Patents by Inventor Daniel Eichel

Daniel Eichel 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).

  • Patent number: 11946702
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy from a primary reactor coolant to a secondary coolant. The heat exchanger is formed with a hot flow channel, a cold flow channel, and a porous layer between the hot flow channel and the cold flow channel. The porous layer may be thermally insulative to reduce the efficiency of thermal energy transfer from the hot flow channel to the cold flow channel. The porous layer may have a control gas passed therethrough that can be tailored to control the thermal energy transfer through the porous layer. The control gas can be tested for leakage within the heat exchanger. The control gas may also be used to sequester fission or activation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLC
    Inventors: Joon Hyung Choi, Daniel Eichel, Mei He, Pavel Hejzlar, Mathieu G. Martin, Samuel J. Miller, James M. Vollmer
  • Patent number: 11776701
    Abstract: A getter element includes a getter material reactive with a fission product contained within a stream of liquid and/or gas exiting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. At least one transmission pathway passes through the getter element that is sufficiently sized to maintain a flow of the input stream through the getter element at above a selected flow level. At least one transmission pathway includes a reaction surface area sufficient to uptake a pre-identified quantity of the fission product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Eichel, James M. Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20230104365
    Abstract: A getter element includes a getter material reactive with a fission product contained within a stream of liquid and/or gas exiting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. At least one transmission pathway passes through the getter element that is sufficiently sized to maintain a flow of the input stream through the getter element at above a selected flow level. At least one transmission pathway includes a reaction surface area sufficient to uptake a pre-identified quantity of the fission product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Eichel, James M. Vollmer
  • Patent number: 11501883
    Abstract: A getter element includes a getter material reactive with a fission product contained within a stream of liquid and/or gas exiting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. At least one transmission pathway passes through the getter element that is sufficiently sized to maintain a flow of the input stream through the getter element at above a selected flow level. At least one transmission pathway includes a reaction surface area sufficient to uptake a pre-identified quantity of the fission product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Eichel, James M. Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20220310278
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor includes a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy from a primary reactor coolant to a secondary coolant. The heat exchanger is formed with a hot flow channel, a cold flow channel, and a porous layer between the hot flow channel and the cold flow channel. The porous layer may be thermally insulative to reduce the efficiency of thermal energy transfer from the hot flow channel to the cold flow channel. The porous layer may have a control gas passed therethrough that can be tailored to control the thermal energy transfer through the porous layer. The control gas can be tested for leakage within the heat exchanger. The control gas may also be used to sequester fission or activation products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Joon Hyung Choi, Daniel Eichel, Mei He, Pavel Hejzlar, Mathieu G. Martin, Samuel J. Miller, James M. Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20200373023
    Abstract: A getter element includes a getter material reactive with a fission product contained within a stream of liquid and/or gas exiting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. At least one transmission pathway passes through the getter clement that is sufficiently sized to maintain a flow of the input stream through the getter element at above a selected flow level. At least one transmission pathway includes a reaction surface area sufficient to uptake a pre-identified quantity of the fission product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Eichel, James M. Vollmer
  • Patent number: 10685750
    Abstract: A getter element includes a getter material reactive with a fission product contained within a stream of liquid and/or gas exiting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. At least one transmission pathway passes through the getter element that is sufficiently sized to maintain a flow of the input stream through the getter element at above a selected flow level. At least one transmission pathway includes a reaction surface area sufficient to uptake a pre-identified quantity of the fission product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TERRAPOWER, LLC.
    Inventors: Daniel Eichel, James M. Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20170263339
    Abstract: A getter element includes a getter material reactive with a fission product contained within a stream of liquid and/or gas exiting a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor. At least one transmission pathway passes through the getter element that is sufficiently sized to maintain a flow of the input stream through the getter element at above a selected flow level. At least one transmission pathway includes a reaction surface area sufficient to uptake a pre-identified quantity of the fission product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Eichel, James M. Vollmer