Patents Assigned to NuScale Power, LLC
  • Patent number: 9403205
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a lower integrated tubesheet and plenum (ITP) configured to receive feedwater and a first set of heat transfer tubes fluidly coupled to a plurality of stubs protruding from a first side of the lower ITP. A second set of heat transfer tubes fluidly couples to plurality of stubs protruding from a second side of the lower ITP. The first set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially clock-wise direction, and the second set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially counter-clockwise direction. The steam generator further includes an upper ITP fluidly coupled to the first and second set of heat transfer tubes, wherein the feedwater entering the lower ITP is converted to steam in the first and second sets of heat transfer tubes. The upper ITP is configured to transport the steam away from the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Keith Williams, Douglas Paul Fassett, Brent J. Webb, William J. Bees, Alex Scott Kruskamp
  • Publication number: 20160217875
    Abstract: A system for draining a containment vessel may include a drain inlet located in a lower portion of the containment vessel. The containment vessel may be at least partially filled with a liquid, and the drain inlet may be located below a surface of the liquid. The system may further comprise an inlet located in an upper portion of the containment vessel. The inlet may be configured to insert pressurized gas into the containment vessel to form a pressurized region above the surface of the liquid, and the pressurized region may operate to apply a surface pressure that forces the liquid into the drain inlet. Additionally, a fluid separation device may be operatively connected to the drain inlet. The fluid separation device may be configured to separate the liquid from the pressurized gas that enters the drain inlet after the surface of the liquid falls below the drain inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: Scott G. HARRIS
  • Publication number: 20160148709
    Abstract: A stable startup system includes a reactor vessel containing coolant, a reactor core submerged in the coolant, and a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant. The stable startup system further includes one or more heaters configured to add heat to the coolant during a startup operation and prior to the reactor core going critical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9330796
    Abstract: A stable startup system includes a reactor vessel containing coolant, a reactor core submerged in the coolant, and a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant. The stable startup system further includes one or more heaters configured to add heat to the coolant during a startup operation and prior to the reactor core going critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9305671
    Abstract: An electrical power system for a nuclear power facility includes an active alternating current (AC) power bus configured to be electrically coupled to a plurality of engineered safety feature (ESF) loads of a plurality of nuclear power systems, each of the ESF loads configured to fail to a safe position upon loss of primary AC power; a critical battery system electrically coupled to the active AC bus, the critical battery system comprising a plurality of valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries; and a primary AC power source electrically coupled to the active AC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: Ted Hough
  • Publication number: 20160055927
    Abstract: A system for storing nuclear fuel assemblies includes a plurality of cells housed within a support structure. A first cell may house a first fuel assembly and a second cell may house a second fuel assembly. A plurality of compartments separate the plurality of cells and provide passageways for coolant entering a bottom end of the support structure to remove heat from the nuclear fuel assemblies. A first perforation transfers coolant between the first cell and one or more of the compartments, and a second perforation transfers coolant between the second cell and the one or more compartments. At least a portion of the coolant entering the bottom end of the support structure is transferred between the plurality of cells and the plurality of compartments. Two or more fuel storage racks may be stacked together in alternating fuel patterns to facilitate cooling the fuel assemblies with liquid or air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Steven M. MIRSKY, Jose N. REYES, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160003655
    Abstract: A system for measuring flow rate within a volume includes one or more transmission devices that transmit one or more signals through fluid contained within the volume. The volume may be bounded, at least in part, by an outer structure and by an object at least partially contained within the outer structure. A transmission device located at a first location of the outer structure transmits a first signal to a second location of the outer structure. A second signal is transmitted through the fluid from the second location to a third location of the outer structure. The flow rate of the fluid within the volume may be determined based, at least in part, on the time of flight of both the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: Cristhian GALVEZ
  • Patent number: 9230697
    Abstract: A steam generator for a nuclear reactor comprises plenums proximate with a first plane, wherein the first plane intersects a bottom portion of a riser column of a reactor vessel. The steam generator may further comprise plenums proximate with a second plane, approximately parallel with the first plane, wherein the second plane intersects a top portion of the riser column of the reactor vessel. The steam generator may further include a plurality of steam generator tubes that convey coolant from a plenum located proximate with the first plane to one of the plenums proximate with the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Groome, Sooyun Joh, James Allan Nylander
  • Publication number: 20150332794
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a reactor module housed in a reactor bay may include a mounting structure and one or more extendable attachment mechanisms connected to the mounting structure. Additionally, one or more monitoring devices may be operably coupled to the one or more extendable attachment mechanism, and the one or more extendable attachment mechanisms may be configured to selectively position the one or more monitoring devices at varying distances from a wall of the reactor bay to place the one or monitoring devices in proximity to the reactor module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: Ky Duc NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 9188328
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a lower integrated tubesheet and plenum (ITP) configured to receive feedwater and a first set of heat transfer tubes fluidly coupled to a plurality of stubs protruding from a first side of the lower ITP. A second set of heat transfer tubes fluidly couples to plurality of stubs protruding from a second side of the lower ITP. The first set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially clock-wise direction, and the second set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially counter-clockwise direction. The steam generator further includes an upper ITP fluidly coupled to the first and second set of heat transfer tubes, wherein the feedwater entering the lower ITP is converted to steam in the first and second sets of heat transfer tubes. The upper ITP is configured to transport the steam away from the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Keith Williams, Douglas Paul Fassett, Brent J. Webb, William J. Bees, Alex Scott Kruskamp
  • Publication number: 20150184775
    Abstract: A tube support assembly for a steam generator system is disclosed herein, including a sheet or support bar configured to support a plurality of heat transfer tubes of the steam generator system and a set of projections extending from a surface of the sheet or support bar. A distance that the set of projections extend from the surface of the sheet or support bar may be greater than, or equal to, an external diameter of a heat transfer tube. The adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes may be separated from each other by one or more projections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: William KOSKI, Tamas LISZKAI, Alex KRUSKAMP, Seth CADELL, Weston POLLOCK
  • Publication number: 20150184845
    Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a plenum configured to provide a secondary side fluid such as feedwater to a plurality of heat transfer tubes from a primary side fluid, and a tube sheet coupled to the plurality of heat transfer tubes. An orifice plate is mounted within the plenum and located adjacent to the tube sheet, and one or more orifice devices are supported by the orifice plate and are configured for insertion into or sealing against the plurality of heat transfer tubes. The one or more orifice devices may include center flow orifices, and/or rectangular or helical shaped transition stepped annular flow orifices, and an insertion of a number of the transition steps into the plurality of heat transfer tubes may determine a corresponding pressure drop of the secondary side fluid in the heat transfer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: Christian LOBSCHEID
  • Publication number: 20150187447
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor seismic isolation assembly includes an enclosure that defines a volume; a plastically-deformable member mounted, at least in part, within the volume; and a stretching member moveable within the enclosure to plastically-deform the plastically-deformable member in response to a dynamic force exerted on the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventor: Tamas Liszkai
  • Publication number: 20150187446
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor control rod drive assembly includes a control rod drive mechanism coupled to a drive shaft and operable to bi-directionally urge the drive shaft through a portion of an inner volume of a reactor vessel at a first force; a control rod manifold coupled to the drive shaft; a plurality of control rods coupled to the control rod manifold, the plurality of control rods adjustable among a plurality of positions within the inner volume of the reactor vessel based on operation of the control rod drive mechanism; and at least one variable strength joint positioned between the control rod drive mechanism and the plurality of control rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Paul Young, Tamas Liszkai
  • Publication number: 20140366354
    Abstract: A system for servicing a nuclear reactor module comprises a crane operable to attach to the nuclear reactor module, wherein the crane includes provisions for routing signals from one or more sensors of the nuclear reactor module to one or more sensor receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Snuggerud
  • Patent number: 8867689
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a reactor vessel, a containment vessel that surrounds the reactor vessel, and a condenser that receives coolant from within the reactor vessel. The containment vessel and the condenser are at least partially submerged within a common reactor pool of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Zach James Houghton, Richard Biasca, Jonathan James Arthur, Colin Maxwell Sexton, John Harold Matonic, Maurice Andrew La Fountain
  • Patent number: 8848855
    Abstract: A power module includes a containment vessel completely submerged in a pool of liquid, and a support structure located at or above an approximate midpoint of the containment vessel, or center of gravity of the power module. The power module is supported by the support structure in combination with a buoyancy force of the pool of liquid acting on the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: James Allan Nylander, John T. Groome, Eric Paul Young
  • Publication number: 20140254737
    Abstract: A spent nuclear fuel rod canister includes a submersible pressure vessel including a casing that defines an interior cavity, the casing including a corrosion resistant and heat conductive material with a thermal conductivity of above about 7.0 watts per meter per kelvin; and a rack enclosed within the interior cavity and configured to support one or more spent nuclear fuel rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: NuScale Power, LLC
  • Patent number: 8752510
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a lower integrated tubesheet and plenum (ITP) configured to receive feedwater and a first set of heat transfer tubes fluidly coupled to a plurality of stubs protruding from a first side of the lower ITP. A second set of heat transfer tubes fluidly couples to plurality of stubs protruding from a second side of the lower ITP. The first set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially clock-wise direction, and the second set of heat transfer tubes is coiled in a substantially counter-clockwise direction. The steam generator further includes an upper ITP fluidly coupled to the first and second set of heat transfer tubes, wherein the feedwater entering the lower ITP is converted to steam in the first and second sets of heat transfer tubes. The upper ITP is configured to transport the steam away from the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Keith Williams, Douglas Paul Fassett, Brent J. Webb, William J. Bees, Alex Scott Kruskamp
  • Publication number: 20140152098
    Abstract: An electrical power system for a nuclear power facility includes an active alternating current (AC) power bus configured to be electrically coupled to a plurality of engineered safety feature (ESF) loads of a plurality of nuclear power systems, each of the ESF loads configured to fail to a safe position upon loss of primary AC power; a critical battery system electrically coupled to the active AC bus, the critical battery system comprising a plurality of valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries; and a primary AC power source electrically coupled to the active AC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: NuScale Power, LLC