Patents by Inventor John T. Groome

John T. Groome 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: 11756698
    Abstract: A power module assembly may include a reactor vessel containing a primary coolant and one or more inlets configured to draw a secondary coolant from the containment cooling pool in response to a loss of power and/or a loss of coolant. One or more outlets may be submerged in the containment cooling pool and may be configured to vent the secondary coolant into the containment cooling pool. A heat exchanger may be configured to remove heat from the primary coolant, wherein the heat may be removed by circulating the secondary coolant from the containment cooling pool through the heat exchanger via natural circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
  • Publication number: 20230207144
    Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to prohibit a release of a coolant, and a reactor vessel mounted inside the containment vessel. An outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to below atmospheric pressure, wherein substantially all gases are evacuated from the containment vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 11594342
    Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to prohibit a release of a coolant, and a reactor vessel mounted inside the containment vessel. An outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to below atmospheric pressure, wherein substantially all gases are evacuated from within the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 10186334
    Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor core immersed in a coolant and a reactor vessel housing the coolant and the reactor core. An internal dry containment vessel submerged in liquid substantially surrounds the reactor vessel in a gaseous environment. During an over-pressurization event the reactor vessel is configured to release the coolant into the containment vessel and remove a decay heat of the reactor core through condensation of the coolant on an inner surface of the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 10147507
    Abstract: A steam generator for a nuclear reactor comprises plenums proximate with a first plane, wherein the first plane intersects a bottom portion of a riser column of a reactor vessel. The steam generator may further comprise plenums proximate with a second plane, approximately parallel with the first plane, wherein the second plane intersects a top portion of the riser column of the reactor vessel. The steam generator may further include a plurality of steam generator tubes that convey coolant from a plenum located proximate with the first plane to one of the plenums proximate with the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Groome, Sooyun Joh, James Allan Nylander
  • Publication number: 20180261343
    Abstract: A power module assembly may include a reactor vessel containing a primary coolant and one or more inlets configured to draw a secondary coolant from the containment cooling pool in response to a loss of power and/or a loss of coolant. One or more outlets may be submerged in the containment cooling pool and may be configured to vent the secondary coolant into the containment cooling pool. A heat exchanger may be configured to remove heat from the primary coolant, wherein the heat may be removed by circulating the secondary coolant from the containment cooling pool through the heat exchanger via natural circulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome
  • Publication number: 20180151262
    Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to prohibit a release of a coolant, and a reactor vessel mounted inside the containment vessel. An outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to below atmospheric pressure, wherein substantially all gases are evacuated from within the containment vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 9984777
    Abstract: A power module assembly may include a reactor vessel containing a primary coolant and one or more inlets configured to draw a secondary coolant from the containment cooling pool in response to a loss of power and/or a loss of coolant. One or more outlets may be submerged in the containment cooling pool and may be configured to vent the secondary coolant into the containment cooling pool. A heat exchanger may be configured to remove heat from the primary coolant, wherein the heat may be removed by circulating the secondary coolant from the containment cooling pool through the heat exchanger via natural circulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 9870838
    Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to prohibit a release of a coolant, and a reactor vessel mounted inside the containment vessel. An outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to below atmospheric pressure, wherein substantially all gases are evacuated from within the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 9431136
    Abstract: A stable startup system includes a reactor vessel containing coolant, a reactor core submerged in the coolant, and a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant. The stable startup system further includes one or more heaters configured to add heat to the coolant during a startup operation and prior to the reactor core going critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20160148709
    Abstract: A stable startup system includes a reactor vessel containing coolant, a reactor core submerged in the coolant, and a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant. The stable startup system further includes one or more heaters configured to add heat to the coolant during a startup operation and prior to the reactor core going critical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9330796
    Abstract: A stable startup system includes a reactor vessel containing coolant, a reactor core submerged in the coolant, and a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant. The stable startup system further includes one or more heaters configured to add heat to the coolant during a startup operation and prior to the reactor core going critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9230697
    Abstract: A steam generator for a nuclear reactor comprises plenums proximate with a first plane, wherein the first plane intersects a bottom portion of a riser column of a reactor vessel. The steam generator may further comprise plenums proximate with a second plane, approximately parallel with the first plane, wherein the second plane intersects a top portion of the riser column of the reactor vessel. The steam generator may further include a plurality of steam generator tubes that convey coolant from a plenum located proximate with the first plane to one of the plenums proximate with the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NUSCALE POWER, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Groome, Sooyun Joh, James Allan Nylander
  • Publication number: 20150103967
    Abstract: A steam generator for a nuclear reactor comprises plenums proximate with a first plane, wherein the first plane intersects a bottom portion of a riser column of a reactor vessel. The steam generator may further comprise plenums proximate with a second plane, approximately parallel with the first plane, wherein the second plane intersects a top portion of the riser column of the reactor vessel. The steam generator may further include a plurality of steam generator tubes that convey coolant from a plenum located proximate with the first plane to one of the plenums proximate with the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: John T. Groome, Sooyun Joh, James Allan Nylander
  • Patent number: 8891723
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel containing coolant, a reactor core submerged in the coolant, and a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the coolant. The nuclear reactor module further includes one or more heaters configured to add heat to the coolant during a startup operation and prior to the reactor core going critical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: State of Oregon Acting by and Through The State Board of Higher Education on Behalf or Oregon State University, The Oregon State University
    Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
  • Patent number: 8848855
    Abstract: A power module includes a containment vessel completely submerged in a pool of liquid, and a support structure located at or above an approximate midpoint of the containment vessel, or center of gravity of the power module. The power module is supported by the support structure in combination with a buoyancy force of the pool of liquid acting on the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: James Allan Nylander, John T. Groome, Eric Paul Young
  • Patent number: 8824619
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor module includes a reactor vessel and a reactor housing mounted inside the reactor vessel, wherein the reactor housing comprises a shroud and a riser located above the shroud. The nuclear reactor module further includes a heat exchanger proximately located about the riser, and a reactor core located in the shroud. A steam generator by-pass system is configured to provide an auxiliary flow path of primary coolant to the reactor core to augment a primary flow path of the primary coolant out of the riser and into the shroud, wherein the auxiliary flow path of primary coolant exits the reactor housing without passing by the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: NuScale Powe, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140233688
    Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor core immersed in a coolant and a reactor vessel housing the coolant and the reactor core. An internal dry containment vessel submerged in liquid substantially surrounds the reactor vessel in a gaseous environment. During an over-pressurization event the reactor vessel is configured to release the coolant into the containment vessel and remove a decay heat of the reactor core through condensation of the coolant on an inner surface of the containment vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: The State of OR acting by through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of OR State Univ.
    Inventors: Jose N. REYES, JR., John T. Groome
  • Publication number: 20140226780
    Abstract: A system includes a containment vessel configured to prohibit a release of a coolant, and a reactor vessel mounted inside the containment vessel. An outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to below atmospheric pressure, wherein substantially all gases are evacuated from within the containment vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicants: Univ.
    Inventors: Jose N. REYES,, JR., John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 8744035
    Abstract: A power module includes a reactor vessel containing a coolant and a reactor core located near a bottom end of the reactor vessel. A riser section is located above the reactor core, wherein the coolant circulates past the reactor core and up through the riser section. In one embodiment, a coolant deflector shield includes flow-optimized surfaces, wherein the flow-optimized surfaces direct the coolant towards the bottom end of the reactor vessel. In another embodiment, the reactor housing includes an inward facing portion that varies a flow pressure of the coolant and promotes a circulation of the coolant past a baffle assembly and towards the bottom end of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, Jr.