Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements inventions 05/08

20080123793 - Thermal power production device utilizing nanoscale confinement: Disclosed herein is a device for generating thermal energy through a nuclear transmutation reaction when a hydrogen containing fuel comes into contact with a nanotube containing element in a reaction vessel for containing the nuclear transmutation reaction. The device further includes an energy absorption vessel containing an energy absorption fluid... Agent: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

20080123794 - Systems and methods of predicting a critical effective k for a nuclear reactor: Systems and methods for a method for determining a critical effective k at an off-rated core state of a nuclear power plant includes determining, for the off-rated core state a control rod density, a percent core power, a gadolinium reactivity worth, a doppler reactivity worth, and a xenon reactivity worth... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080123795 - Controllable long term operation of a nuclear reactor: Exemplary embodiments provide automated nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Exemplary embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, re-use of nuclear fission fuel, alternate fuels and fuel geometries, modular fuel cores, fast fluid cooling, variable burn-up, programmable nuclear thermostats, fast flux irradiation, temperature-driven surface area/volume ratio neutron absorption, low... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080123797 - Automated nuclear power reactor for long-term operation: Exemplary embodiments provide automated nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Exemplary embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, re-use of nuclear fission fuel, alternate fuels and fuel geometries, modular fuel cores, fast fluid cooling, variable burn-up, programmable nuclear thermostats, fast flux irradiation, temperature-driven surface area/volume ratio neutron absorption, low... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080123796 - Method and system for providing fuel in a nuclear reactor: Exemplary embodiments provide automated nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Exemplary embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, re-use of nuclear fission fuel, alternate fuels and fuel geometries, modular fuel cores, fast fluid cooling, variable burn-up, programmable nuclear thermostats, fast flux irradiation, temperature-driven surface area/volume ratio neutron absorption, low... Agent: Searete LLC Clarence T. Tegreene

20080123798 - Storage device for storing and/or transporting nuclear fuel assemblies: The invention relates to a storage device (1) for the storing and/or transporting of nuclear fuel assemblies, including a plurality of adjacent housings each having a lateral wall and being able to receive a nuclear fuel assembly, the lateral walls being realised at least in part using stacking and intercrossing... Agent: Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP

20080118018 - Reactor tube apparatus: A reactor tube apparatus for a gas and liquid reactor, particularly for use in a Fischer-Tropsch process is disclosed. The apparatus comprises modified reactor tubes for use with a gas cap. Preferred embodiments of the reactor tubes have a slit or aperture which allows a limited amount of liquid to... Agent: Shell Oil Company

20080118019 - Rod spacer grid for a nuclear fuel assembly, and a corresponding assembly: A grid (13) for supporting nuclear fuel pencils (3) for a nuclear fuel assembly (1) comprising a peripheral belt (17), the peripheral belt (17) comprising on at least one of its edges (35, 37) guide fins (33) is disclosed. The edge (35, 37) of the peripheral belt (17) has between... Agent: Davidson, Davidson & Kappel, Llc

20080112527 - Apparatus and method for ignition of high-gain thermonuclear microexplosions with electric-pulse power: An apparatus for generating thermonuclear microexplosions includes a first pulsed high-voltage source configured for transmission of a first high-voltage pulse at a first high current. A second pulsed high voltage source is configured for transmission of a second high-voltage pulse at a potential higher than that of the first high-voltage... Agent: Klarquist Sparkman, LLP

20080112528 - Chemonuclear fusion reaction generating method and chemonuclear fusion energy generating apparatus: In the present invention, in order to enhance the thermodynamic force, molecule ions or ion clusters of hydrogen, helium, lithium, helium hydride, lithium hydride, boron or the like withdrawn from an ion source (3) or produced by discharge within a reaction vessel (8) are accelerated to implant the molecule ions... Agent: Boyle Fredrickson S.c.

20080112529 - Fuel assembly nozzleless handling tool and method: A device and method to move a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, wherein the device eliminates the potential for dropping the fuel assembly due to stress corrosion cracking of the upper guide thimble sleeves that attach the top nozzle to guide thimbles.... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080112530 - Core spray sparger t-box attachment and clamp and method for clamping: A core spray sparger T-box clamp for a sparger T-box in a shroud of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel, the sparger T-box clamp including: an anchor plate substantially aligned with a closed end of the T-box; a carrier plate slidably secured to an upper side the anchor plate and latched... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye P.c.

20080107224 - Method of controlling temperature of nonthermal nuclear fusion fuel in nonthermal nuclear fusion reaction generating method: A method of controlling a temperature of nonthermal nuclear fusion fuel, wherein materials of low boiling point are added as a coolant to a nonthermal nuclear fusion fuel mixed with liquid lithium (02), or nuclear fusion materials fused into liquid lithium (02), and rapid elevation in temperature of a local... Agent: Boyle Fredrickson S.c.

20080107225 - On-line calibration system for redundant temperature sensors: Automated plant instrumentation system for cross calibration based on data stored by a plant computer and data storage unit or a plant monitoring system. The automated system includes a processor executing software for retrieving data, determining average temperatures, determining deviations, and determining new calibration curve coefficients for deviating instruments. In... Agent: Knox Patents

20080107226 - Thermal load reducing system for nuclear reactor vessel: In a reactor vessel thermal load reducing system near the surface level of a coolant, the present invention is characterized in that a heat conductive member is installed not contacting the reactor vessel wall in an area above and below the coolant liquid surface, and the heat conducting member is... Agent: Westerman, Hattori, Daniels & Adrian, LLP

20080107227 - Jet pump diffuser weld repair device and method: A jet pump diffuser weld repair device includes a lower ring section and an upper ring section respectively sized to fit around a circumference of the diffuser on opposite sides of the weld to be repaired. The lower and upper ring sections are provided with a plurality of aligned gripper... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye P.c.

20080107228 - Method of manufacture of noble metal/zinc oxide hybrid product for simultaneous dose reduction and scc mitigation of nuclear power plants: Composite particle comprising a zinc containing compound such as zinc oxide and a noble metal such a platinum, and process for fabrication thereof. The particles facilitate simultaneous controlled introduction of the zinc and noble metal species into a nuclear reactor.... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, Pc

20080101527 - Removal of niobium second phase particle deposits from pickled zirconium-niobium alloys: The present invention provides a method for removing niobium-rich second-phase-particle (SPP) deposits from zirconium-niobium alloy components. The method comprises washing a freshly pickled and rinsed zirconium-niobium alloy component with an acidified oxalic acid or ammonium oxalate washing solution. The method of the present invention results in a rapid, efficient and... Agent: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC

20080101528 - Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor: A fuel assembly of a boiling water reactor contains a fuel assembly base closed at the top by a filter plate, a fuel assembly head, and, disposed between them, a bundle of long and medium-length fuel rods extending away from the fuel assembly base. A water channel is disposed inside... Agent: Lerner Greenberg Stemer LLP