Patents Assigned to NuGen, LLC
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Patent number: 11815013Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity comprising a gas propellant chamber and one or more generators. The gas propellant chamber comprises a compressor, a nuclear fuel chamber, and a turbine assembly, wherein a drive shaft extending axially through the gas propellant chamber couples the compressor to the turbine assembly and wherein the nuclear fuel chamber is a rotating nuclear fuel chamber configured to rotate axially along the drive shaft to which the compressor and the turbine assembly are coupled.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: NUGEN, LLCInventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
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Patent number: 11482346Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 11421589Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity comprising a gas propellant chamber, a containment vessel, and a rotor/stator assembly partially integrated within the containment vessel. The gas propellant chamber is disposed within the containment vessel and comprises a compressor, a nuclear fuel chamber, and a turbine assembly, wherein a drive shaft extending axially through the gas propellant chamber couples the compressor to the turbine assembly. The rotor of the rotor/stator assembly is disposed internally of the containment vessel and is in communication with the stator, the stator being disposed externally of the containment vessel. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventor: Stephen K. Rhyne
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Patent number: 10784006Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10755826Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10685756Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov
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Patent number: 10685755Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for generating electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat using a gas propellant chamber fueled with fissile material and enclosed in a sealed containment vessel which also contains an operating gas. The system allows for the operating gas to be compressed as it enters the nuclear fuel chamber where it is heated. As the operating gas exits the nuclear fuel chamber, the kinetic energy of the gas is converted to rotational energy by a variety of methods. The rotational energy is further converted to electricity, mechanical energy, and/or process and district heat. The operating gas circulates in the containment vessel and is cooled prior to re-entering the gas propellant chamber. The apparatus thereby provides a simpler and safer design that is both scalable and adaptable. The apparatus is easily and safely transportable and can be designed to be highly nuclear-proliferation-resistant.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: NuGen, LLCInventors: Stephen K. Rhyne, Pavel V. Tsvetkov