Patents by Inventor Fred E. Holt

Fred E. Holt 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 detecting leakage of reactor core components of liquid metal cooled fast reactors
    Patent number: 4033813
    Abstract: A method of detecting the failure of a sealed non-fueled core component of a liquid-metal cooled fast reactor having an inert cover gas. A gas mixture is incorporated in the component which includes Xenon-124; under neutron irradiation, Xenon-124 is converted to radioactive Xenon-125. The cover gas is scanned by a radiation detector. The occurrence of 188 Kev gamma radiation and/or other identifying gamma radiation-energy level indicates the presence of Xenon-125 and therefore leakage of a component. Similarly, Xe-126, which transmutes to Xe-127 and Kr-84, which produces Kr-85.sup.m can be used for detection of leakage. Different components are charged with mixtures including different ratios of isotopes other than Xenon-124. On detection of the identifying radiation, the cover gas is subjected to mass spectroscopic analysis to locate the leaking component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
    Inventors: Fred E. Holt, Robert J. Cash, Robert E. Schenter