The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2018
Filed:
May. 06, 2015
Ge-hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas Llc, Wilmington, NC (US);
Thomas A. Caine, Sunol, CA (US);
Russell E. Stachowski, Wilmington, NC (US);
Dana C. Miranda, Wilmington, NC (US);
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (US);
Abstract
A nuclear reactor is operated with irradiation target holders fit in open locations inside of an operating commercial nuclear core and placed with ends at vertical bottom and top of the core or any position therebetween to directly expose holders to nuclear fuel reactions. Holders have ends and overall shape that are joined with existing reactor structures, while fitting closely with fuel and moderator and being easily removable from the same. Holders are fabricated of any reactor-compatible material that will retain irradiation targets and daughter products. Holders securely retain irradiation targets and daughter products of any shape or phase throughout reactor operation. Holders can be installed during reactor outages and irradiated during operation without risk of movement or interference with operation. After a desired period of operation and irradiation, holders can be harvested from the core independent of other core structures and fuel.