With Propulsion Means Patents (Class 376/318)
  • Patent number: 11846304
    Abstract: A high pressure engine propulsion system, such as a rocket engine, having improved engine performance is described herein. A liquid propellant, such as liquid oxygen, is paramagnetic. Cavitation bubbles of the liquid propellant can form in an inducer tunnel of a turbopump when the pressure in the turbopump inlet drops below the vapor pressure of the liquid propellant. The turbopump includes a magnetic field source external to the inducer tunnel to generate or provide a steady magnetic field across or through the inducer tunnel. The steady magnetic field interacts with the paramagnetic propellant, thereby reducing or eliminating cavitation bubble growth, causing cavitation bubbles to collapse, retaining cavitation bubbles within the inducer tunnel, the like, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Joyce, Saleh Tyzoon Tyebjee, Ivan Victorovich Klimov, Zachary Daniel Rizzolo
  • Patent number: 11437156
    Abstract: Fission reactor has a shell encompassing a reactor space within which are a central longitudinal channel, a plurality of axially extending rings with adjacent rings defining an annular cylindrical space in which a first plurality of primary axial tubes are circumferential located. Circumferentially adjacent primary axial tubes are separated by one of the plurality of secondary channels and a plurality of webbings connects at least a portion of the plurality of primary axial tubes to adjacent structure. A fissionable nuclear fuel composition is located in at least some of the plurality of secondary channels and a primary coolant passes thorough at least some of the primary axial tubes. Additive and/or subtractive manufacturing techniques produce an integral and unitary structure for the fuel loaded reactor space. During manufacturing and as-built, the reactor design can be analyzed using a computational platform that integrates and analyzes data from in-situ monitoring during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Russell, II, Joshua J. Bergman, Jonathan W. Cirtain, Craig D. Gramlich, James B. Inman, Matthew P. Levasseur, Joseph K. Miller, Ryan Z. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 11417437
    Abstract: Passive reactivity control technologies that enable reactivity control of a nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) system with little to no active mechanical movement of circumferential control drums. By minimizing or eliminating the need for mechanical movement of the circumferential control drums during an NTP burn, the reactivity control technologies simplify controlling an NTP reactor and increase the overall performance of the NTP system. The reactivity control technologies mitigate and counteract the effects of xenon, the dominant fission product contributing to reactivity transients. Examples of reactivity control technologies include, employing burnable neutron poisons, tuning hydrogen pressure, adjusting wait time between burn cycles or merging burn cycles, and enhancement of temperature feedback mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation
    Inventors: Paolo Francesco Venneri, Michael John Eades
  • Patent number: 11158433
    Abstract: An internal interface structure of a nuclear thermal propulsion nuclear reactor including a reactor vessel and a reactor head, including a substantially cylindrical body having a top end, a bottom end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, and an annular flange extending radially-outwardly from the outer surface of the body, wherein the annular flange of the interface structure is mounted between an upper flange of the reactor vessel and a bottom flange of the reactor head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brian Inman, Andrew C. Whitten
  • Patent number: 10414520
    Abstract: A nuclear thermal propulsion rocket engine. A source of fissionable material such as plutonium is provided utilizing a carrier fluid having neutron moderating constituents, such as hydrogen and/or carbon, therein. A carrier fluid may be methane, or ethane, or a combination thereof. A neutron source is provided, such as from a neutron beam generator. Reactor design geometry provides containment of fissionable material in the reactor during acceleration. Collisions occur between neutrons and fissionable material injected by way of the carrier fluid. Impact of neutrons on fissionable material results in a nuclear fission in sub-critical mass reaction conditions in the reactor, resulting in release of heat energy to fluids provided to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HARDY ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Hardy, Jonathan Hardy, Anna E Hardy
  • Patent number: 10414521
    Abstract: A nuclear thermal propulsion rocket engine. A source of fissionable material is provided in a bed of fuel pebbles located in a reactor. A fluid having neutron moderating constituents, such as hydrogen and/or carbon, therein, is provided, which may be in the form of methane, or ethane, or a combination thereof, or may further include various isotopes of hydrogen. An external neutron source is provided using a neutron beam generator. Reactor design geometry provides containment of fissionable material, and for any byproducts of fission reactions, in the reactor during acceleration of the rocket. Impact of neutrons on fissionable material results in a nuclear fission reaction conditions in the reactor, resulting in release of heat energy to fluids provided to the reactor. The reactor is sized and shaped to contain fuel pebbles containing fissionable material, and to confine expandable fluids as they remove heat from fuel pebbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HARDY ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Hardy, Jonathan Hardy, Anna E Hardy
