Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements inventions 02/08

20080049886 - Method and device for locking a nuclear fuel assembly in position in a housing: A method and device for blocking a fuel assembly in a housing of a transport basket. An attachment system is placed between an upper end piece of a fresh fuel assembly that it is to be transported and the open end of a housing in which the assembly is placed,... Agent: Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP

20080043895 - Electromagnetic radiation-initiated plasma reactor: A reactor and method is disclosed that creates a stabilized, heated plasma and generates a large amount of thermal energy. The initial plasma may be created by heating, either through combustion reactions and/or external heating mechanism, a fuel which is a source of hydrogen ions and air (or oxygen) inside... Agent: Hunton & Williams LLP Intellectual Property Department

20080043896 - Process for manufacturing enhanced thermal conductivity oxide nuclear fuel and the neclear fuel: A nuclear fuel and a method to produce a nuclear fuel wherein a porous uranium dioxide arrangement is provided, the arrangement is infiltrated with a precursor liquid and the arrangement is thermally treated such the porous uranium dioxide arrangement is infiltrated with a precursor liquid, followed by a thermal treating... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080037694 - System and method for creating liquid droplet impact forced collapse of laser nanoparticle nucleated cavities for controlled nuclear reactions: A device, method and system for causing a controlled collapse of cavities formed within liquid droplets wherein a pressurized jet comprising a liquid and nanoparticle material and possibly fuel produces droplets from the breakup of the jet stream. The liquid droplets are irradiated with energy to produce and expand cavities... Agent: Bourque & Associates Intellectual Property Attorneys, P.A.

20080037695 - Method and apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of reactor pressure vessel: The ultrasonic probe of the ultrasonic inspection apparatus, which is pushed onto the outer surface of the reactor pressure vessel, transmits and receives an ultrasonic wave to and from a penetration having a welded portion while changing an incident angle of the ultrasonic wave. Based on a result of reception... Agent: Mattingly, Stanger, Malur & Brundidge, P.C.

20080037696 - Reactor containment vessel: A reactor containment vessel of the present invention has a primary reactor containment vessel disposing a dry well for storing a reactor pressure vessel, a wet well for storing a pressure suppression pool, and an equipment room disposing below said pressure suppression pool inside thereof. Further, the primary reactor containment... Agent: Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Kraus, LLP

20080031394 - Feedwater controller, nuclear power plant and method for controlling feedwater: The feedwater controller of a nuclear power plant having three or more feedwater pumps supplying water to the reactor vessel, electric motors driving the feedwater pumps and electric power converters connected to the electric motors is equipped with a flow rate controller and a trip compensation means. The flow rate... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20080031395 - Core spray apparatus and method for installing the same: A core spray T-box attachment assembly for a core spray nozzle includes a primary cruciform wedge and a secondary cruciform wedge in contact with the primary cruciform wedge to form a cruciform wedge subassembly adapted for insertion within a bore of the core spray nozzle to sealingly engage an interior... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080031397 - Fuel basket spacer, apparatus and method using the same for storing high level radioactive waste: A fuel basket spacer, and system and method using the same for storing high level radioactive waste. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials having a residual heat load comprising: a body having an inner surface that forms a cavity for receiving radioactive... Agent: Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-cohen LLP

20080031396 - Spent fuel basket, apparatus and method using the same for storing high level radioactive waste: A fuel basket apparatus, system and method for storing high level radioactive waste. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus suitable for transporting and/or storing spent nuclear fuel rods comprising: a basket formed from a honeycomb-like gridwork of plates arranged in a rectilinear configuration, the gridwork of plates forming... Agent: Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-cohen LLP

20080031398 - Use of boron or enriched boron 10 in uo2: The present invention provides a plurality of fuel rods (10A-10D) containing fuel for use in nuclear fuel assembly (17), where an actinide-boron-containing compound or compounds (6B-6E) is used as a burnable poison and is distributed in the actinide fuel in a majority of fuel containing rods (10A-10C) in the assembly,... Agent: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC

20080031399 - Method for operating a nuclear reactor and use of a specific fuel rod cladding alloy in order to reduce damage caused by pellet/cladding interaction: A method for operating a nuclear reactor in order to produce electricity, such that the reactor is controlled so that, during a transient power occurrence for at least one of: a linear power density of the nuclear fuel rod remains lower than a limit linear power density, the limit linear... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP