Patents by Inventor George Nicolaou

George Nicolaou 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).

  • Method for the destruction of plutonium by irradiation in a light water reactor
    Patent number: 5966418
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the destruction of plutonium (Pu) by irradiation in a light water reactor (LWR). According to the invention Pu is mixed with highly enriched uranium (U) in roughly equal weight proportion rates. This mixture is embedded in an inert matrix of a material whose components have an atomic number significantly lower than 92. LWR fuel pins are then produced therefrom and these pins are inserted in a LWR in place of certain normal LWR fuel pins. The irradiation time of the fuel pins containing Pu is significantly longer than that of said normal pins. The irradiation is preferably repeated after about 200 years without any reprocessing of the spent fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: European Atomic Energy Community
    Inventors: Joseph Magill, Hansjoachim Matzke, George Nicolaou, Paolo Peerani, Jacques Van Geel