  • Patent number: 10123405
    Abstract: A first system for producing a high flux of neutrons for non-destructive testing includes a dense plasma focus device neutronically coupled to a subcritical or sub-prompt critical fission assembly. The dense plasma focus device is a source of initiating neutrons for the fission assembly, and the fission assembly is configured to multiply a number of the initiating neutrons via inducing fission. A second system for producing a high flux of neutrons includes a gas-target neutron generator neutronically coupled to a subcritical or sub-prompt critical fission assembly. The gas-target neutron generator is a source of initiating neutrons for the fission assembly, and the fission assembly is configured to multiply a number of the initiating neutrons via inducing fission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: PHOENIX LLC
    Inventors: Ross Radel, Dave Schneider, Eli Moll, David Ozburn, Evan Sengbusch, Logan Campbell
  • Patent number: 9793015
    Abstract: A containment vessel for containing a reactor pressure vessel, a reactor core, and a steam generator of a pressurized water reactor includes a main body equipped with a polar crane, a diaphragm set above the polar crane that partitions the main body, before and after a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), into an upper vessel including a dome part having an open space and a lower vessel isolated from the upper vessel, a pressure suppression chamber including a suppression pool that stores water and a gas phase in communication with the open space, a LOCA vent pipe connecting the suppression pool to the lower vessel, and a vacuum breaker that equalizes pressure by allowing gas flow from the upper to the lower vessel when a pressure difference between the upper and lower vessels exceeds a preset value. The lower vessel contains all equipment and piping constituting a reactor pressure boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi Sato, Junichiro Otonari, Yasunobu Fujiki, Takuya Miyagawa, Hisaki Sato
  • Patent number: 9180985
    Abstract: A fission based nuclear thermal propulsion rocket engine. An embodiment provides a source of fissionable material such as plutonium in a carrier gas such as deuterium. A neutron source is provided, such as from a neutron beam generator. By way of engine design geometry, various embodiments may provide for intersection of neutrons with the fissionable material injected by way of the carrier gas, while in a reactor provided in the form of a reaction chamber. Impact of neutrons on fissionable material results in a nuclear fission in sub-critical mass reaction conditions in the reactor, resulting in release of heat energy to the materials within the reactor. The reactor is sized and shaped to receive the reactants and an expandable fluid such as hydrogen, and to confine heated and pressurized gases for discharge out through a throat, into a rocket engine expansion nozzle for propulsive discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Hardy, Jonathan Hardy
  • Publication number: 20130259186
    Abstract: Disclosed is an interplanetary rocket propulsion to Mars and the Moons of the nearer outer Planets by means of 6000° K temperature, 100 atmosphere pressure, power generation and propulsion systems that utilize a gas cooled nuclear reactor and metal powder combustion, in combination with water wherein dissociation into oxygen to react with certain metals to form on board retained metal oxides, and to heat the hydrogen from dissociated water as well as on-board liquid hydrogen that is seeded with an alkali metal for use in a linear, Faraday magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator that is coaxial with a MHD accelerator for propulsion, wherein water and probable metal sources on planetary bodies would provide rocket fueling by metal oxide reprocessing to metal and for manned permanent life support bases, and for search of high value minerals, gold, silver, aluminum, rare minerals, diamonds, for transport with their lesser gravity back to Earth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: Bert ZAUDERER
  • Patent number: 6876714
    Abstract: A gas, e.g. hydrogen, at relatively low pressure is directly heated by the fission fragments (FF) emitted by a thin layer of fissile material, e.g. 242mAm, deposited on the inner wall of a chamber which is kept cooled at a typical temperature of about 1,000/1,500 K. The gas is preferably emitted as capillary flow from the walls of cylindrical tubes. Its temperature progressively increases until it reaches an equilibrium value of the order of 9,500 K, at which point FF heating and radiative cooling balance. With a relatively modest surface power density at the foil of 200 W/cm2, the specific, volume-averaged power given to the H gas may be as large as 0.66 MWatt/g. Heating powers up to megawatts for each gram of gas are therefore feasible with acceptable foil surface heating. The gas heating method can be used in rocket engines for deep space propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignees: Enea (Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie l'Energie el' Ambiente)
    Inventor: Carlo Rubbia
  • Patent number: 6707871
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor comprising a cylindrical pressure vessel, an elongated annular core centrally disposed within and spaced from the pressure vessel, and a plurality of ducts disposed longitudinally of the pressure vessel about the periphery thereof, said core comprising an annular active portion, an annular reflector just inside the active portion, and an annular reflector just outside the active a portion, said annular active portion comprising rectangular slab, porous fuel elements radially disposed around the inner reflector and extending the length of the active portion, wedge-shaped, porous moderator elements disposed adjacent one face of each fuel element and extending the length of the fuel element, the fuel and moderator elements being oriented so that the fuel elements face each other and the moderator elements do likewise, adjacent moderator elements being spaced to provide air inlet channels, and adjacent fuel elements being spaced to provide air outlet channels which communicate with the interior
