Patents by Inventor Anselmo T. Cisneros
Anselmo T. Cisneros 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: 10867710Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that utilize neutron-reflecting coolants or a combination of primary salt coolants and secondary neutron-reflecting coolants. Further configurations are described that circulate liquid neutron-reflecting material around a reactor core to control the neutronics of the reactor. Furthermore, configurations which use the circulating neutron-reflecting material to actively cool the containment vessel are also described. A further configuration is described that utilizes a core barrel between a reactor core volume of molten fuel salt and a reflector volume, in which the reflector volume contains a plurality of individual reflector elements separated by an interstitial space filled with molten fuel salt.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Charles Gregory Freeman, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski
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Publication number: 20200279660Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that allow for active cooling of the containment vessel of the reactor by the primary coolant. Furthermore, naturally circulating reactor configurations are described in which the reactor cores are substantially frustum-shaped so that the thermal center of the reactor core is below the outlet of the primary heat exchangers. Heat exchanger configurations are described in which welded components are distanced from the reactor core to reduce the damage caused by neutron flux from the reactor. Radial loop reactor configurations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Patent number: 10741293Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that include an auxiliary cooling system which shared part of the primary coolant loop but allows for passive cooling of decay heat from the reactor. Furthermore, different pump configurations for circulating molten fuel through the reactor core and one or more in vessel heat exchangers are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Robert A. Corbin, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Patent number: 10734122Abstract: A dynamic neutron reflector assembly for a “breed-and-burn” fast reactor incrementally adjusts neutron spectrum and reactivity in a reactor core. The composition of materials in the dynamic neutron reflector may be adjusted to change neutron reflectivity levels, or to introduce neutron moderating or absorption characteristics. The dynamic neutron reflector may contain a flowing reflecting liquid of adjustable volume and/or density. Submergible members may be selectively inserted into the flowing reflecting liquid to alter its volume and introduce other neutron modifying effects such as moderation or absorption. Selective insertion of the submergible members allows for concentration of the neutron modifying effects in a selected portion of the reactor core. The flowing reflecting liquid may also act as a secondary coolant circuit by exchanging heat with the molten fuel salt.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Charles Gregory Freeman, Christopher J. Johns, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski
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Publication number: 20200211724Abstract: An anti-proliferation technique is disclosed to reduce the likelihood of nuclear proliferation due to the use fissionable fuel salts. The technique includes doping the fuel salt with one or more elements (referred to herein as activation dopants) that, upon exposure to neutrons such as would occur in the fuel salt when a reactor is in operation, undergo a nuclear reaction to, directly or indirectly, form highly active “protecting isotopes” (of the same element as the activation dopant or a different element). A sufficient mass of activation dopants is used so that the Figure of Merit (FOM) of the fuel salt is decreased to below 1.0 within some target number of days of fission. This allows the FOM of the fuel salt to be controlled so that the fuel becomes too dangerous to handle before to the creation of a significant amount of weaponizable isotopes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2019Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Ken Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Brian C. Kelleher, William M. Kerlin, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Robert C. Petroski, Joshua C. Walter
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Publication number: 20200185114Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor in which one or more primary heat exchangers are located above the reactor core of the nuclear reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2019Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Mark R. Werner
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Patent number: 10665356Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that utilize neutron-reflecting coolants or a combination of primary salt coolants and secondary neutron-reflecting coolants. Further configurations are described that circulate liquid neutron-reflecting material around an reactor core to control the neutronics of the reactor. Furthermore, configurations which use the circulating neutron-reflecting material to actively cool the containment vessel are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Brian C. Kelleher, William M. Kerlin, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, Robert C. Petroski, Joshua C. Walter, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Ken Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns
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Publication number: 20200118698Abstract: A molten salt reactor includes a nuclear reactor core for sustaining a nuclear fission reaction fueled by a molten fuel salt. A molten fuel salt control system removes a volume of the molten fuel salt from the nuclear reactor core to maintain a reactivity parameter within a range of nominal reactivity. The molten fuel salt control system includes a molten fuel salt exchange system that fluidically couples to the nuclear reactor core and exchanges a volume of the molten fuel salt with a volume of a feed material containing a mixture of a selected fertile material and a carrier salt. The molten fuel salt control system can include a volumetric displacement control system having one or more volumetric displacement bodies insertable into the nuclear reactor core. Each volumetric displacement body can remove a volume of molten fuel salt from the nuclear reactor core, such as via a spill-over system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Jeffery F. Latkowski, James M. Vollmer, Christopher J. Johns
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Publication number: 20200027590Abstract: A reflector assembly for a molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a support structure with a substantially cylindrical base plate, a substantially cylindrical top plate, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs extending between the base plate and the top plate. The support structure is configured to encapsulate a reactor core for containing nuclear fuel. The MCFR also includes a plurality of tube members disposed within the support structure and extending axially between the top plate and the bottom plate. The plurality of tube members are configured to hold at least one reflector material to reflect fission born neutrons back to a center of the reactor core.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Charles Gregory Freeman, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski
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Patent number: 10497479Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor in which one or more primary heat exchangers are located above the reactor core of the nuclear reactor.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Mark R. Werner
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Patent number: 10438705Abstract: A molten salt reactor includes a nuclear reactor core for sustaining a nuclear fission reaction fueled by a molten fuel salt. A molten fuel salt control system removes a volume of the molten fuel salt from the nuclear reactor core to maintain a reactivity parameter within a range of nominal reactivity. The molten fuel salt control system includes a molten fuel salt exchange system that fluidically couples to the nuclear reactor core and exchanges a volume of the molten fuel salt with a volume of a feed material containing a mixture of a selected fertile material and a carrier salt. The molten fuel salt control system can include a volumetric displacement control system having one or more volumetric displacement bodies insertable into the nuclear reactor core. Each volumetric displacement body can remove a volume of molten fuel salt from the nuclear reactor core, such as via a spill-over system.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLCInventors: Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Jeffery F. Latkowski, James M. Vollmer, Christopher J. Johns
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Publication number: 20190237205Abstract: A molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) includes a plurality of reflectors defining a central core having a core geometric center. A flow channel fluidically connected to the central core. The flow channel includes an outlet flow channel downstream of the central core and an inlet flow channel upstream from the central core. A primary heat exchanger (PHX) disposed outside the central core and between the outlet flow channel and the inlet flow channel. The MCFR also includes a decay heat heat exchanger (DHHX). At least a portion of the DHHX is disposed above the core geometric center, and a fuel salt is configured to circulate at least partially through the outlet flow channel, the DHHX, the PHX, the inlet flow channel, and the central core.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Kevin Kramer, James A. Roecker, Daniel J. Walter, Kent E. Wardle
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Publication number: 20180137944Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, John R. Suyes, III
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Publication number: 20180068750Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that utilize neutron-reflecting coolants or a combination of primary salt coolants and secondary neutron-reflecting coolants. Further configurations are described that circulate liquid neutron-reflecting material around a reactor core to control the neutronics of the reactor. Furthermore, configurations which use the circulating neutron-reflecting material to actively cool the containment vessel are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, Charles Gregory Freeman, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski
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Publication number: 20180019025Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor in which one or more primary heat exchangers are located above the reactor core of the nuclear reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Mark R. Werner
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Publication number: 20170316840Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that allow for active cooling of the containment vessel of the reactor by the primary coolant. Furthermore, naturally circulating reactor configurations are described in which the reactor cores are substantially frustum-shaped so that the thermal center of the reactor core is below the outlet of the primary heat exchangers. Heat exchanger configurations are described in which welded components are distanced from the reactor core to reduce the damage caused by neutron flux from the reactor. Radial loop reactor configurations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20170316841Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that include an auxiliary cooling system which shared part of the primary coolant loop but allows for passive cooling of decay heat from the reactor. Furthermore, different pump configurations for circulating molten fuel through the reactor core and one or more in vessel heat exchangers are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Robert A. Corbin, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20170301421Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that utilize neutron-reflecting coolants or a combination of primary salt coolants and secondary neutron-reflecting coolants. Further configurations are described that circulate liquid neutron-reflecting material around an reactor core to control the neutronics of the reactor. Furthermore, configurations which use the circulating neutron-reflecting material to actively cool the containment vessel are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Ken Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Dan Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, William M. Kerlin, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, Robert C. Petroski, Joshua C. Walter
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Publication number: 20170301413Abstract: This disclosure describes nuclear fuel salts usable in certain molten salt reactor designs and related systems and methods. Binary, ternary and quaternary chloride fuel salts of uranium, as well as other fissionable elements, are described. In addition, fuel salts of UClxFy are disclosed as well as bromide fuel salts. This disclosure also presents methods and systems for manufacturing such fuel salts, for creating salts that reduce corrosion of the reactor components and for creating fuel salts that are not suitable for weapons applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Ken Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Brian C. Kelleher, William M. Kerlin, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Robert C. Petroski, Joshua C. Walter
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Publication number: 20170092381Abstract: A dynamic neutron reflector assembly for a “breed-and-burn” fast reactor incrementally adjusts neutron spectrum and reactivity in a reactor core. The composition of materials in the dynamic neutron reflector may be adjusted to change neutron reflectivity levels, or to introduce neutron moderating or absorption characteristics. The dynamic neutron reflector may contain a flowing reflecting liquid of adjustable volume and/or density. Submergible members may be selectively inserted into the flowing reflecting liquid to alter its volume and introduce other neutron modifying effects such as moderation or absorption. Selective insertion of the submergible members allows for concentration of the neutron modifying effects in a selected portion of the reactor core. The flowing reflecting liquid may also act as a secondary coolant circuit by exchanging heat with the molten fuel salt.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Charles Gregory Freeman, Christopher J. Johns, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski