# US 11,443,858 B2 · Neutron moderation modules

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- Number: US 11,443,858 B2
- Document ID: US11443858B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/926,132
- Filed: 2020-07-10
- Published: 2022-01-13
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-10
- Assignees: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
- Applicants: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
- Inventors: Yinbin Miao; Nicolas E. Stauff; Sumit Bhattacharya; Abdellatif M. Yacout; Taek K. Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11443858B2

## CPC

- G21C 5/12: characterised by composition, e.g. the moderator containing additional substances which ensure improved heat resistance of the moderator {(purification of fluid moderators during the operation of the reactor G21C19/30)}
- G21C 3/07: characterised by their material, e.g. alloys
- G21C 3/326: comprising fuel elements of different composition; comprising, in addition to the fuel elements, other pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped elements, e.g. control rods, grid support rods, fertile rods, poison rods or dummy rods
- G21C 15/08: from moderating material
- G21D 5/02: Reactor and engine structurally combined, e.g. portable
- Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin
- G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J)
- G21D: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Provided herein is a neutron moderation module and a thermal-neutron nuclear micro-reactor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A neutron moderation module comprising:
a metal hydride core; and
a shell surrounding the core, the shell comprising:
at least one H2 permeation barrier layer;
at least one transition metal layer;
at least one diffusion barrier layer; and
at least one ceramic matrix composite layer,
wherein:
the at least one H2 permeation barrier layer is disposed between the at least one transition metal layer and the core,
the at least one H2 permeation barrier layer and the at least one diffusion barrier layer are separate separated by the at least one transition metal layer, and
the at least one diffusion barrier layer is disposed between the at least one transition metal layer and the at least one ceramic matrix composite layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the metal hydride core comprises a compound represented by the formula ARx, wherein A is one or more of Zr, Y, Ti, Li, Ca, Sc, or combinations thereof; each R is independently H or D; and x is in a range of 0.1 to 10.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the H2 permeation barrier layer comprises one or more of Al2O3, Y2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, SiO2, Cr2O3, ZrN, TiN, AlN, SiN, ZrC, TiC, SiC, NbC, TiAlC, ZrTiC, FeAl, FeAl2, Fe2Al5, ZrAl3, MoSi2, NbSi2, Si, (ZrO2.SiO2), and (ZrO2.xY2O3).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier layer comprises one or more of Al2O3, Y2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, SiO2, Cr2O3, ZrN, TiN, AlN, SiN, ZrC, TiC, SiC, NbC, TiAlC, ZrTiC, FeAl, FeAl2, Fe2Al5, ZrAl3, MoSi2, NbSi2, Si, (ZrO2.SiO2), and (ZrO2.xY2O3).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the H2 permeation barrier layer comprises alternating ceramics layers and metal layers, wherein the ceramics layers comprise one or more of oxides, nitrides, carbides, aluminides, silicides, elemental ceramics, and complex oxides; and the metal layers comprise one or more of refractory metals, refractory metal alloys, metals capable of resisting a temperature of at least 600° C., alloys of metals capable of resisting a temperature of at least 600° C., and intermetallic compounds.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The moderation module of claim 5, wherein each metal layer and each ceramic layer, independently, have a thickness of about 5 nm to about 1000 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the H2 permeation barrier layer has a thickness of about 500 nm to about 10 μm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the diffusion barrier layer has a thickness of about 500 nm to about 10 μm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the H2 permeation barrier layer is monolithic and pinhole free.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the transition metal layer comprises one or more of Ce, Yb, Mo, W, Nb, Ta, Ni, Co, and Fe, and alloys thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the ceramic matrix composite layer comprises a reinforcement phase (A) and a matrix phase (B).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the ceramic matrix composite layer has a thickness of about 0.1 mm to about 5 mm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the transition metal layer is coated with the H2 permeation barrier layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the shell further comprises a ceramic matrix composite layer, and the ceramic matrix composite layer is provided radially outbound from the diffusion barrier layer and surrounds the diffusion barrier layer entirely.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The moderation module of claim 1, wherein the moderation module can withstand temperatures of greater than 600° C. without degradation.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A thermal neutron nuclear reactor comprising a composite matrix, wherein the composite matrix comprises the moderation module of claim 1, a fuel, a reactor matrix, and a heat transfer module.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A thermal neutron nuclear reactor comprising a composite matrix, wherein the composite matrix comprises the moderation module of claim 1, a fuel, and a fluid coolant or a heat transfer module.

### Claim 18

A neutron moderation module, comprising:
a metal hydride core; and
a shell surrounding the core, the shell comprising:
at least one H2 permeation barrier layer;
at least one transition metal layer; and
at least one diffusion barrier layer,
wherein:
the at least one H2 permeation barrier layer is disposed between the at least one transition metal layer and the core,
the at least one H2 permeation barrier layer and the at least one diffusion barrier layer are separated by the at least one transition metal layer, and
the diffusion barrier layer comprises alternating ceramics layers and metal layers, wherein
the ceramics layers comprise one or more of oxides, nitrides, carbides, aluminides, silicides, elemental ceramics, and complex oxides; and
the metal layers comprise one or more of refractory metals, refractory metal alloys, metals capable of resisting a temperature of at least 600° C., alloys of metals capable of resisting a temperature of at least 600° C., and intermetallic compounds.

### Claim 19

A neutron moderation module comprising:
a metal hydride core; and
a shell surrounding the core, the shell comprising:
at least one H2 permeation barrier layer;
at least one transition metal layer; and
at least one diffusion barrier layer,
wherein:
the diffusion barrier layer is a pinhole free monolithic diffusion barrier layer,
the at least one H2 permeation barrier layer is disposed between the at least one transition metal layer and the core, and
the at least one H2 permeation barrier layer and the at least one diffusion barrier layer are separated by the at least one transition metal layer.