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1962
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Wallace B. Thomson
  • Patent number: 6553212
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving loop stability and speed of a power control loop. Adjacent channel interference in the ramp-up and ramp-down (transient) of a TDMA burst is reduced. The present invention is used in a burst when the transient response and loop speed are important in the design of the control loop. The loop bandwidth variation resulting from linear conversion power detector and PIN diode RF attenuators in the loop is reduced by reducing the upper end of the loop bandwidth and increasing the lower end of the loop bandwidth. The upper limit of the loop bandwidth determines the loop stability and the lower limit of the loop bandwidth determines the minimum speed of the loop. A reference signal is sampled and processed to set a gain of a feedback loop in the power control loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Nokia Networks Oy
    Inventor: Chia-Sam Wey
  • Publication number: 20020085661
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a space vehicle is designed as a fully self-contained system which does not eject particles to effect the propulsion, referred to as a “reactionless drive”. Propulsion is effected by changing the mass of rings of charged particles by acceleration of the rings of charged particles to velocities near the speed of light and back to a rest or near rest speed in an oscillatory manner. While this is taking place, the charged particles are moved back-and-forth within a contained housing to impart thrust when the large mass particles are moved, and allowing the return of the low mass particles to the original starting place before imparting high velocity rotation to increase the mass of the particles. The average velocity is less than the actual velocity; so that if the vehicle is placed within a singularity, the singularity might travel faster than light without passing through a condition where the vehicle mass approaches infinite mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Dale J. Retter
  • Publication number: 20020080907
    Abstract: A gas, e.g. hydrogen, at relatively low pressure is directly heated by the fission fragments (FF) emitted by a thin layer of fissile material, e.g. 242m Am, deposited on the inner wall of a chamber which is kept cooled at a typical temperature of about {fraction (1,000/1,500)} K. The gas is preferably emitted as capillary flow from the walls of cylindrical tubes. Its temperature progressively increases until it reaches an equilibrium value of the order of 9,500 K, at which point FF heating and radiative cooling balance. With a relatively modest surface power density at the foil of 200 W/cm2, the specific, volume-averaged power given to the H gas may be as large as 0.66 MWatt/g. Heating powers up to megawatts for each gram of gas are therefore feasible with acceptable foil surface heating. The gas heating method can be used in rocket engines for deep space propulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Carlo Rubbia
  • Patent number: 6400787
    Abstract: Described are a process and an apparatus for the remote measurement of uranium or plutonium in radioactive materials. in which the sample of the material to be analyzed is to be handled as little as possible. To attain that object it is proposed that the laser beam of a laser is focussed by means of a focussing unit onto the sample to be analyzed, so that a light-emitting plasma is generated, an image of the emission spectrum of the plasma is formed in a spectrograph by means of an imaging unit, and finally it is analyzed by means of an analyzing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Euratom
    Inventors: Kay Niemax, Lars Hiddemann, Lothar Koch, Jean-Francois Babelot
  • Patent number: 6367243
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for propelling an aerodynamic vehicle into space. The aerodynamic vehicle uses a nuclear-based thermal rocket (NTR) propulsion system capable of producing a hydrogen exhaust. A flow of air is introduced into the hydrogen exhaust to augment the thrust force at speeds of the vehicle up to approximately Mach 6. When the speed of the vehicle is approximately Mach 6 and the altitude of the vehicle is approximately 40 kilometers, the flow of air is stopped and the vehicle is propelled into space using only the NTR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: George R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6290184
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a flying craft uses an air and water fuel source to provide propulsion thrust. The system includes two steam generating units, one attached directly to a compact turbine and the other connected to a compressor. The compressor compresses the steam from the latter steam generator, including excess steam from the turbine generator, and pumps it to a super-heated steam compression chamber. At the same time, the turbine generator powers another compressor to take in air from the atmosphere and pumps it into a super chilled compression chamber. After both the compressed super-heated steam and the compressed super chilled air have attained required pressure, volume and temperature, both gases are fed into an expansion chamber under appropriate control. The expansion chamber operates as a rocket booster and is equipped with an exhaust system made up of a main nozzle and several auxiliary thrust vectoring nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Von Friedrich C. Paterro
