Customizable thin plate fuel form and reactor core therefor
AssigneeHowe Industries LLC
InventorsTroy M. Howe, Steven D. Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A customizable thin plate fuel form and reactor core therefor are disclosed. The thin plate fuel will comprise a fuel material embedded within a matrix material, with the entire unit having a coating. The thin plate fuel may be flat or curved and will have flow channels formed within at least the top surface of the fuel plate. The structure of the thin plate fuel will make it easier for coating with Tungsten or any other suitable material that will help contain any byproducts, prevent reactions with the working fluid, and potentially provide structural support to the thin plate fuel.
Claims16
A fuel plate for a reactor core comprising:
- a center flow channel;
- a fuel region comprising:
- a matrix material;
- a fuel embedded within the matrix material;
- and
- a plurality of flow channels in a top surface of the fuel region;
- and
- a coating that covers the matrix material, the fuel, and the plurality of flow channels, that contacts surfaces of the plurality of flow channels without a gap between the coating and the matrix material, and that contains any byproducts.
A subcore for a reactor comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a plurality of stacked sections contained within the housing, each section comprising:
- a plurality of fuel plates;
- and
- a moderator plate;
- wherein each fuel plate of the plurality of fuel plates comprises:
- a center flow channel;
- and
- a fuel region comprising:
- a matrix material;
- a fuel embedded within the matrix material;
- a plurality of flow channels in at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the fuel region;
- and
- a coating that covers the matrix material and the fuel for containing any byproducts, wherein the coating contacts surfaces of the plurality of flow channels without a gap between the coating and the matrix material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.