Patents by Inventor Gerald A. Luciano
Gerald A. Luciano 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: 9620249Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly including: a fuel bundle including an array of fuel rods and water rods mounted in an upper tie plate and housed in walls of a channel, and a pore type debris shield mounted at least partially in the channel, above or below the upper tie plate, the shield extending to or over the walls of the channel, whereby deflecting and/or capturing falling debris from entering the fuel assembly, wherein the shield is design to be durable, yet flexible, and porous.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLCInventors: Robert B. Elkins, Russell Fawcett, David Smith, Michael Kiernan, Russell Stachowski, Gerald A. Luciano, Michael S. DeFilippis, Carlton Clark, Richard Carl Longren
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Patent number: 8976921Abstract: A fuel bundle flow limiter according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of base sections, wherein each of the plurality of base sections has at least one opening. A plurality of channels may separate the plurality of base sections. A plurality of vertical webs may extend from the plurality of base sections. A locking tab may be disposed in at least one of the plurality of vertical webs. By using the flow limiter, the moisture carry over (MCO) level at the exit of the fuel bundle may be decreased, thereby reducing radiation exposure to plant operators and reducing damage to reactor equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLCInventors: Khaled M. Ewida, Gerald A. Luciano, Milt H. Loper, III
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Patent number: 8611488Abstract: A debris exclusion and retention device traps and retains foreign material within the lower tie plate of the fuel assembly utilizing the existing flow paths within the lower tie plate, and without redirecting coolant flow. Flow through the inlet nozzle of the lower tie plate into an enlarged lower tie plate housing creates strong jet impingement against the center of the lower tie plate grid or debris filter, if present, which has a tendency to push debris to the periphery of the lower tie plate. Low flow zones around the periphery of the lower tie plate allow debris to fall back toward the inlet nozzle. The retention device traps and retains debris in these low flow zones without impacting existing flow patterns in the lower tie plate. Thus, the retention device has minimal or no impact on lower tie plate pressure drop.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLCInventors: Peter Ray Diller, David Grey Smith, Richard C. Longren, Gerald A. Luciano
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Patent number: 8428214Abstract: A method of aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle located in a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods. The method includes insertion of a rod grapple tool into a top end of a fuel bundle and down to a desired location within the bundle. A guide pin retrieval tool inserts into a side of the fuel bundle to remove a guide pin from a distal end of a gripper of the rod grapple tool, allowing the guide pin retrieval tool to grip a part-length fuel rod within the fuel bundle.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David P. Ketcham, Vernon John Fullerton, David Grey Smith, Rex Gormen Robinson, Gerald A. Luciano
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Patent number: 8396182Abstract: A method to capture, retain and remove debris falling into a nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly including a bundle of fuel rods mounted below an upper tie plate and housed in a hollow metal channel, the method includes: inserting a debris shield in the upper tie plate; maintaining the shield in the upper tie plate and above the fuel rods, and water rods, while the fuel bundle assembly is in an operating nuclear reactor core; capturing debris falling in the fuel assembly on the debris shield; after capturing the debris, removing the fuel bundle assembly with the inserted debris shield from the nuclear reactor core to a maintenance/fuel inspection pool and thereafter removing the debris shield from the upper tie plate, cleaning and then reinserting the cleaned debris shield back into the upper tie plate, and moving the fuel bundle assembly from the maintenance/fuel inspection pool back into the nuclear reactor core.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLCInventors: David Smith, Michael DeFilippis, Gerald A. Luciano, Michael Kiernan, Carlton Clark, Andrew K. Langston
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Publication number: 20120207262Abstract: A debris exclusion and retention device traps and retains foreign material within the lower tie plate of the fuel assembly utilizing the existing flow paths within the lower tie plate, and without redirecting coolant flow. Flow through the inlet nozzle of the lower tie plate into an enlarged lower tie plate housing creates strong jet impingement against the center of the lower tie plate grid or debris filter, if present, which has a tendency to push debris to the periphery of the lower tie plate. Low flow zones around the periphery of the lower tie plate allow debris to fall back toward the inlet nozzle. The retention device traps and retains debris in these low flow zones without impacting existing flow patterns in the lower tie plate. Thus, the retention device has minimal or no impact on lower tie plate pressure drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Inventors: Peter Ray Diller, David Grey Smith, Richard C. Longren, Gerald A. Luciano