  • Patent number: 5873239
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a block having a first group of passages arranged in a generally circular pattern, a second group of passages spaced radially outward from the first group of passages and multiple groups of channels extending generally normal to and fluidly coupling the first and second groups of passages for radial flow therebetween. Selected pairs of passages, each including one passage from each passage group, are adapted for coupling to a first circulation line. The other ones of the passages are adapted for coupling to a second circulation line so that fluid heat from one of the circulation lines can be transferred to fluid from the other one of the lines in the heat exchanger. With this dense flow configuration, a compact heat exchanger can be constructed which, for example, is especially advantageous when used in conjunction with nuclear thermal rocket engines where space is at a premium. The dense fluid flow pattern also reduces material requirements and, thus, advantageously reduces weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Aerojet General Corporation
    Inventor: Donald W. Culver
  • Patent number: 5636512
    Abstract: A nuclear rocket engine comprising a primary feed system (4) for pumping rocket propellant from a propellant source (10) to a nuclear reactor (6) and an auxiliary feed system (60) coupled to the primary feed system. The auxiliary feed system includes a space radiator (84) for discharging excess reactor heat into space and a motorgenerator (74) for creating electricity from the excess reactor heat. A recuperator (20) operates to heat liquid propellant before it enters the reactor and to retain heat within the system. The auxiliary power system can be configured into a high thrust mode (see FIG. 1) for withdrawing heat from the engine when the reactor is operating at full power, a low thrust mode (see FIG. 2) for throttling propellant flow and radiating heat from the engine during reactor shutdown and a zero thrust mode (see FIG. 3) for cooling the nuclear reactor and generating electricity for the rocket's auxiliary power requirements for the remainder of the mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Aerojet General Corporation
    Inventor: Donald W. Culver
  • Patent number: 5475722
    Abstract: A nuclear thermal rocket engine is provided with an integrated and compact construction that facilitates vehicle size and weight reduction. The engine includes a nuclear reactor core having multiple fuel assemblies and moderator rods disposed therebetween. A reactor vessel surrounds a reflector assembly which surrounds the core and includes multiple passages formed therein for circulating coolant therethrough. The reactor vessel is surrounded by a nozzle assembly which includes a nozzle block having a plenum fluidly coupled to the outlets of the fuel assemblies and a nozzle throat region. Multiple struts extend from the reactor vessel and through the nozzle throat region to divide that region into multiple nozzle throats. Each strut includes multiple channels for circulating coolant (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Aerojet General Corporation
    Inventor: Donald W. Culver
  • Patent number: 5428653
    Abstract: A bimodal nuclear power and propulsion system for space is disclosed. Closed cycle heat engines are in operative association with each sector of a sectored reactor core. Heat exchangers employing waste heat, electric power and reactor heat are used to heat propellant to increase Isp. Non-nuclear ground testing of the system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: University of New Mexico
    Inventor: Mohamed El-Genk
  • Patent number: 5410578
    Abstract: A nuclear propulsion reactor. A pressure vessel is provided with a reactor core that is surrounded by a radial reflector. Nuclear fuel elements in the core are formed from a hexagonal housing made from a high performance moderator and having a plurality of axial bores that extend the full length of the housing. A stack of nuclear fuel compacts having axial bores for coolant flow is received in the central axial bore of the housing. Hollow lithium hydride slugs are received in the bores at the corners of the housing. A rocket nozzle is attached to one end of the pressure vessel. Coolant/propellant flows into a passageway around the rocket nozzle for cooling thereof, upward through bores in the reflector and through the hexagonal housings of the fuel elements, downward through the bores in the nuclear fuel compacts and then out the rocket nozzle where propulsive thrust is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Lewis A. Walton
  • Patent number: 5361377
    Abstract: A method for producing electrical power from steam generated by a nuclear reactor comprising the steps of: providing a nuclear reactor engaged to a steam generator for generating steam when heated aqueous product is passed therethrough; and passing heated aqueous product through the steam generator to produce steam. The method additionally comprises passing the produced steam through a fossil fired or steam to steam superheater to superheat the produced steam; and passing the superheated produced steam through a first turbine to expand the superheated produced steam and produce steam. The produced steam from the first turbine is subsequently reheated to obtain a reheated steam. The obtained reheated steam is then passed through a second turbine coupled to a generator in order to expand the obtained reheated steam and generate electrical power with the generator. An apparatus to accomplish the method for producing electrical power from steam generated by a nuclear reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Inventor: John A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5329564
