Patents by Inventor Edward Mckenna, III

Edward Mckenna, III 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).

  • HIGH DENSITY U02 AND HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY UO2 COMPOSITES BY SPARK PLASMA SINTERING (SPS)
    Publication number: 20220270768
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UO2 and a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Ghatu Subhash, Ronald Howard Baney, James S. Tulenko, Edward Mckenna, III, Lihao Ge, Sunghwan Yeo
  • High density UO2 and high thermal conductivity UO2 composites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)
    Patent number: 11410782
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UO2 and a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Ghatu Subhash, Ronald Howard Baney, James S. Tulenko, Edward McKenna, III, Lihao Ge, Sunghwan Yeo
  • High density UOand high thermal conductivity UOcomposites by spark plasma sintering (SPS)
    Patent number: 10790065
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UO2 and a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ghatu Subhash, Ronald Howard Baney, James S. Tulenko, Edward McKenna, III, Lihao Ge, Sunghwan Yeo
  • HIGH DENSITY U02 AND HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY UO2 COMPOSITES BY SPARK PLASMA SINTERING (SPS)
    Publication number: 20150221398
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for production of a nuclear fuel pellet by spark plasma sintering (SPS), wherein a fuel pellet with more than 80% TD or more than 90% TD is formed. The SPS can be performed with the imposition of a controlled uniaxial pressure applied at the maximum temperature of the processing to achieve a very high density, in excess of 95% TD, at temperatures of 850 to 1600° C. The formation of a fuel pellet can be carried out in one hour or less. In an embodiment of the invention, a nuclear fuel pellet comprises UO2 and a highly thermally conductive material, such as SiC or diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Ghatu Subhash, Ronald Howard Baney, James S. Tulenko, Edward Mckenna, III, Lihao Ge, Sunghwan Yeo