General Atomics, Inc.

Robert W Schleicher

Michael Dale Perry

Paul S Banks

Jason Zweiback

Jiping Zhang

Jack S Yampolsky

Alan M Baxter

Leonardo Cavallaro

Jonathan David Sheeder

Jonas Opperman

Hangbok Choi

Orlin M Stansfield

Kenneth F Paulovich

Disclosed are apparatuses, systems, methods, and devices for generating hydrogen pyrolysis of hydrocarbons (methane, diesel, JP8, etc.) in a reactor. The reactor includes multiple channels in parallel. A hydrocarbon flows in a channel and decomposes into hydrogen and carbon. Hydrogen gas flows out and some of the carbon will deposit on the channel wall. Once carbon deposition reaches a predetermined level, the hydrocarbon flow stops, and air or oxygen is caused to flow into the channels to oxidize carbon into carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide and supply heat to neighboring channels. Simultaneously, the hydrocarbon will flow into neighboring channels causing decomposition into hydrogen and carbon in the neighboring channels. When the carbon coating in the neighboring channels reaches a predetermined level, the gas flow is switched again to air or oxygen. In this way, each channel alternates between decomposing the hydrocarbon and oxidizing the deposited carbon.

Producing high purity hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon material

A modular, nuclear waste conversion reactor that continuously produces usable energy while converting U-238 and/or other fertile waste materials to fissionable nuclides. The reactor has a highly uniform, self-controlled, core () with a decades-long life and does not require reactivity control mechanisms within the boundary of the active core during operation to retain adequate safety. The exemplary embodiment employs high-temperature helium coolant, a dual-segment () initial annular critical core, carbide fuel, a fission product gas collection system, ceramic cladding and structural internals to create a modular reactor design that economically produces energy over multiple generations of reactor cores with only minimum addition of fertile material from one generation to the next.

Modular nuclear fission waste conversion reactor

A laser device which may be used as an oscillator or amplifier comprising a chamber having a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises a solid-state element containing active laser ion within the volume. A cooling fluid flows about the solid-state element and a semiconductor laser diode provides optical pump radiation into the volume of the laser chamber such that laser emission from the device passes through the gain medium and the fluid. The laser device provides the advantages of a solid-state gain medium laser (e.g., diode-pumping, high power density, etc), but enables operation at higher average power and beam quality than would be achievable from a pure solid-state medium.

Laser containing a distributed gain medium

A laser device which may be used as an oscillator or amplifier comprising a chamber having a volume formed therein and a gain medium within the volume. The gain medium comprises solid-state elements containing active laser ion distributed within the volume. A cooling fluid flows about the solid-state elements and a semiconductor laser diode provides optical pump radiation into the volume of the laser chamber such that laser emission from the device passes through the gain medium and the fluid. The laser device provides the advantages of a solid-state gain medium laser (e.g., diode-pumping, high power density, etc), but enables operation at higher average power and beam quality than would be achievable from a pure solid-state medium.

Nuclear fuel particles having fission-product-retentive characteristics are disclosed which are particularly adapted for the production of nuclear fuel compacts or nuclear fuel elements by combination with a matrix material having an acceptable nuclear properties and good thermal conductivity. Preferably, the outermost shell of the fission-product-retentive layer is formed of a refractory carbide, such as silicon carbide or zirconium carbide, and a thin overcoating material is applied thereto. When aluminum is employed as the matrix material, an overcoating of elemental silicon or elemental zirconium is used which is wet by the aluminum matrix. Silicon also forms a low melting eutectic alloy with the aluminum of the matrix that provides good lubricating properties--a particularly valuable feature when high pressure extrusion is used to form fuel elements. In addition, a strong chemical bond is formed between silicon and a refractory silicon carbide outer surface, resulting in an excellent heat flow path from the nuclear fuel to the boundary of the fuel element from which heat transfer occurs.

Method of making nuclear fuel compacts

A nuclear power system comprises a plurality of modules disposed in below-grade pits to provide a compact, self-contained nuclear power supply. The modules are preferably individually transportable so that they may be substantially preassembled prior to installation. The system operates at relatively low temperatures and pressures, and includes various safety features which would prevent radioactive contamination of the surrounding environment in the event of a disturbance causing rupture of one or more of the odules or the pipes interconnecting the modules. The system also provides a low resistance flow path for vapor discharged from the turbine to improve efficiency.

Growing community of inventors

Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

Robert W Schleicher