    Abstract: A passive cooling system for removing decay heat from an open cycle nuclear reactor. Coolant tanks are filled with coolant during normal operation of the reactor and coolant pump. A check valve in the inlet line for each tank prevents loss of coolant through the inlet line. After the reactor is shut down and the coolant pump is inoperative, coolant flows from the coolant tanks through exhaust lines into the normal coolant line and to the reactor for removal of decay heat. A flow control valve or fixed orifice in the exhaust line for each tank provides for a different predetermined flow rate of coolant from each tank to match the decay heat rate of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: John D. Malloy, III
  • Patent number: 5317611
    Abstract: A modular fuel assembly for a nuclear thermal engine includes a plurality of fuel elements each having a fueled, truncated conical shell and an unfueled peripheral lip at the base of the shell with radial passages there-through. The fuel elements are nested with the lips seating one on top of another to form a stack of fuel elements with frusto-conical flow passages between the shells of adjacent fuel elements which are divided into channels by ribs on the conical shells. The stack of fuel elements is mounted in a cylindrical housing with the bases of the shells facing a central inlet opening at one end of the housing. Propellant enters the central inlet opening, is deflected radially outward by a deflector into an annular flow distribution channel from which it flows radially inward through the passages in the fuel element lips, through the flow channels of frusto-conical passages between the fueled shells where it is heated, and out through a central exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Lyman J. Petrosky, Joseph F. Ivanenok, III, Mario D. Carelli
  • Patent number: 5299242
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor control system is provided in a nuclear reactor having a core operating in the fast neutron energy spectrum where criticality control is achieved by neutron leakage. The control system includes dual annular, rotatable reflector rings. There are two reflector rings: an inner reflector ring and an outer reflector ring. The reflectors are concentrically assembled, surround the reactor core, and each reflector ring includes a plurality of openings. The openings in each ring are capable of being aligned or non-aligned with each other. Independent driving means for each of the annular reflector rings is provided so that reactor criticality can be initiated and controlled by rotation of either reflector ring such that the extent of alignment of the openings in each ring controls the reflection of neutrons from the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Michael G. Jacox, Robert L. Drexler, Robert N. M. Hunt, James A. Lake
  • Patent number: 5289512
    Abstract: A nuclear propulsion reactor. A reactor vessel is provided with an annular first core and a cylindrical second core that is radially encompassed by the first core. Nuclear fuel elements in the first core provide first stage heating of propellant as they direct the propellant axially through the first core. The second core, which contains fissionable material in a highly refractory form, is in fluid communication with the first core for receiving the heated propellant. Fission reactions in the second core driven by leakage neutrons from the first core provide second stage heating of the propellant as it passes therethrough. The second core directs the coolant to a propellant nozzle for providing propulsive thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: William G. Pettus
  • Patent number: 5247548
    Abstract: A thermionic reactor for providing electrical power and propulsion power. A reactor vessel has a plurality of thermionic heat pipe modules located therein and spaced apart on a hexagonal pitch. Nuclear fuel elements are positioned in the spaces between the thermionic heat pipe modules. Insulating material is provided between the reactor vessel and the array of thermionic heat pipe modules and nuclear fuel elements. Propulsion power is provided by a propellant storage tank and propellant nozzle in fluid communication with opposite ends of the reactor vessel. The thermionic heat pipe modules serve to produce electricity and aid in removal of waste heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: John D. Malloy, III, Richard F. Rochow, Kurt O. Westerman
  • Patent number: 5087412
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor using gas as a primary coolant and a liquid as a moderator and/or reflector. Gas coolant flows through inlet passages around the outlet plenum to a distributor plate. The gas is directed between fuel element housing thimbles and fuel elements therein, through the fuel elements, and into the reactor outlet plenum. Fins on the thimble housings conduct heat to the gas from a liquid moderator circulating in the core. The use of a liquid moderator enhances safety, allows the fissile material and reactor mass to be reduced and eliminates problems associated with cooling of a solid moderator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Billy E. Bingham, John R. Coiner, Jr., William G. Pettus, Barrett J. Short
  • Patent number: 5045274
