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. 01, 2017
Filed:
Apr. 08, 2008
Charles E. Ahlfeld, LaJolla, CA (US);
John Rogers Gilleland, Kirkland, WA (US);
Roderick A. Hyde, Redmond, WA (US);
Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Livermore, CA (US);
David G. Mcalees, Bellevue, WA (US);
Nathan P. Myhrvold, Medina, WA (US);
Clarence T. Tegreene, Bellevue, WA (US);
Thomas Allan Weaver, San Mateo, CA (US);
Charles Whitmer, North Bend, WA (US);
Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Bellevue, WA (US);
Charles E. Ahlfeld, LaJolla, CA (US);
John Rogers Gilleland, Kirkland, WA (US);
Roderick A. Hyde, Redmond, WA (US);
Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Livermore, CA (US);
David G. McAlees, Bellevue, WA (US);
Nathan P. Myhrvold, Medina, WA (US);
Clarence T. Tegreene, Bellevue, WA (US);
Thomas Allan Weaver, San Mateo, CA (US);
Charles Whitmer, North Bend, WA (US);
Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Bellevue, WA (US);
TerraPower, LLC, Bellevue, WA (US);
Abstract
A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly adapted to permit expansion of the nuclear fuel contained therein. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure having enclosure walls to sealingly enclose a nuclear fuel foam defining a plurality of interconnected open-cell voids or a plurality of closed-cell voids. The voids permit expansion of the foam toward the voids, which expansion may be due to heat generation and/or fission gas release. The voids shrink or reduce in volume as the foam expands. Pressure on the enclosure walls is substantially reduced because the foam expands toward and even into the voids rather than against the enclosure walls. Thus, the voids provide space into which the foam can expand.