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Publication number: 20120155600Abstract: A fuel bundle flow limiter according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of base sections, wherein each of the plurality of base sections has at least one opening. A plurality of channels may separate the plurality of base sections. A plurality of vertical webs may extend from the plurality of base sections. A locking tab may be disposed in at least one of the plurality of vertical webs. By using the flow limiter, the moisture carry over (MCO) level at the exit of the fuel bundle may be decreased, thereby reducing radiation exposure to plant operators and reducing damage to reactor equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: GE-HITACHI NUCLEAR ENERGY AMERICAS LLCInventors: Khaled M. Ewida, Gerald A. Luciano, Milton H. Loper, III
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Publication number: 20120039428Abstract: A method of aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle located in a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods. The method includes insertion of a rod grapple tool into a top end of a fuel bundle and down to a desired location within the bundle. A guide pin retrieval tool inserts into a side of the fuel bundle to remove a guide pin from a distal end of a gripper of the rod grapple tool, allowing the guide pin retrieval tool to grip a part-length fuel rod within the fuel bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: David P. KETCHAM, Vernon John Fullerton, David Grey Smith, Rex Gormen Robinson, Gerald A. Luciano
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Patent number: 8050378Abstract: In a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant, there is provided a system for aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods. The system includes a bundle alignment system for aligning the fuel rods and water rods, a rod grapple tool to extract selected part-length rods from the bundle, and a fuel rod guide block slidable onto the top end of the bundle for protecting an uppermost fuel spacer of the bundle, and for aligning fuel rods within individual cells of all the fuel spacers in the fuel bundle.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David P. Ketcham, Vernon John Fullerton, David Grey Smith, Rex Gormen Robinson, Gerald A. Luciano
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Publication number: 20110243293Abstract: Systems and methods for servicing a fuel assembly in a light water reactor include those for controlling flow through a fuel assembly to maintain debris in the fuel assembly during removal and transportation of the fuel assembly, those for discharging debris from the fuel assembly, and those for isolating and sampling the water chemistry of a fuel assembly. An exemplary system includes a closure device configured to seal a mast to a fuel assembly to surround the upper opening of the fuel assembly and provide a flow control channel between a void in the mast and a lower opening in a lower tie plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Peter Ray Diller, David Grey Smith, Michael T. Kiernan, Gerald A. Luciano, Colin F. Kelemen
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Publication number: 20100232564Abstract: In a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant, there is provided a system for aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods. The system includes a bundle alignment system for aligning the fuel rods and water rods, a rod grapple tool to extract selected part-length rods from the bundle, and a fuel rod guide block slidable onto the top end of the bundle for protecting an uppermost fuel spacer of the bundle, and for aligning fuel rods within individual cells of all the fuel spacers in the fuel bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: David P. Ketcham, Vernon John Fullerton, David Grey Smith, Rex Gormen Robinson, Gerald A. Luciano
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Patent number: 7773717Abstract: In a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant, there is provided a system for aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods. The system includes a bundle alignment system for aligning the fuel rods and water rods, a rod grapple tool to extract selected part-length rods from the bundle, and a fuel rod guide block slidable onto the top end of the bundle for protecting an uppermost fuel spacer of the bundle, and for aligning fuel rods within individual cells of all the fuel spacers in the fuel bundle.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David P. Ketcham, Vernon John Fullerton, David Grey Smith, Rex Gormen Robinson, Gerald A. Luciano
