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:
Jan. 30, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 05, 1999
Sten O. Akerlund, Wilmington, NC (US);
Robert A. Rand, Wilmington, NC (US);
Roland O. Jackson, Wilmington, NC (US);
Anthony P. Reese, Wilmington, NC (US);
Russell M. Fawcett, Wilmington, NC (US);
John F. Schardt, Wilmington, NC (US);
Robert B. Elkins, Wilmington, NC (US);
Peter J. Savoia, Wilmington, NC (US);
Cary L. Kunz, Wilmington, NC (US);
Russell E. Stachowski, Fremont, CA (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A nuclear fuel bundle has differential peak power limits for the edge or peripheral fuel rods and the interior fuel rods. Also, the magnitude of nuclear fuel in the edge or peripheral rods is decreased in comparison with the magnitude of nuclear fuel in the interior rods. The nuclear reactor can thus operate at higher power output by decreasing the margins between the power outputs and peak power limit of the interior rods, as well as by decreasing the margins between the power outputs of the edge or peripheral rods and the increased peak power limit of those rods. The outer or peripheral edge rods can also be enriched for enhanced power output.