61 patents
Page 3 of 4
Utility
Apparatus and method for safety analysis evaluation with data-driven workflow
27 Apr 21
An apparatus and method for system safety analysis evaluation is provided, the apparatus including processing circuitry configured for generating a calculation matrix for a system, generating a plurality of models based on the calculation matrix, performing a benchmarking or convolution analysis of the plurality of models, identifying a design envelope based on the benchmarking or convolution analysis, deriving uncertainty models from the benchmarking or convolution analysis, deriving an assessment judgment based on the uncertainty models and acceptance criteria, defining one or more limiting scenarios based on the design envelope, and determining a safety margin in at least one figure-of-merit for the system based on the design envelope and the acceptance criteria.
Robert P. Martin, Simone H. Morgan
Filed: 22 Dec 15
Utility
Self-supporting radial neutron reflector
27 Apr 21
A nuclear reactor core comprising fissile material is surrounded by a core former.
Andrew C. Whitten, Matthew W. Ales, Michael J. Edwards
Filed: 30 Apr 18
Utility
Apparatus and method for baffle bolt repair
6 Apr 21
A bolt repair platform includes a frame and a tool module.
Benjamin D. Fisher, Thomas A. Pritchett, Shant Daghlian, Andrew T. Pace, Douglas M. Lawrence, Nicholas Johnson, Jerry Cooper, Christopher J. Farrell
Filed: 8 Mar 18
Utility
PWR decay heat removal system in which steam from the pressurizer drives a turbine which drives a pump to inject water into the reactor pressure vessel
16 Mar 21
In conjunction with a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and a pressurizer configured to control pressure in the reactor pressure vessel, a decay heat removal system comprises a pressurized passive condenser, a turbine-driven pump connected to suction water from at least one water source into the reactor pressure vessel; and steam piping configured to deliver steam from the pressurizer to the turbine to operate the pump and to discharge the delivered steam into the pressurized passive condenser.
Thomas G. Graham
Filed: 24 Jul 20
Utility
CRDM internal electrical connector and method of use thereof
9 Mar 21
A method including providing an internal control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) including an electric motor and a support surface including sealed electrical connectors electrically connected with the electric motor to deliver electrical power to the electrical motor, installing the internal CRDM inside a nuclear reactor, the installing including placing the support surface of the internal CRDM onto a support element inside the nuclear reactor, the placing causing sealed electrical connectors disposed on the support element to mate with the sealed electrical connectors on the support surface of the internal CRDM, wherein the nuclear reactor contains coolant water and the installing is performed with the internal CRDM submerged in the coolant water and the seals of the sealed electrical connectors of the internal CRDM and the support element are effective to prevent coolant water ingress into the sealed electrical connectors.
Scott J. Shargots, Matthew W. Ales, Michael S. Berthold
Filed: 5 Mar 18
Utility
Shipping container for unirradiated nuclear fuel assemblies
9 Feb 21
A shipping container comprises a tubular or cylindrical shell having a closed end and an open end, a top end-cap removably secured to the open end of the tubular or cylindrical shell, and at least one fuel assembly compartment defined inside the shell.
David M. Minor, Laurence L. Losh, Elbert C. Minnick, III, Charles Sanders
Filed: 27 Nov 17
Utility
Alternating offset U-bend support arrangement
26 Jan 21
Arrangement for supporting U-bend tube sections in the high heat environment of steam generators using flat bars.
Kareem M. A. Aly
Filed: 21 Jul 20
Utility
Pressurized water reactor with upper vessel section providing both pressure and flow control
12 Jan 21
A pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes a vertical cylindrical pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core and a vessel head defining an integral pressurizer.
Scott J. Shargots
Filed: 6 Jul 18
Utility
Nuclear reactor refueling methods and apparatuses
28 Dec 20
Refueling of a nuclear reactor (40) includes removing a fuel assembly (10).
Lewis A. Walton, Matthew W. Ales
Filed: 21 Nov 19
Utility
Nuclear reactor support and seismic restraint with core retention cooling features
2 Nov 20
A nuclear island includes a nuclear reactor, a lateral seismic restraint, and a reactor core retention cooling system.