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Publication number: 20090139969Abstract: A process of using laser welding in the assembly of boiling water reactor fuel debris filters is disclosed. The laser welding process minimizes the distortion of the debris filter cast lower tie plate by applying minimal heat during the welding. Fixtures hold the cast lower tie plate through four degrees of motion under a constant controlled laser source during welding. The welding process also reduces the potential for stress corrosion cracking resulting from crevices in partial penetration welds that might occur in a laser welding process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2007Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas LLCInventors: David Grey Smith, Richard C. Longren, Gerald A. Luciano, Stephen J. Studer
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Publication number: 20090092217Abstract: A method to prevent debris falling into a nuclear reactor fuel assembly including a bundle of fuel rods mounted below an upper tie plate and housed in a channel including: inserting a debris shield in the upper tie plate; maintaining the shield in the upper tie plate and above the fuel rods, while the fuel assembly is in an operating nuclear reactor core; flowing coolant through the bundle and the debris shield during operation of the nuclear reactor core, and capturing or deflecting debris falling in the fuel assembly with the debris shield.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2008Publication date: April 9, 2009Applicant: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLCInventors: Michael DeFilippis, Gerald A. Luciano, David Smith, Michael Kiernan, Carlton Clark, Andrew K. Langston
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Publication number: 20090080590Abstract: A method to capture, retain and remove debris falling into a nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly including a bundle of fuel rods mounted below an upper tie plate and housed in a hollow metal channel, the method includes: inserting a debris shield in the upper tie plate; maintaining the shield in the upper tie plate and above the fuel rods, and water rods, while the fuel bundle assembly is in an operating nuclear reactor core; capturing debris falling in the fuel assembly on the debris shield; after capturing the debris, removing the fuel bundle assembly with the inserted debris shield from the nuclear reactor core to a maintenance/fuel inspection pool and thereafter removing the debris shield from the upper tie plate, cleaning and then reinserting the cleaned debris shield back into the upper tie plate, and moving the fuel bundle assembly from the maintenance/fuel inspection pool back into the nuclear reactor core.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLCInventors: David Smith, Michael DeFilippis, Gerald A. Luciano, Michael Kiernan, Carlton Clark, Andrew K. Langston
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Publication number: 20090060113Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel bundle assembly including: a fuel bundle including an array of fuel rods and water rods mounted in an upper tie plate and housed in walls of a channel, and a pore type debris shield mounted at least partially in the channel, above or below the upper tie plate, the shield extending to or over the walls of the channel, whereby deflecting and/or capturing falling debris from entering the fuel assembly, wherein the shield is design to be durable, yet flexible, and porous.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas, LLCInventors: Robert B. Elkins, Russell Fawcett, David Smith, Michael Kiernan, Russell Stachowski, Gerald A. Luciano, Michael S. DeFilippis, Carlton Clark, Richard Carl Longren
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Publication number: 20090060114Abstract: A nuclear reactor fuel assembly including: an upper tie plate having apertures to receive and support fuel rods of a fuel bundle; the fuel bundle includes an array of the fuel rods mounted and housed in the walls of a channel, and a load bearing or non-load bearing debris shield may be mounted in the upper tie plate, wherein the debris shield is porous to prevent the passage of debris. The debris shield is mounted in the frame of the upper tie plate. The debris shield can be either a removable unit, or it can be attached as a permanent integrated structure within the upper tie plate. The upper tie plate frame is also porous, e.g., has small vertical openings to allow fluid to pass through the frame and block passage of debris. The openings in the frame increase the effective flow area of passages through the upper tie plate and thereby compensate or offset any flow restrictions due to the debris shield.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLCInventors: Michael DeFilippis, Gerald A. Luciano, David Smith, Michael Kiernan, Carlton Clark, Andrew K. Langston
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Publication number: 20080205577Abstract: In a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant, there is provided a system for aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventors: David P. Ketcham, Vernon John Fullerton, David Grey Smith, Rex Gormen Robinson, Gerald A. Luciano