Patents by Inventor Luke C. Olson

Luke C. Olson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240212870
    Abstract: A coating for protecting a Zirconium alloy based layer of a nuclear fuel rod cladding is provided. The coating comprises a primary layer. A microstructure of the primary layer is comprised of a number of grains and is randomized. The primary layer is configured with a density of about 94.5% or greater. A cladding for a nuclear fuel rod and a method for producing a cladding for a nuclear fuel rod are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. LAHODA, Elwyn ROBERTS, Benjamin R. MAIER, Allan Wayne JAWORSKI, JR., Arash PARSI, Guoqiang WANG, William A. BYERS, Jorie WALTERS, Chona P. VALLENCOUR, John Leo LYONS, Luke CZERNIAK, Roy J. MATWAY, Gregory E. ROBERTS, Kathryn E. METZGER, Jonathan WRIGHT, Luke C. OLSON, Denise ADORNO-LOPES
  • Patent number: 12018390
    Abstract: A method is described herein that produces UN from UF6 in at most two steps comprising UF6?intermediate?UN. The principle of the reaction is that in a first step, UF6 would be reduced to UxNy, where x may be an integer selected from 1 and 3, and y is an integer selected from 1 and 2. Reduction occurs at or near the surface of a gaseous membrane electrode where it is also in contact with a nitrogen bearing salt. In a second step, UxNy decomposes to UN and N2 gas, either in the same reactor as the first step or after removal to a separate unit for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Luke C. Olson, Kathryn E. Metzger, Edward J. Lahoda
  • Publication number: 20230132157
    Abstract: Annular nuclear fuel rods are disclosed. The annular nuclear fuel rods include an outer cladding tube made of ceramic composite or cermet composite, an inner cladding tube made of ceramic composite or cermet composite, a nuclear fuel region located between the outer cladding tube and inner cladding tube, and an open channel for liquid coolant to flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Luke C. OLSON, Kathryn E. METZGER, Edward J. LAHODA, Elwyn ROBERTS, Michael R. ICKES, Paolo FERRONI, Denise Adorno LOPES, Luke D. CZERNIAK, Fausto FRANCESCHINI
  • Publication number: 20220333254
    Abstract: A method is described herein that produces UN from UF6 in at most two steps comprising UF6?intermediate?UN. The principle of the reaction is that in a first step, UF6 would be reduced to UxNy, where x may be an integer selected from 1 and 3, and y is an integer selected from 1 and 2. Reduction occurs at or near the surface of a gaseous membrane electrode where it is also in contact with a nitrogen bearing salt. In a second step, UxNy decomposes to UN and N2 gas, either in the same reactor as the first step or after removal to a separate unit for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Luke C. OLSON, Kathryn E. METZGER, Edward J. Lahoda
  • Patent number: 10450660
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells and methods are described that can be utilized for the recovery of tritium directly from a molten lithium metal solution without the need for a separation or concentration step prior to the electrolytic recovery process. The methods and systems utilize an ion conducting electrolyte that conducts either lithium ion or tritide ion across the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, David W. Babineau, Hector R. Colon-Mercado, Joseph A. Teprovich, Luke C. Olson, Roderick E. Fuentes
  • Patent number: 9562297
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20160251768
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson
  • Patent number: 9382632
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20160122881
    Abstract: Electrochemical cells and methods are described that can be utilized for the recovery of tritium directly from a molten lithium metal solution without the need for a separation or concentration step prior to the electrolytic recovery process. The methods and systems utilize an on conducting electrolyte that conducts either lithium ion or tritide ion across the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, David W. Babineau, Hector R. Colon-Mercado, Joseph A. Teprovich, Luke C. Olson, Roderick E. Fuentes
  • Publication number: 20140374272
    Abstract: A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UO2 and processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Brenda L. Garcia-Diaz, Michael J. Martinez-Rodriguez, Joshua R. Gray, Luke C. Olson