Patents by Inventor Dorothee Henras

Dorothee Henras 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).

  • Method of operating a pressurized-water nuclear reactor allowing same to pass from a plutonium equilibrium cycle to a uranium equilibrium cycle and corresponding nuclear fuel assembly
    Patent number: 10242758
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, operating the reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Dorothee Henras, Song Hui Zheng
  • METHOD OF OPERATING A PRESSURIZED-WATER NUCLEAR REACTOR ALLOWING SAME TO PASS FROM A PLUTONIUM EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE TO A URANIUM EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE AND CORRESPONDING NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20170301419
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, operating the reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Dorothee HENRAS, Song Hui ZHENG
  • Method of operating a pressurized-water nuclear reactor allowing same to pass from a plutonium-equilibrium cycle to a uranium-equilibrium cycle and corresponding nuclear fuel assembly
    Patent number: 9646725
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, operating the reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Dorothee Henras, Song Hui Zheng
  • Method of operating a pressurized-water nuclear reactor for reaching a plutonium equilibrium cycle
    Patent number: 8767904
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for an initial cycle during which a core contains initial nuclear fuel assemblies; then operating the nuclear reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the initial nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced, during the replacement steps preceding the transition cycles, with transition nuclear fuel assemblies or with plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains only plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Dorothee Henras, Song Hui Zheng
  • METHOD OF OPERATING A PRESSURIZED-WATER NUCLEAR REACTOR ALLOWING SAME TO PASS FROM A PLUTONIUM-EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE TO A URANIUM- EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE AND CORRESPONDING NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20120189089
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; subsequently, operating the reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced with transition nuclear fuel assemblies and then with uranium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one uranium equilibrium cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Dorothee Henras, Song Hui Zheng
  • METHOD OF OPERATING A PRESSURIZED-WATER NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR REACHING A PLUTONIUM EQUILIBRIUM CYCLE
    Publication number: 20120163525
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a nuclear reactor. The method includes operating the nuclear reactor for an initial cycle during which a core contains initial nuclear fuel assemblies; then operating the nuclear reactor for transition cycles, at least some of the initial nuclear fuel assemblies being progressively replaced, during the replacement steps preceding the transition cycles, with transition nuclear fuel assemblies or with plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies; and then operating the nuclear reactor for at least one plutonium equilibrium cycle during which the core contains only plutonium-equilibrium nuclear fuel assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Dorothee Henras, Song Hui Zheng