# US 2021/0241930 A1 · Corrosion resistant material for heat exchangers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0241930 A1 - Document ID: US20210241930A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/155,351 - Filed: 2021-01-22 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-23 - Inventors: Richard A. Stoltz; Jeff Bullington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241930A1 ## CPC - G21C 3/54: Fused salt, oxide or hydroxide compositions - G21C 15/16: comprising means for separating liquid and steam (separating in general B01D; steam traps F16D) - F28F 21/04: of ceramic; of concrete; of natural stone - G21C 15/04: from fissile or breeder material {(G21C3/32 takes precedence)} - G21C 17/0225: {Chemical surface treatment, e.g. corrosion (corrosion prevention in presence of water from scale removal or by modification of the properties of the liquid C02F5/00; inhibiting corrosion by adding corrosion inhibitors C23F11/00)} - G21D 1/006: {primary side of steam generators (secondary side of steam generators F22B1/00, F22B35/00 or F22B37/00)} - Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - G21D: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A heat exchanger comprises a vessel, and a ceramic-nitride material disposed within the vessel and configured to separate a first fluid and a second fluid and/or gaseous fluid, and transfer a heat from the first fluid to the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid. The ceramic-nitride material also reduces corrosion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reducing corrosion in a heat exchanger comprising: providing the heat exchanger having a ceramic-nitride material separating a first fluid and a second fluid and/or gaseous fluid; and transferring a heat from the first fluid to the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid via the ceramic-nitride material, wherein the ceramic-nitride material is corrosion resistant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ceramic-nitride material comprises a silicon-nitride material, an aluminum-nitride material, a boron-nitride material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first fluid comprises molten salt; and the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid comprise steam, helium or carbon dioxide. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the molten salt contains thorium fluoride. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a molten salt reactor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the molten salt reactor is used to turn radioactive waste into waste that is not radioactive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a turbine-generator that produces electricity. ### Claim 8 A heat exchanger comprising: a vessel; and a ceramic-nitride material disposed within the vessel and configured to separate a first fluid and a second fluid and/or gaseous fluid, and transfer a heat from the first fluid to the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the ceramic-nitride material comprises a silicon-nitride material, an aluminum-nitride material, a boron-nitride material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the ceramic-nitride material is corrosion resistant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein: the first fluid comprises molten salt; and the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid comprise steam, helium or carbon dioxide. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein the molten salt contains thorium fluoride. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a molten salt reactor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger of claim 13, wherein the molten salt reactor is used to turn radioactive waste into waste that is not radioactive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a turbine-generator that produces electricity. ### Claim 16 A method of transferring heat comprising: providing a heat exchanger; passing a first fluid and a second fluid and/or gaseous fluid through the heat exchanger, wherein first fluid is separated from the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid by a ceramic-nitride material; and transferring the heat from the first fluid to the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid using the ceramic-nitride material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the ceramic-nitride material comprises a silicon-nitride material, an aluminum-nitride material, a boron-nitride material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the ceramic-nitride material is corrosion resistant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the first fluid comprises molten salt; and the second fluid and/or gaseous fluid comprise steam, helium or carbon dioxide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the molten salt contains thorium fluoride. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a molten salt reactor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the molten salt reactor is used to turn radioactive waste into waste that is not radioactive. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a turbine-generator that produces electricity.