Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Regan
Christopher M. Regan 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: 20240017212Abstract: A method of removing cesium vapor from a cover gas stream in a nuclear reactor includes the steps of oxidizing the cesium vapor in the cover gas stream to yield cesium oxide particles and removing the cesium oxide particles using a particle filter. The method yields a filtered cover gas having zero to about 2% of the cesium vapor content of the initial cover gas stream, representing a reduction of at least about 98 percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Sally A. Miller, Christopher M. Regan, Jonathan E. Truax
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Publication number: 20230223161Abstract: A vaporizer includes an outer tube configured to receive a flow of heated gas and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube. The inner tube is spaced apart from the outer tube such that the flow of heated gas is channeled through an annular space therebetween. The vaporizer also includes a crucible disposed at least partially within the inner tube. The crucible is extendable and retractable relative to the inner tube and within the outer tube. The crucible is configured to hold a molten metal such that a surface area of the molten metal exposed to the flow of heated gas is adjustable based on the position of the crucible relative to the inner tube. A heater is configured to vaporize the molten material and the vapor mixes with the flow of heated gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Christopher M. Regan, Jacob Wilcox
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Patent number: 11626213Abstract: A vaporizer includes an outer tube configured to receive a flow of heated gas and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube. The inner tube is spaced apart from the outer tube such that the flow of heated gas is channeled through an annular space therebetween. The vaporizer also includes a crucible disposed at least partially within the inner tube. The crucible is extendable and retractable relative to the inner tube and within the outer tube. The crucible is configured to hold a molten metal such that a surface area of the molten metal exposed to the flow of heated gas is adjustable based on the position of the crucible relative to the inner tube. A heater is configured to vaporize the molten material and the vapor mixes with the flow of heated gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Christopher M. Regan, Jacob Wilcox
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Patent number: 11257600Abstract: Sodium-cesium trap systems and methods for the simultaneous removal of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The trap system includes a contacting vessel having an inlet and an outlet with carrier gas channeled therethrough. A heating system maintains a temperature gradient across the contacting vessel between a first temperature at the inlet and a second temperature at the outlet such that sodium and cesium contained within the carrier gas are condensed into liquid and the carrier gas exiting the vessel is substantially free of sodium and cesium.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Michael Anderson, Thomas M. Burke, Robert A. Corbin, Christopher M. Regan
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Patent number: 11028303Abstract: Sodium-tin and sodium-tin-lead compositions have been identified and created that exhibit better reactivity characteristics (i.e., are less reactive) than sodium metal under the same conditions, making these compositions safer alternatives to sodium metal for use as a coolant. These compositions include compositions having at least 90% sodium (Na), from 0-10% lead (Pb) and the balance being tin (Sn).Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Robert A. Corbin, Kevin Kramer, Christopher M. Regan, James M. Vollmer
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Publication number: 20210057117Abstract: A vaporizer includes an outer tube configured to receive a flow of heated gas and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube. The inner tube is spaced apart from the outer tube such that the flow of heated gas is channeled through an annular space therebetween. The vaporizer also includes a crucible disposed at least partially within the inner tube. The crucible is extendable and retractable relative to the inner tube and within the outer tube. The crucible is configured to hold a molten metal such that a surface area of the molten metal exposed to the flow of heated gas is adjustable based on the position of the crucible relative to the inner tube. A heater is configured to vaporize the molten material and the vapor mixes with the flow of heated gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Christopher M. Regan, Jacob Wilcox
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Publication number: 20200258644Abstract: Sodium-cesium trap systems and methods for the simultaneous removal of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The trap system includes a contacting vessel having an inlet and an outlet with carrier gas channeled therethrough. A heating system maintains a temperature gradient across the contacting vessel between a first temperature at the inlet and a second temperature at the outlet such that sodium and cesium contained within the carrier gas are condensed into liquid and the carrier gas exiting the vessel is substantially free of sodium and cesium.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLcInventors: Michael Anderson, Thomas M. Burke, Robert A. Corbin, Christopher M. Regan
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Patent number: 10636532Abstract: Sodium-cesium trap systems and methods for the simultaneous removal of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The trap system includes a contacting vessel having an inlet and an outlet with carrier gas channeled therethrough. A heating system maintains a temperature gradient across the contacting vessel between a first temperature at the inlet and a second temperature at the outlet such that sodium and cesium contained within the carrier gas are condensed into liquid and the carrier gas exiting the vessel is substantially free of sodium and cesium.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Michael Anderson, Thomas M. Burke, Robert A. Corbin, Christopher M. Regan
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Publication number: 20190153285Abstract: Sodium-tin and sodium-tin-lead compositions have been identified and created that exhibit better reactivity characteristics (i.e., are less reactive) than sodium metal under the same conditions, making these compositions safer alternatives to sodium metal for use as a coolant. These compositions include compositions having at least 90% sodium (Na), from 0-10% lead (Pb) and the balance being tin (Sn).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Robert A. Corbin, Christopher M. Regan, James M. Vollmer
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Patent number: 9921184Abstract: Sodium-cesium detection systems and methods for the simultaneous detection of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The detection systems include two non-identical ionization chambers each having an anode and a cathode that ionize Na and Cs in gas. Each ionization chamber generates a current proportional to the Na and Cs concentration and based on the current, Na concentration and Cs concentration in the gas is determined.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2017Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Robert Alan Corbin, David Nash, Christopher M. Regan, Shane Schweiger, Randy Thompson, Jacob Wilcox
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Publication number: 20170337995Abstract: Sodium-cesium trap systems and methods for the simultaneous removal of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The trap system includes a contacting vessel having an inlet and an outlet with carrier gas channeled therethrough. A heating system maintains a temperature gradient across the contacting vessel between a first temperature at the inlet and a second temperature at the outlet such that sodium and cesium contained within the carrier gas are condensed into liquid and the carrier gas exiting the vessel is substantially free of sodium and cesium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Michael Anderson, Thomas M. Burke, Robert A. Corbin, Christopher M. Regan
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Publication number: 20170336358Abstract: Sodium-cesium detection systems and methods for the simultaneous detection of both sodium (Na) and cesium (Cs) in gas are provided. The detection systems include two non-identical ionization chambers each having an anode and a cathode that ionize Na and Cs in gas. Each ionization chamber generates a current proportional to the Na and Cs concentration and based on the current, Na concentration and Cs concentration in the gas is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Robert Alan Corbin, David Nash, Christopher M. Regan, Shane Schweiger, Randy Thompson, Jacob Wilcox