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:
Aug. 15, 2023
Filed:
Aug. 11, 2021
Bwxt Advanced Technologies Llc, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Bwxt Nuclear Energy, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Eric A. Barringer, Rustburg, VA (US);
Russell R. Jensen, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Jeremy L. Gustafson, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Matt Ales, Puyallup, WA (US);
Joshua J. Bergman, Valensole, FR;
Ryan T. Swanson, Lynchburg, VA (US);
Jonathan K. Witter, Forest, VA (US);
Danny Galicki, Knoxville, TN (US);
James B. Inman, Forest, VA (US);
Matt Krecicki, Winter Park, FL (US);
Roger Ridgeway, Hurt, VA (US);
BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US);
BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US);
Abstract
Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material, the interior surface of which is lined in higher temperature regions with an insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material. Continuous insulation layer extends the length of the fuel assembly or separate insulation layer sections have a thickness increasing step-wise along the length of the fuel assembly from upper (inlet) section towards bottom (outlet) section. A fuel element positioned inward of the insulation layer and between support meshes has a fuel composition including HALEU and the form of a plurality of individual elongated fuel bodies or one or more fuel monolith bodies containing coolant flow channels. Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block, with upper end of the outer structural member attached to an inlet for propellant and lower end of the outer structural member operatively interfaced with a nozzle forming a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor.