Carbide-based fuel assembly for thermal propulsion applications

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 11710578
SERIAL NO

17399881

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Abstract

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Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material (e.g., SiC—SiC composite), insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material (e.g., zirconium carbide with open-cell foam structure or fibrous zirconium carbide), and interior structural member of refractory ceramic-graphite composite material (e.g., zirconium carbide-graphite or niobium carbide-graphite). Spacer structures between various layers provide a defined and controlled spacing relationship. A fuel element bundle positioned between support meshes includes a plurality of distributively arranged fuel elements or a solid, unitary fuel element with coolant channels, each having a fuel composition including high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU). Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block and the upper end of the outer structural member is attached to a metallic inlet tube for hydrogen propellant and the lower end of the outer structural member is interfaced with a support plate, forming a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
BWXT NUCLEAR ENERGY INC11525 N COMMUNITY HOUSE RD SUITE 600 CHARLOTTE NC 28277

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Ales, Matt Puyallup, US 4 11
Barringer, Eric A Rustburg, US 21 414
Bergman, Joshua J Valensole, FR 20 409
Galicki, Danny Knoxville, US 4 11
Gustafson, Jeremy L Lynchburg, US 4 11
Inman, James B Forest, US 27 139
Jensen, Russell R Lynchburg, US 6 90
Krecicki, Matt Winter Park, US 4 11
Ridgeway, Roger Hurt, US 4 11
Swanson, Ryan T Lynchburg, US 4 11
Witter, Jonathan K Forest, US 10 26

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