US 12,249,435 B2Granted

Carbide-based fuel assembly for thermal propulsion applications

AssigneeBWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.

InventorsEric A. Barringer, Russell R. Jensen, Jeremy L Gustafson, Matt Ales, Joshua J. Bergman, Ryan T. Swanson, Jonathan K. Witter, Danny Galicki, James B. Inman, Matt Krecicki, Roger Ridgeway

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Abstract

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.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A fuel assembly, comprising:

a fuel assembly outer structure;
a fuel assembly intermediate structure;
a fuel element contained within the fuel assembly intermediate structure, wherein the fuel element includes one or more fuel bodies containing a uranium-based fuel composition, wherein the fuel assembly intermediate structure is spaced apart from an outer envelope surface of the fuel element and extends parallel to the fuel element from a first end surface of the fuel element to a second end surface of the fuel element, an inner surface of the fuel assembly intermediate structure is oriented toward the fuel element, and an outer surface of the fuel assembly intermediate structure is oriented away from the fuel element;
an insulation layer interposed between an inner surface of the fuel assembly outer structure and the outer surface of the fuel assembly intermediate structure;
a first void space between an outer surface of the insulation layer and the inner surface of the fuel assembly outer structure;
and
a second void space between an inner surface of the insulation layer and the outer surface of the fuel assembly intermediate structure,
wherein the fuel assembly intermediate structure is formed of a refractory ceramic-graphite composite material.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/206,302Filed 6 Jun 2023 · continuation
Priority: 12 Oct 2020
Published: US 2023/0317305 A15 Oct 2023
Granted: 11 Mar 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

G21C 3/64
Ceramic fuel: ceramic dispersion fuel, e.g. cermet
F02K 99/00
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
G21C 3/322
Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements: means to influence the coolant flow through or around the bundles
G21C 3/324
Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements: coats or envelopes for the bundles

Family

Application63/090,383Us provisional application · filed 12 Oct 2020
Application17/399,881Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Aug 2021
US 2023/0317305 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Oct 2023
US 11,710,578 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2022/0115152 A1Published application
US 12,249,435 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.