Patents by Inventor John Rogers Gilleland
John Rogers Gilleland 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: 11482344Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, Thomas M. Burke, Tyler S. Ellis, John Rogers Gilleland, Jonatan Hejzlar, Pavel Hejzlar, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 10186333Abstract: A traveling wave nuclear fission reactor, fuel assembly, and a method of controlling burnup therein. In a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor, a nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly comprises a plurality of nuclear fission fuel rods that are exposed to a deflagration wave burnfront that, in turn, travels through the fuel rods. The excess reactivity is controlled by a plurality of movable neutron absorber structures that are selectively inserted into and withdrawn from the fuel assembly in order to control the excess reactivity and thus the location, speed and shape of the burnfront. Controlling location, speed and shape of the burnfront manages neutron fluence seen by fuel assembly structural materials in order to reduce risk of temperature and irradiation damage to the structural materials.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20170301412Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, Thomas M. Burke, Tyler S. Ellis, John Rogers Gilleland, Jonatan Hejzlar, Pavel Hejzlar, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9793014Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide nuclear fission fuel elements, and systems, applications, apparatuses, and methods related thereto. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, nuclear fission fuel elements, heat pipe assemblies, heat pipes, methods of fabricating a nuclear fission fuel element, methods of fabricating a heat pipe assembly, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 9734922Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor modules, methods of operating a modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Ashok Odedra
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Patent number: 9721679Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly adapted to permit expansion of the nuclear fuel contained therein. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure having enclosure walls to sealingly enclose a nuclear fuel foam defining a plurality of interconnected open-cell voids or a plurality of closed-cell voids. The voids permit expansion of the foam toward the voids, which expansion may be due to heat generation and/or fission gas release. The voids shrink or reduce in volume as the foam expands. Pressure on the enclosure walls is substantially reduced because the foam expands toward and even into the voids rather than against the enclosure walls. Thus, the voids provide space into which the foam can expand.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 9704604Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2009Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9677147Abstract: Illustrative methods are provided for annealing nuclear fission reactor materials, such as without limitation, a nuclear fission reactor core or fuel assembly or components thereof within the nuclear core. Annealing a metallic component of a nuclear fission reactor within the reactor core may include determining an annealing temperature for at least a portion of at least one metallic component of a nuclear fission fuel assembly of the reactor. The temperature of the core may be adjusted to affect the determined annealing temperature, which in some cases may be greater than the predetermined operating temperature range of the nuclear fission fuel assembly. The portion of the at least one metallic component of the nuclear fission fuel assembly is annealed within the core at the annealing temperature range.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon David McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Clarence T. Tegreene, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9659673Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2009Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9653187Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, Thomas M. Burke, Tyler S. Ellis, John Rogers Gilleland, Jonatan Hejzlar, Pavel Hejzlar, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9443623Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9401228Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, Thomas M. Burke, Tyler S. Ellis, John Rogers Gilleland, Jonatan Hejzlar, Pavel Hejzlar, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Publication number: 20160196883Abstract: A traveling wave nuclear fission reactor, fuel assembly, and a method of controlling burnup therein. In a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor, a nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly comprises a plurality of nuclear fission fuel rods that are exposed to a deflagration wave burnfront that, in turn, travels through the fuel rods. The excess reactivity is controlled by a plurality of movable neutron absorber structures that are selectively inserted into and withdrawn from the fuel assembly in order to control the excess reactivity and thus the location, speed and shape of the burnfront. Controlling location, speed and shape of the burnfront manages neutron fluence seen by fuel assembly structural materials in order to reduce risk of temperature and irradiation damage to the structural materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9362010Abstract: In response to a change in a thermal operational parameter in a nuclear fission reactor, reactivity is controlled by driving a neutron absorption parameter modifying material to or from a region of the core of the nuclear fission reactor. The apparatus includes a driver material disposed in a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion of a first reservoir and connected by a first conduit. A high-Z material may be distributed in the driver material. The neutron absorption parameter modifying material is disposed in both a second reservoir and the second reservoir portion of the first reservoir. A portion of the neutron absorption parameter modifying material is in physical contact with a portion of the driver material in the second reservoir portion. The neutron absorption parameter modifying material is driveable by the driver material between the second reservoir portion and the second reservoir through a second conduit.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Robert A. Corbin, Michael E. Garrett, John Rogers Gilleland, Pavel Hejzlar, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Johnson, Yu-Chih Ko, Jon D. McWhirter, Robert C. Petroski, K. Michael Steer, Bao H. Truong, James M. Vollmer, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver
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Patent number: 9281083Abstract: A traveling wave nuclear fission reactor, fuel assembly, and a method of controlling burnup therein. In a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor, a nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly comprises a plurality of nuclear fission fuel rods that are exposed to a deflagration wave burnfront that, in turn, travels through the fuel rods. The excess reactivity is controlled by a plurality of movable neutron absorber structures that are selectively inserted into and withdrawn from the fuel assembly in order to control the excess reactivity and thus the location, speed and shape of the burnfront. Controlling location, speed and shape of the burnfront manages neutron fluence seen by fuel assembly structural materials in order to reduce risk of temperature and irradiation damage to the structural materials.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9275759Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor modules, methods of operating a modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Ashok Odedra
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Patent number: 9236150Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include nuclear fission reactor cores, nuclear fission reactors, methods of operating a nuclear fission reactor, and methods of managing excess reactivity in a nuclear fission reactor.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, Thomas M. Burke, Tyler S. Ellis, John Rogers Gilleland, Jonatan Hejzlar, Pavel Hejzlar, Roderick A. Hyde, David G. McAlees, Jon D. McWhirter, Ashok Odedra, Robert C. Petroski, Nicholas W. Touran, Joshua C. Walter, Kevan D. Weaver, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman
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Patent number: 9230695Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide nuclear fission igniters for nuclear fission reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, a nuclear fission igniter configured to ignite a nuclear fission deflagration wave in nuclear fission fuel material, a nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor with a nuclear fission igniter, a method of igniting a nuclear fission deflagration wave, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
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Patent number: 9214246Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors and methods for their operation. Illustrative embodiments and aspects include, without limitation, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactors, modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor modules, methods of operating a modular nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Ashok Odedra
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Patent number: 9159461Abstract: A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2009Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLCInventors: Charles E. Ahlfeld, John Rogers Gilleland, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, David G. McAlees, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas Allan Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Victoria Y. H. Wood, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., George B. Zimmerman