Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Monetta
Christopher J. Monetta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9362009Abstract: An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Michael S. DeFilippis
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Patent number: 9202598Abstract: A fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor core is provided. The fuel bundle may include a plurality of rods comprised of nuclear fuel rods and/or isotope production rods. Each rod includes a plurality of interconnected rod segments, wherein at least two of the rod segments of at least one rod have different outside diameters. The fuel bundle may additionally include a plurality of rod spacer grids securely retained between axially adjacent, interconnected rod segments. The rod spacer grids interconnected between axially adjacent rod segments form an array of substantially equally spaced rods. The fuel bundle may further include an elongate tubular channel in which the arrayed rods are housed.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, John D. Fuller, Lukas Trosman, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Robert Bryant James
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Patent number: 9196390Abstract: In one embodiment, an irradiation target encapsulation assembly, includes a container, at least one first irradiation target disposed in the container, at least one second irradiation target disposed in the container, and a positioning structure configured to position the first irradiation target closer to an axial center of the container than the second irradiation target.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: Bradley D. Bloomquist, Christopher J. Monetta, Earl F. Saito
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Patent number: 9165691Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to materials useable as burnable poisons in nuclear reactors, components using the same, and methods of using the same. Example embodiment burnable poison materials produce desired daughter products as they burn out, thereby permitting placement and use for neutronic characteristic improvement and/or neutron flux shielding in locations conventionally barred as uneconomical. Example embodiment burnable poison materials may include natural iridium and enriched iridium-193. Example embodiment components may be fabricated, shaped, and placed to provide desired burnable poison effects in the reactor core in conventional locations and locations not conventionally used due to economic infeasibility.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Lukas Trosman
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Patent number: 8842798Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for producing radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable from nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, Christopher J. Monetta, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski
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Patent number: 8842800Abstract: Example embodiments may include a nuclear fuel rod and/or segment design using fuel element spacers. Fuel element spacers may be placed at intervals within fuel rods and/or segments in order to manipulate operating characteristics of the fuel rods and/or segments and/or decrease consequences of fretting of the fuel rod and/or segment. Example methods may include using fuel rods and/or segments having fuel element spacing elements by adjusting intervals of the spacing elements so as to affect the mechanical, neutronic, and/or thermal properties of the fuel rod and/or segment.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, David Grey Smith
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Publication number: 20130223578Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for producing radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable from nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventors: William Earl RUSSELL, II, Christopher J. MONETTA, David Grey SMITH, Russell Edward STACHOWSKI
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Patent number: 8437443Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for producing radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable from nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski
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Publication number: 20130077725Abstract: In one embodiment, an irradiation target encapsulation assembly, includes a container, at least one first irradiation target disposed in the container, at least one second irradiation target disposed in the container, and a positioning structure configured to position the first irradiation target closer to an axial center of the container than the second irradiation target.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: Bradley D. Bloomquist, Christopher J. Monetta, Earl F. Saito
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Publication number: 20100266095Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to materials useable as burnable poisons in nuclear reactors, components using the same, and methods of using the same. Example embodiment burnable poison materials produce desired daughter products as they burn out, thereby permitting placement and use for neutronic characteristic improvement and/or neutron flux shielding in locations conventionally barred as uneconomical. Example embodiment burnable poison materials may include natural iridium and enriched iridium-193. Example embodiment components may be fabricated, shaped, and placed to provide desired burnable poison effects in the reactor core in conventional locations and locations not conventionally used due to economic infeasibility.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Lukas Trosman
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Publication number: 20090213977Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for producing radioisotopes in instrumentation tubes of operating commercial nuclear reactors. Irradiation targets may be inserted and removed from instrumentation tubes during operation and converted to radioisotopes otherwise unavailable from nuclear reactors. Example apparatuses may continuously insert, remove, and store irradiation targets to be converted to useable radioisotopes.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, David Grey Smith, Russell Edward Stachowski
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Publication number: 20090135989Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to a fuel rod design using segmented fuel rods that mechanically confine spacer plates to constant axial positions. Example embodiment spacer plates may be placed at axial connection points between fuel rod segments, and, when the fuel rod segments are mated, example embodiment spacer plates may be mechanically held by the mating.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Carlton Wayne Clark, Robert Bryant James, David Grey Smith
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Publication number: 20090135988Abstract: A fuel bundle for a nuclear reactor core is provided. The fuel bundle may include a plurality of rods comprised of nuclear fuel rods and/or isotope production rods. Each rod includes a plurality of interconnected rod segments, wherein at least two of the rod segments of at least one rod have different outside diameters. The fuel bundle may additionally include a plurality of rod spacer grids securely retained between axially adjacent, interconnected rod segments. The rod spacer grids interconnected between axially adjacent rod segments form an array of substantially equally spaced rods. The fuel bundle may further include an elongate tubular channel in which the arrayed rods are housed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, John D. Fuller, Lukas Trosman, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Robert Bryant James
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Publication number: 20090135987Abstract: Example embodiments may include a nuclear fuel rod and/or segment design using fuel element spacers. Fuel element spacers may be placed at intervals within fuel rods and/or segments in order to manipulate operating characteristics of the fuel rods and/or segments and/or decrease consequences of fretting of the fuel rod and/or segment. Example methods may include using fuel rods and/or segments having fuel element spacing elements by adjusting intervals of the spacing elements so as to affect the mechanical, neutronic, and/or thermal properties of the fuel rod and/or segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Inventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, David Grey Smith
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Publication number: 20090135983Abstract: An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: William Earl Russell, II, Christopher J. Monetta, Russell Patrick Higgins, Vernon W. Mills, David Grey Smith, Carlton Wayne Clark, Michael S. DeFilippis