    Abstract: In order to reduce any loss of primary water coolant from around a reactor core of a water cooled nuclear reactor caused by any failure of a pressure vessel, an inner vessel is positioned within and spaced from the pressure vessel. The reactor core and main portion of the primary water coolant circuit and a heat exchanger are positioned within the inner vessel to maintain some primary water coolant around the reactorcore and to allow residual decay heat to be removed from the reactor core by the heat exchanger. In a second embodiment an aperture at the upper region of the inner vessel is dimensioned configured and arranged to prevent steam from a steam space of an integral pressurized water cooled nuclear reactor for a ship entering the main portion of the primary water coolant circuit in the inner vessel if the longitudinal axis of the nuclear reactor is displaced from its normal substantially vertical position to an abnormal position at an angle to the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce and Associates limited
    Inventor: Anthony J. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 4462954
    Abstract: A self pulsating nuclear reactor plant comprising of a reactor cylinder concealing a pair of mobile nuclear mass blocks chosen for pendent radially motion inside a radial cylinder, whereby the arch of mobile mass blocks is limited by stationary mass blocks in such a fashion that when mobile mass blocks making contact in center of reactor they become super critical and repulsing each other from vertical position toward horizontal position vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Inventor: Friedrich Weinert
  • Patent number: 4454850
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for liberation of energy by controlled nuclear fusion reaction involving isotopes of hydrogen gas. Highly ionized hydrogen gas containing a higher proportion of deuterium than in naturally occurring hydrogen is pressurized, together with an oxidizing gas within combustion chamber of reciprocating piston and cylinder engine. An electrical discharge within the combustion chamber causes generation of heat by atomic dissociation and exothermal recombination of hydrogen atoms and electrical excitation of ionized gas. Ionized deuterium in the hydrogen gas undergoes a nuclear fusion reaction with consequent liberation of heat energy and remaining hydrogen gas burns in the oxidizing gas to provide control on fusion reaction. Apparatus for producing ionized hydrogen gas in appropriate form by treatment of normal industrial hydrogen gas is disclosed, and also gas mixing apparatus for mixing the ionized hydrogen with atmospheric air as the oxidizing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Beeston Company Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Horvath
  • Patent number: 4428193
    Abstract: An inert gas fuel consisting essentially of a precise, homogeneous mixture of helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon. Apparatus for preparing the fuel includes a mixing chamber, tubing to allow movement of each inert gas into and through the various stages of the apparatus, a plurality of electric coils for producing magnetic fields, an ion gauge, ionizers, cathode ray tubes, filters, a polarizer and a high frequency generator. An engine for extracting useful work from the fuel has at least two closed cylinders for fuel, each cylinder being defined by a head and a piston. A plurality of electrodes extend into each chamber, some containing low level radioactive material. The head has a generally concave depression facing a generally semi-toroidal depression in the surface of the piston. The piston is axially movable with respect to the head from a first position to a second position and back, which linear motion is converted to rotary motion by a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Papp International Incorporated
    Inventor: Joseph Papp
  • Patent number: T101204
    Abstract: A fast nuclear reactor is described which comprises a conical reactor core surrounding an embedded array of heat pipes of, per se, novel structure, carrying either moderator or nuclear fuel material as part of their working fluid. This reactor system is self-regulating, because an excessive increase in reactivity drives the fuel or moderator working fluid out of the conical core region, thereby reducing reactivity. The heat pipes are protected against burnout by a novel heat pipe envelope shape and internal wicking structure designed to increase the working fluid circulation speed with increasing heat transfer loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Inventor: Viktor E. Hampel
  • Patent number: H1501
    Abstract: A radial flow nuclear thermal rocket fuel assembly includes a substantially conical fuel element having an inlet side and an outlet side. An annular channel is disposed in the element for receiving a nuclear propellant, and a second, conical, channel is disposed in the element for discharging the propellant. The first channel is located radially outward from the second channel, and separated from the second channel by an annular fuel bed volume. This fuel bed volume can include a packed bed of loose fuel beads confined by a cold porous inlet frit and a hot porous exit frit. The loose fuel beads include ZrC coated ZrC-UC beads. In this manner, nuclear propellant enters the fuel assembly axially into the first channel at the inlet side of the element, flows axially across the fuel bed volume, and is discharged from the assembly by flowing radially outward from the second channel at the outlet side of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Carl F. Leyse
  • Patent number: H1753
    Abstract: A bimodal propulsion and power nuclear reactor with coaxial power and propulsion cores, each with its own primary propellant/coolant. An inner core region provides electrical power while an outer annular core region surrounding the inner core region has, passageways for heating a gaseous propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: John W. Warren, Abraham Weitzberg