# US 8,571,167 B2 · Particulate metal fuels used in power generation, recycling systems, and small modular reactors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,167 B2 - Document ID: US8571167B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/696,851 - Filed: 2010-01-29 - Published: 2010-12-02 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-01 - Assignees: Advanced Reactor Concepts LLC - Applicants: Leon C. Walters - Inventors: Leon C. Walters - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571167B2 ## CPC - G21C 15/00: Cooling arrangements within the pressure vessel containing the core; Selection of specific coolants - G21C 3/02: Fuel elements {(manufacture thereof G21C21/02)} - G21C 3/60: Metallic fuel; Intermetallic dispersions - G21C 19/44: of irradiated solid fuel - G21C 21/04: by vibrational compaction or tamping {of fuel in the jacket} - G21C 1/07: Pebble-bed reactors; Reactors with granular fuel - G21C 3/07: characterised by their material, e.g. alloys - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - Y02W 30/50: Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies - 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 - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract A metal particulate fuel system is described. The metal fuel system may include particulate metal fuel for use in nuclear reactors. The particulate metal fuel may include a plurality of particles of at least one enriched alloy where the particles are compacted into a fuel column. The metal particulate fuel system may also include a cladding and/or a gas-filled plenum. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metal fuel system comprising: particulate metal fuel for use in nuclear reactors, comprising particles of at least one enriched alloy and particles of crushed light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel; a cladding; a gas-filled plenum; and wherein the particles are compacted into a fuel column, and wherein the fuel column is in particulate form, not solid form, upon entry into a reactor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein the compaction is obtained by vibration or another impaction technique. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein the at least one enriched alloy is selected from the group consisting of: uranium, plutonium, transuranics, zirconium, molybdenum, actinides, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein the particulate metal fuel further comprises minor actinides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, further comprising a gaseous heat transfer medium in the cladding. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The metal fuel system of claim 5, wherein the gaseous heat transfer medium is helium gas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein the smear density of the fuel column is approximately 75% or less. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein a volume ratio of particulate metal fuel to plenum is approximately 0.8 to approximately 2.0. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, further comprising a restrainer to maintain pressure on the fuel column. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein the particles are between about 50 and about 1000 microns in diameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The metal fuel system of claim 1, wherein the particulate metal fuel comprises approximately 8-10% crushed light water reactor (LWR) particles. ### Claim 12 A metal fuel system comprising: particulate metal fuel for use in nuclear reactors, comprising particles of at least one enriched alloy, wherein the particulate metal fuel further comprises minor actinides; a cladding; a gas-filled plenum; and wherein the particles are compacted into a fuel column, and wherein the fuel column is in particulate form, not solid form, upon entry into a reactor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The metal fuel system of claim 12, wherein the minor actinides are selected from the group consisting of: americium, neptunium, curium, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The metal fuel system of claim 12, wherein the particulate metal fuel further comprises crushed light water reactor (LWR) particles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The metal fuel system of claim 14, wherein the particulate metal fuel comprises approximately 8-10% crushed light water reactor (LWR) particles. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The metal fuel system of claim 12, wherein the at least one enriched alloy is selected from the group consisting of: uranium, plutonium, transuranics, zirconium, molybdenum, actinides, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The metal fuel system of claim 12, wherein the particles are between about 50 and about 1000 microns in diameter. ### Claim 18 A metal fuel system comprising: particulate metal fuel for use in nuclear reactors, comprising particles of at least one enriched alloy and particles of crushed light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel, wherein the particulate metal fuel further comprises minor actinides; a cladding; a gas-filled plenum; and wherein the particles are compacted into a fuel column, and wherein the fuel column is in particulate form, not solid form, upon entry into a reactor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The metal fuel system of claim 18, wherein the minor actinides are selected from the group consisting of: americium, neptunium, curium, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The metal fuel system of claim 18, wherein the particulate metal fuel comprises approximately 8-10% crushed light water reactor (LWR) particles. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The metal fuel system of claim 18, wherein the at least one enriched alloy is selected from the group consisting of: uranium, plutonium, transuranics, zirconium, molybdenum, actinides, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The metal fuel system of claim 21, wherein the at least one enriched alloy is uranium.