Tyler A. Edwards, Michael J. Edwards
Filed: 13 Aug 17
Utility
Compact nuclear reactor with integral steam generator
12 Oct 20
In an illustrative embodiment, a pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) includes a pressure vessel (12, 14, 16), a nuclear reactor core (10) disposed in the pressure vessel, and a vertically oriented hollow central riser (36) disposed above the nuclear reactor core inside the pressure vessel.
Robert T. Fortino, Matthew W. Ales, Nick Idvorian
Filed: 15 May 16
Utility
Environmentally robust electromagnets and electric motors employing same for use in nuclear reactors
7 Sep 20
An electromagnet comprises a plurality of nested freestanding electrically insulating former layers, and electrically conductive wire wrapped around the outsides of the freestanding electrically insulating former layers to define a multilayer electrical coil in which adjacent layers of the multilayer electrical coil are spaced apart by intervening freestanding electrically insulating former layers.
Brett T. Goodyear, Robert W. Emond, William H. Yeadon
Filed: 24 May 18
Utility
Spacer grid welding fixture
31 Aug 20
A spacer grid welding fixture comprises a frame sized to receive an assembled spacer grid comprising a first set of parallel straps and a second set of parallel straps oriented orthogonally to the first set of parallel straps, the first and second sets of parallel straps interlocked together by slots cut into the straps.
Roger D. Ridgeway, Jeffrey W. Austin, Jeffrey T. Lee
Filed: 13 Mar 14
Utility
Apparatus and method for inspection of a film on a substrate
31 Aug 20
Methods of and apparatus for inspecting composite layers of a first material formed on a second material are provided including providing an illumination source, illuminating at least a portion of the composite at the layer, receiving light reflected from the sample, determining a spectral response from the received light, and comparing the received spectral response to an expected spectral response.
Aaron C. Havener, James D. Jogerst, Thomas C. Mohr, Keith B. Rider
Filed: 25 Feb 19
Utility
PWR decay heat removal system in which steam from the pressurizer drives a turbine which drives a pump to inject water into the reactor pressure vessel
27 Jul 20
In conjunction with a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and a pressurizer configured to control pressure in the reactor pressure vessel, a decay heat removal system comprises a pressurized passive condenser, a turbine-driven pump connected to suction water from at least one water source into the reactor pressure vessel; and steam piping configured to deliver steam from the pressurizer to the turbine to operate the pump and to discharge the delivered steam into the pressurized passive condenser.
Thomas G. Graham
Filed: 28 Aug 17
Utility
Passive techniques for long-term reactor cooling
20 Jul 20
In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel.
John D. Malloy, III, Billy E. Bingham, Ronald C. Watson, Jason G. Williams, Matthew W. Ales, James B. Inman, Sean M. Boyle
Filed: 16 Mar 14
Utility
Pellet handling apparatus and fuel rod loading method
20 Jul 20
A pellet magazine includes a plurality of pellet bores sized to receive pellets for loading into a fuel rod.
Jeffrey T. Lee, Earl B. Barger
Filed: 12 Mar 14
Utility
Passive integral isolation valve
1 Jun 20
A valve assembly includes a flange connected to a vessel penetration of a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor.
John D. Malloy, III
Filed: 6 Oct 15
Utility
Control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) mounting method for pressurized water reactors
20 Apr 20
A standoff supporting a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) in a nuclear reactor is connected to a distribution plate which provides electrical power and hydraulics.
Scott J. Shargots
Filed: 29 Oct 17
Utility
Control rod/control rod drive mechanism couplings
23 Mar 20
A nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel, and a control rod assembly including at least one movable control rod comprising a neutron absorbing material, a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) for controlling movement of the at least one control rod, and a coupling operatively connecting the at least one control rod and the CRDM.
Scott J. Shargots, Paul K. DeSantis, John P. McLaughlin, Mathew W. Ales
Filed: 8 May 16