Compressed powder composite neutron absorber material
AssigneeNeucon Technology, LLC
InventorsJames S. Hobbs, Alan H. Wells, Laurence Danese
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compressed powder composite (CPC) material for absorbing neutrons emitted from spent nuclear fuel thereby preventing the initiation of a chain reaction. The CPC material is typically provided as a substantially insoluble cylindrical pellet that is highly resistant to corrosion and is not subject to the failure modes associated with the alloy materials typically used in neutron absorption materials. The pellet preferably includes a dendritic nickel powder substantially uniformly mixed with a neutron absorber powder material, preferably boron carbide. Tubes filled with CPC materials, such tubes for replacing control roads so that a spent nuclear fuel assembly may be disposed of substantially indefinitely.
Claims9
An apparatus for absorbing neutrons emitted from spent nuclear fuel comprising a compressed powder composite (CPC) material in the form of a pellet including dendritic nickel powder and neutron absorbing material powder being substantially mixed together and mechanically bonded together but not chemically bonded together so that the respective corrosion rates of the nickel and neutron absorbing material making up the CPC material remain substantially unchanged, wherein the neutron absorbing material comprises a chemical species selected from the group consisting of gadolinium phosphate, boron carbide, and mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.