first channel, and determining the rate of fluid flow in the first channel from the measured vibration.

Flow meters and related systems and methods

Valves may include an opening sized and shaped to permit a subject fluid to flow through the opening when the opening is unobstructed. A heat exchange element may be located proximate to the opening, the heat exchange element positioned and configured to induce a localized phase change in the subject fluid to form and unform a solid plug from the subject fluid around at least a portion of the heat exchange element. A heat transfer rate of the heat exchange element may be variable to control a rate of flow of the subject fluid through the valve by controlling a size of the solid plug from the subject fluid.

Phase-change valves and related methods

Growing community of inventors

Idaho Falls, ID, United States of America

Richard Christensen