Patents by Inventor Luke D. Czerniak
Luke D. Czerniak 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: 11798693Abstract: A stationary control rod that controls overall nuclear reactivity and axial reactivity distribution of a fuel assembly, such that power level and axial power distribution within the fuel assembly is controlled without the need for movable control rods and associated hardware. The device uses magnetic fields to control the concentration and distribution of a magneto-rheological fluid containing a material with a very high neutron capture cross section, contained in one or more enclosed thimbles placed within existing thimbles in a fuel assembly. The magnetic fields are generated from electricity produced from interactions of the radiation particles within the core, or supplied using electrical cables that attach to fuel assembly top nozzles. The electricity drives a device that encloses associated wire coil assemblies that surround different axial regions of a tube that contains the magneto-rheological fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. Heibel, Richard O. Vollmer, Luke D. Czerniak
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Publication number: 20230132157Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Luke C. OLSON, Kathryn E. METZGER, Edward J. LAHODA, Elwyn ROBERTS, Michael R. ICKES, Paolo FERRONI, Denise Adorno LOPES, Luke D. CZERNIAK, Fausto FRANCESCHINI
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Patent number: 11373766Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered. The rotation apparatus further includes a rotation management system that controls the rotation of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. Lyons, Yasir Arafat, Jurie Van Wyk, Luke D. Czerniak, James L. Yankel, Matthew R. Heisel
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Publication number: 20200395134Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. LYONS, Yasir ARAFAT, Jurie VAN WYK, Luke D. CZERNIAK, James L. YANKEL, Matthew R. HEISEL
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Patent number: 10790066Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered. The rotation apparatus further includes a rotation management system that controls the rotation of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. Lyons, Yasir Arafat, Jurie Van Wyk, Luke D. Czerniak, James L. Yankel, Matthew R. Heisel
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Patent number: 10720253Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying an existing nuclear reactor moveable in-core detector system to insert and withdraw target specimens from a reactor core during reactor operation without practically impeding the moveable in-core detector system's ability to obtain flux maps of the core throughout the reactor's operation. The apparatus provides a separate drive unit and delivery cable that is independent of the detector drive system, but uses most of the same core delivery conduits to access the core. A specimen holder is remotely detachable from the delivery cable when appropriately positioned and can be remotely reattached for withdrawal after a scheduled period of radiation.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. Heibel, Luke D. Czerniak, Melissa M. Heagy, Jorge V. Carvajal, Matthew D. McArdle, Jeffrey J. Taylor, James L. Yankel
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Patent number: 10714222Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying an existing nuclear reactor moveable in-core detector system to insert and withdraw target specimens from a reactor core during reactor operation without practically impeding the moveable in-core detector system's ability to obtain flux maps of the core throughout the reactor's operation. The apparatus provides a separate drive unit and delivery cable that is independent of the detector drive system, but uses most of the same core delivery conduits to access the core. A specimen holder is remotely detachable from the delivery cable when appropriately positioned and can be remotely reattached for withdrawal after a scheduled period of radiation.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. Heibel, Luke D. Czerniak, Melissa M. Heagy, Jorge V. Carvajal, Matthew D. McArdle, Jeffrey J. Taylor, James L. Yankel
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Publication number: 20200176138Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying an existing nuclear reactor moveable in-core detector system to insert and withdraw target specimens from a reactor core during reactor operation without practically impeding the moveable in-core detector system's ability to obtain flux maps of the core throughout the reactor's operation. The apparatus provides a separate drive unit and delivery cable that is independent of the detector drive system, but uses most of the same core delivery conduits to access the core. A specimen holder is remotely detachable from the delivery cable when appropriately positioned and can be remotely reattached for withdrawal after a scheduled period of radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. HEIBEL, Luke D. CZERNIAK, Melissa M. HEAGY, Jorge V. CARVAJAL, Matthew D. MCARDLE, Jeffrey J. TAYLOR, James L. YANKEL
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Patent number: 10600523Abstract: A system that utilizes a very thin arrangement of transparent sub panels containing embedded very small distributed electromagnet wires to control the distribution of very fine magneto-rheological fluid particles suspended in a very thin panel sandwiched between the electromagnet wire panels. The current applied to specific electromagnets may be used to control the amount of electromagnetic energy, such as visible light, that can be transmitted through the panel system. The system may also be used to increase or decrease the rigidity of the multi-panel structure as a function of current applied to the electromagnets.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. Heibel, Luke D. Czerniak
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Publication number: 20190172599Abstract: A system that utilizes a very thin arrangement of transparent sub panels containing embedded very small distributed electromagnet wires to control the distribution of very fine magneto-rheological fluid particles suspended in a very thin panel sandwiched between the electromagnet wire panels. The current applied to specific electromagnets may be used to control the amount of electromagnetic energy, such as visible light, that can be transmitted through the panel system. The system may also be used to increase or decrease the rigidity of the multi-panel structure as a function of current applied to the electromagnets.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: MICHAEL D. HEIBEL, LUKE D. CZERNIAK
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Publication number: 20190172594Abstract: A rotation apparatus is usable with a control drum in a nuclear environment. The control drum is situated on a shaft that is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, and the control drum includes an absorber portion and a reflector portion. The rotation apparatus includes a rotation mechanism that is structured to apply to the shaft in an operational position a force that biases the shaft to rotate toward a shutdown position, with the force being resisted by a motor to retain the shaft in the operational position when the motor is powered. The force is not resisted when the motor is unpowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: John L. Lyons, Yasir Arafat, Jurie Van Wyk, Luke D. Czerniak, James L. Yankel, Matthew R. Heisel
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Publication number: 20190115113Abstract: A stationary control rod that controls overall nuclear reactivity and axial reactivity distribution of a fuel assembly, such that power level and axial power distribution within the fuel assembly is controlled without the need for movable control rods and associated hardware. The device uses magnetic fields to control the concentration and distribution of a magneto-rheological fluid containing a material with a very high neutron capture cross section, contained in one or more enclosed thimbles placed within existing thimbles in a fuel assembly. The magnetic fields are generated from electricity produced from interactions of the radiation particles within the core, or supplied using electrical cables that attach to fuel assembly top nozzles. The electricity drives a device that encloses associated wire coil assemblies that surround different axial regions of a tube that contains the magneto-rheological fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. Heibel, Richard O. Vollmer, Luke D. Czerniak
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Publication number: 20190108921Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying an existing nuclear reactor moveable in-core detector system to insert and withdraw target specimens from a reactor core during reactor operation without practically impeding the moveable in-core detector system's ability to obtain flux maps of the core throughout the reactor's operation. The apparatus provides a separate drive unit and delivery cable that is independent of the detector drive system, but uses most of the same core delivery conduits to access the core. A specimen holder is remotely detachable from the delivery cable when appropriately positioned and can be remotely reattached for withdrawal after a scheduled period of radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2017Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael D. Heibel, Luke D. Czerniak, Melissa M. Heagy, Jorge V. Carvajal, Matthew D. McArdle, Jeffrey J. Taylor, James L. Yankel