Patents by Inventor Ryan T. SWANSON
Ryan T. SWANSON 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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Publication number: 20230326618Abstract: Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material, the interior surface of which is lined in higher temperature regions with an insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material. A continuous insulation layer extends the length of the fuel assembly or separate insulation layer sections have a thickness increasing step-wise along the length of the fuel assembly from upper (inlet) section towards bottom (outlet) section. Fuel element positioned inward of the insulation layer and between support meshes has a fuel composition including HALEU and the form of a plurality of individual elongated fuel bodies or one or more fuel monolith bodies containing coolant flow channels. Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block, with upper end of the outer structural member attached to an inlet for propellant and lower end of the outer structural member operatively interfaced with a nozzle forming a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicants: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. BARRINGER, Russell R. JENSEN, Jeremy L. GUSTAFSON, Matt ALES, Joshua J. BERGMAN, Ryan T. SWANSON, Jonathan K. WITTER, Danny GALICKI, James B. INMAN, Matt KRECICKI, Roger RIDGEWAY
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Publication number: 20230317305Abstract: Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material (e.g., SiC—SiC composite), insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material (e.g., zirconium carbide with open-cell foam structure or fibrous zirconium carbide), and interior structural member of refractory ceramic-graphite composite material (e.g., zirconium carbide-graphite or niobium carbide-graphite). Spacer structures between various layers provide a defined and controlled spacing relationship. A fuel element bundle positioned between support meshes includes a plurality of distributively arranged fuel elements or a solid, unitary fuel element with coolant channels, each having a fuel composition including high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicants: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. BARRINGER, Russell R. JENSEN, Jeremy L. GUSTAFSON, Matt ALES, Joshua J. BERGMAN, Ryan T. SWANSON, Jonathan K. WITTER, Danny GALICKI, James B. INMAN, Matt KRECICKI, Roger RIDGEWAY
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Patent number: 11728044Abstract: Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material, the interior surface of which is lined in higher temperature regions with an insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material. Continuous insulation layer extends the length of the fuel assembly or separate insulation layer sections have a thickness increasing step-wise along the length of the fuel assembly from upper (inlet) section towards bottom (outlet) section. A fuel element positioned inward of the insulation layer and between support meshes has a fuel composition including HALEU and the form of a plurality of individual elongated fuel bodies or one or more fuel monolith bodies containing coolant flow channels. Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block, with upper end of the outer structural member attached to an inlet for propellant and lower end of the outer structural member operatively interfaced with a nozzle forming a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignees: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. Barringer, Russell R. Jensen, Jeremy L. Gustafson, Matt Ales, Joshua J. Bergman, Ryan T. Swanson, Jonathan K. Witter, Danny Galicki, James B. Inman, Matt Krecicki, Roger Ridgeway
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Patent number: 11710578Abstract: Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material (e.g., SiC—SiC composite), insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material (e.g., zirconium carbide with open-cell foam structure or fibrous zirconium carbide), and interior structural member of refractory ceramic-graphite composite material (e.g., zirconium carbide-graphite or niobium carbide-graphite). Spacer structures between various layers provide a defined and controlled spacing relationship. A fuel element bundle positioned between support meshes includes a plurality of distributively arranged fuel elements or a solid, unitary fuel element with coolant channels, each having a fuel composition including high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignees: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. Barringer, Russell R. Jensen, Jeremy L. Gustafson, Matt Ales, Joshua J. Bergman, Ryan T. Swanson, Jonathan K. Witter, Danny Galicki, James B. Inman, Matt Krecicki, Roger Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20220115152Abstract: Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material (e.g., SiC—SiC composite), insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material (e.g., zirconium carbide with open-cell foam structure or fibrous zirconium carbide), and interior structural member of refractory ceramic-graphite composite material (e.g., zirconium carbide-graphite or niobium carbide-graphite). Spacer structures between various layers provide a defined and controlled spacing relationship. A fuel element bundle positioned between support meshes includes a plurality of distributively arranged fuel elements or a solid, unitary fuel element with coolant channels, each having a fuel composition including high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicants: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. BARRINGER, Russell R. JENSEN, Jeremy L. GUSTAFSON, Matt ALES, Joshua J. BERGMAN, Ryan T. SWANSON, Jonathan K. WITTER, Danny GALICKI, James B. INMAN, Matt KRECICKI, Roger RIDGEWAY
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Publication number: 20220115149Abstract: Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material, the interior surface of which is lined in higher temperature regions with an insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material. A continuous insulation layer extends the length of the fuel assembly or separate insulation layer sections have a thickness increasing step-wise along the length of the fuel assembly from upper (inlet) section towards bottom (outlet) section. A fuel element positioned inward of the insulation layer and between support meshes has a fuel composition including HALEU and has the form of a plurality of individual elongated fuel bodies or one or more fuel monolith bodies containing coolant flow channels. Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block, with upper end of the outer structural member attached to an inlet for propellant and lower end of the outer structural member operatively interfaced with a nozzle forming a NTP reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicants: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.Inventors: Eric A. BARRINGER, Russell R. JENSEN, Jeremy L. GUSTAFSON, Matt ALES, Joshua J. BERGMAN, Ryan T. SWANSON, Jonathan K. WITTER, Danny GALICKI, James B. INMAN, Matt KRECICKI, Roger RIDGEWAY