# US 2010/0166133 A1 · Use of isotopically enriched nitrogen in actinide fuel in nuclear reactors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0166133 A1 - Document ID: US20100166133A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/760,179 - Filed: 2007-06-08 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2004-06-29 - Inventors: Edward J. Lahoda; Jeffrey A. Brown; Satya R. Pati; Lars G. Hallstadius; Robert P. Harris; Bojan Petrovic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100166133A1 ## CPC - G21C 3/62: Ceramic fuel - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The present invention provides a nuclear fuel comprising an actinide nitride such as 233U, 234U, 235U, 236U, 238U, 232Th, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, 244Pu, 239Np, 239Am, 240Am, 241Am, 242Am, 243Am, 244Am, 245Am, 240Cm, 241Cm, 242Cm, 243Cm, 244Cm, 245Cm, 246Cm, 247Cm, 248Cm, 249Cm, 259Cm, 245Bk, 246Bk, 247Bk, 248Bk, 249Bk, 250Bk, 248Cf, 249Cf, 250Cf, 251Cf, 252Cf, 253Cf, 254Cf, 255Cf, 249Es, 250Es, 251Es, 252Es, 253Es, 254Es, 255Es, 251Fm, 252Fm, 253Fm, 254Fm, 255Fm, 256Fm, 257Fm, 255Md, 256Md, 257Md, 258Md, 259Md, 260Md, 253No, 254No, 255No, 256No, 257No, 258No and 259No, and optionally fission products such as 97Tc, 98Tc and 99Tc, suitable for use in nuclear reactors, including those based substantially on thermal fission, such as light and heavy water reactors, gas-cooled nuclear reactors, liquid metal fast breeders or molten salt fast breeders. The fuel contains nitrogen which has been isotopically enriched to at least about 50% 15N, most preferably above 95%. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nuclear fuel for use in a fission based nuclear reactor comprising an actinide nitride, said actinide nitride comprising a naturally occurring actinide, or a synthetic element, the synthetic element having an atomic number greater than 92 or an atomic weight of 231 or greater, the actinide nitride selected from the group consisting of 233U, 234U, 235U, 236U, 238U, 232Th, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, 243Pu, and 244Pu, wherein nitrogen is enriched to at least 50% 15N, and wherein an atomic ratio of actinide nitride is between about 1:1 to 1:2. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel according to claim 1, wherein said fission-based nuclear reactor is selected from the group consisting of light water reactors, heavy water reactors and high temperature gas cooled reactors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The nuclear fuel according to claim 2, wherein said high temperature gas cooled reactors are pebble bed modular reactors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel according to claim 1, wherein said actinide nitride is U15N. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein the nuclear fuel further comprises a burnable absorber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein said fuel is in pellet form. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein said fuel is in annular form. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein said fuel is in particle form. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein said actinide nitride comprises nitrogen enriched to at least about 90% 15N. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein said actinide nitride comprises nitrogen enriched to at least about 95% 15N. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The nuclear fuel of claim 1, wherein said atomic ratio of actinide nitride is about 1:1. ### Claim 12 A nuclear fuel for use in a fission based nuclear reactor comprising an actinide nitride, said actinide nitride comprising a naturally occurring actinide, or a synthetic element, the synthetic element having an atomic number greater than 92 or an atomic weight of 231 or greater, the actinide nitride selected from the group consisting of 233U, 234U, 235U, 236U, 238U, 232Th, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, 244Pu, 239Np, 239Am, 240Am, 241Am, 242Am, 243Am, 244Am, 245Am, 240Cm, 241Cm, 242Cm, 243Cm, 244Cm, 245Cm, 246Cm, 247Cm, 248Cm, 249Cm, 259Cm, 245Bk, 246Bk, 247Bk, 248Bk, 249Bk, 250Bk, 248Cf, 249Cf, 250Cf, 251Cf, 252Cf, 253Cf, 254Cf, 255Cf, 249Es, 250Es, 251Es, 252Es, 253Es, 254Es, 255Es, 251Fm, 252Fm, 253Fm, 254Fm, 255Fm, 256Fm, 257Fm, 255Md, 256Md, 257Md, 258Md, 259Md, 260Md, 253No, 254No, 255No, 256No, 257No, 258No and 259No, wherein the nuclear fuel optionally includes fission products selected from the group consisting of 97Tc, 98Tc and 99Tc, wherein nitrogen is enriched to at least 50% 15N, and wherein an atomic ratio of actinide nitride is between about 1:1 to 1:2. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel according to claim 12, wherein said fission-based nuclear reactor is selected from the group consisting of liquid metal fast breeders and molten salt fast breeders. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel according to claim 12, wherein said actinide nitride is U15N. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein the nuclear fuel further comprises a burnable absorber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein said fuel is in pellet form. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein said fuel is in annular form. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein said fuel is in particle form. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein said actinide nitride comprises nitrogen enriched to at least about 90% 15N. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein said actinide nitride comprises nitrogen enriched to at least about 95% 15N. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The nuclear fuel of claim 12, wherein said atomic ratio of actinide nitride is about 1:1.