Patents by Inventor James Edward Fawks, JR.

James Edward Fawks, JR. 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).

  • Transverse in-core probe monitoring and calibration device for nuclear power plants, and method thereof
    Patent number: 9025719
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the calibration of neutron flux monitoring devices used in a nuclear reactor core. The apparatus includes a transverse in-core probe (TIP) cable with a neutron absorber located a fixed distance apart from a TIP detector. The neutron absorber may be passed within close proximity of the neutron flux monitoring device such that a perceived drop in measured neutron flux occurs, whereupon the cable may be repositioned relative to the monitoring device to ensure that the TIP detector is within close proximity of the monitoring device for purposes of calibrating the monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
    Inventor: James Edward Fawks, Jr.
  • Tranverse in-core probe monitoring and calibration device for nuclear power plants, and method thereof
    Patent number: 8712000
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the calibration of neutron flux monitoring devices used in a nuclear reactor core. The apparatus includes a transverse in-core probe (TIP) cable with a neutron absorber located a fixed distance apart from a TIP detector. The neutron absorber may be passed within close proximity of the neutron flux monitoring device such that a perceived drop in measured neutron flux occurs, whereupon the cable may be repositioned relative to the monitoring device to ensure that the TIP detector is within close proximity of the monitoring device for purposes of calibrating the monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLC
    Inventor: James Edward Fawks, Jr.
  • Determination of safety limit minimum critical power ratio
    Patent number: 8433029
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes determining the safety limit minimum critical power ratio using the operating limit minimum critical power ratio, a change-in-critical-power-ratio distribution bias and a change-in-critical-power-ratio distribution standard deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Global Nuclear Fuel—Americas, LLC
    Inventor: James Edward Fawks, Jr.
  • Determination of safety limit minimum critical power ratio
    Publication number: 20110238388
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the method includes determining the safety limit minimum critical power ratio using the operating limit minimum critical power ratio, a change-in-critical-power-ratio distribution bias and a change-in-critical-power-ratio distribution standard deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: James Edward Fawks, JR.
  • Tranverse in-core probe monitoring and calibration device for nuclear power plants, and method thereof
    Publication number: 20090154633
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the calibration of neutron flux monitoring devices used in a nuclear reactor core. The apparatus includes a transverse in-core probe (TIP) cable with a neutron absorber located a fixed distance apart from a TIP detector. The neutron absorber may be passed within close proximity of the neutron flux monitoring device such that a perceived drop in measured neutron flux occurs, whereupon the cable may be repositioned relative to the monitoring device to ensure that the TIP detector is within close proximity of the monitoring device for purposes of calibrating the monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: James Edward Fawks, JR.