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).
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Patent number: 8731130Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor vessel containing a reactor core surrounded by a primary coolant. A containment vessel is adapted to be submerged in a containment cooling pool and to prohibit a release of the primary coolant outside of the containment vessel. A secondary cooling system is configured to remove heat generated by the reactor core. The heat is removed by circulating liquid from the containment cooling pool through the primary coolant.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State UniversityInventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
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Patent number: 8687759Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2007Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State UniversityInventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
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Patent number: 8588360Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State UniversityInventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20130279643Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: John T. Groome, Sooyun Joh, James Allan Nylander
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Publication number: 20130266111Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, JR.
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Patent number: 8542792Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 17, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: NuScale Power, LLCInventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130235968Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: NuScale Power, LLCInventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, JR.
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Patent number: 8437446Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: NuScale Power, LLCInventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, Jr.
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Publication number: 20120294408Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor vessel containing a reactor core surrounded by a primary coolant. A containment vessel is adapted to be submerged in a containment cooling pool and to prohibit a release of the primary coolant outside of the containment vessel. A secondary cooling system is configured to remove heat generated by the reactor core. The heat is removed by circulating liquid from the containment cooling pool through the primary coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicants: Univ.Inventors: Jose N. REYES, JR., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20120177168Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicants: Univ.Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome
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Patent number: 8170173Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor vessel containing a reactor core surrounded by a primary coolant. A containment vessel is adapted to be submerged in a containment cooling pool and to prohibit a release of the primary coolant outside of the containment vessel. A secondary cooling system is configured to remove heat generated by the reactor core. The heat is removed by circulating liquid from the containment cooling pool through the primary coolant.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and Through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State UniversityInventors: Jose N. Reyes, Jr., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20100124303Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: May 20, 2010Applicant: NuScale Power, Inc.Inventors: Eric Paul Young, John T. Groome, Jose N. Reyes, JR.
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Publication number: 20100124304Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2008Publication date: May 20, 2010Applicant: NuScale Power, Inc.Inventors: James Allan Nylander, John T. Groome, Eric Paul Young
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Publication number: 20090161812Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2009Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicants: Univ.Inventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20090129531Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: The State of OR acting by and through the state System of Higher Education on Behalf of OR State UInventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20090129530Abstract: A power module assembly includes a reactor vessel containing a reactor core surrounded by a primary coolant. A containment vessel is adapted to be submerged in a containment cooling pool and to prohibit a release of the primary coolant outside of the containment vessel. A secondary cooling system is configured to remove heat generated by the reactor core. The heat is removed by circulating liquid from the containment cooling pool through the primary coolant.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: The State of OR acting by and through the State System of Higher Education on Behalf of OR State UInventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20090129532Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: The State of OR acting by and through the State System of Higher Education on Behalf of OR State UInventors: Jose N. Reyes, JR., John T. Groome, Qiao Wu, Brian G. Woods, Todd S. Palmer
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Patent number: 6688381Abstract: Thermal management devices and methods include branching networks comprising flow channels of varying cross-sectional area. The branching networks can be fractal-like in nature with an increase in the total flow area following a flow channel bifurcation. In representative embodiments, the branching networks are defined in a channel pattern that is laminated between cover plates to form a thermal management device. The channel pattern includes bridging portions so that the branching network is defined with a single pattern piece. The branching networks can exhibit radial symmetry or be aligned with respect to one or more axes. Heat exchangers and diffusive mixers that include such networks are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State UniversityInventors: Deborah V. Pence, Jose N. Reyes, Jr., Nathan Phillips, Qiao Wu, John T. Groome
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Publication number: 20020080563Abstract: Thermal management devices and methods include branching networks comprising flow channels of varying cross-sectional area. The branching networks can be fractal-like in nature with an increase in the total flow area following a flow channel bifurcation. In representative embodiments, the branching networks are defined in a channel pattern that is laminated between cover plates to form a thermal management device. The channel pattern includes bridging portions so that the branching network is defined with a single pattern piece. The branching networks can exhibit radial symmetry or be aligned with respect to one or more axes. Heat exchangers and diffusive mixers that include such networks are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2001Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Deborah V. Pence, Jose N. Reyes, Nathan Phillips, Qiao Wu, John T. Groome