Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements inventions 01/08

20080025454 - Method for operating a reactor of a nuclear plant: A reactor of a nuclear plant encloses a core having a plurality of fuel elements and a number of control rods. Each fuel element includes a plurality of fuel rods each including a cladding and nuclear fuel enclosed in an inner space of the cladding. Each control rod is insertable... Agent: Venable LLP

20080025455 - Reactor feedwater system: A reactor feedwater system of a boiling water reactor includes: a reactor feedwater pump and a high pressure feedwater heater, that are arranged at an outside of a reactor containment vessel containing a reactor pressure vessel of a boiling water reactor, for pressurizing and heating a coolant; a main feedwater... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080013666 - Method for in-situ production of hyperstoichiometric oxide fuel: Method of producing hyperstoichiometric oxide fuel starting from near-stoichiometric composition, in-situ, while operating in a nuclear reactor, comprising a heavy metal fuel oxide such as uranium oxide or plutonium oxide or mixtures thereof and providing effective amounts of a reactant metal oxide, chosen from among bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), copper oxide... Agent: Vaidyanathan, Swaminathan

20080013667 - Lower and upper end plugs of an annular fuel rod: A lower and upper end plugs of an annular fuel rod, into and out of which cooling water flows, comprises: a lower end plug including a filter for debris which has a plurality of pins intersecting each other at the proper position of an inner channel main inlet, through-holes into... Agent: Bachman & Lapointe, P.C.

20080008286 - Fusion energy production: Systems and methods are described for carrying out fusion reactions by changing either the Coulombic energy barrier or the reaction cross section or both. Such systems and methods are useful for creating fusion reactions which exceed energy breakeven (Q>1) and which have a relatively low cost and compact size.... Agent: Martin Moynihan Prtsi, Inc.

20080008287 - Method of providing and evaluating a mid-wall repair: A method of repairing a connection between a first nozzle and a closed vessel includes cutting through an entire thickness of the first nozzle at a location adjacent to the mid-wall of the vessel. A portion of the first nozzle is removed. A replacement nozzle is disposed in a void... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.