Patents by Inventor Mark A. Havstad
Mark A. Havstad 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: 11488731Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, John R. Suyes, III
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Patent number: 11367536Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that allow for active cooling of the containment vessel of the reactor by the primary coolant. Furthermore, naturally circulating reactor configurations are described in which the reactor cores are substantially frustum-shaped so that the thermal center of the reactor core is below the outlet of the primary heat exchangers. Heat exchanger configurations are described in which welded components are distanced from the reactor core to reduce the damage caused by neutron flux from the reactor. Radial loop reactor configurations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20210210222Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, John R. Suyes, III
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Patent number: 10923238Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, John R. Suyes, III
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Publication number: 20200279660Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that allow for active cooling of the containment vessel of the reactor by the primary coolant. Furthermore, naturally circulating reactor configurations are described in which the reactor cores are substantially frustum-shaped so that the thermal center of the reactor core is below the outlet of the primary heat exchangers. Heat exchanger configurations are described in which welded components are distanced from the reactor core to reduce the damage caused by neutron flux from the reactor. Radial loop reactor configurations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Patent number: 10741293Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that include an auxiliary cooling system which shared part of the primary coolant loop but allows for passive cooling of decay heat from the reactor. Furthermore, different pump configurations for circulating molten fuel through the reactor core and one or more in vessel heat exchangers are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Robert A. Corbin, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Patent number: 10665356Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that utilize neutron-reflecting coolants or a combination of primary salt coolants and secondary neutron-reflecting coolants. Further configurations are described that circulate liquid neutron-reflecting material around an reactor core to control the neutronics of the reactor. Furthermore, configurations which use the circulating neutron-reflecting material to actively cool the containment vessel are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Brian C. Kelleher, William M. Kerlin, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, Robert C. Petroski, Joshua C. Walter, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Jr., Ken Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns
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Publication number: 20180137944Abstract: This disclosure describes various configurations and components of a molten fuel fast or thermal nuclear reactor for managing the operating temperature in the reactor core. The disclosure includes various configurations of direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) heat exchangers and primary heat exchangers as well as descriptions of improved flow paths for nuclear fuel, primary coolant and DRACS coolant through the reactor components.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, John R. Suyes, III
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Publication number: 20170316840Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that allow for active cooling of the containment vessel of the reactor by the primary coolant. Furthermore, naturally circulating reactor configurations are described in which the reactor cores are substantially frustum-shaped so that the thermal center of the reactor core is below the outlet of the primary heat exchangers. Heat exchanger configurations are described in which welded components are distanced from the reactor core to reduce the damage caused by neutron flux from the reactor. Radial loop reactor configurations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20170316841Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that include an auxiliary cooling system which shared part of the primary coolant loop but allows for passive cooling of decay heat from the reactor. Furthermore, different pump configurations for circulating molten fuel through the reactor core and one or more in vessel heat exchangers are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Robert A. Corbin, Daniel Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20170301421Abstract: Configurations of molten fuel salt reactors are described that utilize neutron-reflecting coolants or a combination of primary salt coolants and secondary neutron-reflecting coolants. Further configurations are described that circulate liquid neutron-reflecting material around an reactor core to control the neutronics of the reactor. Furthermore, configurations which use the circulating neutron-reflecting material to actively cool the containment vessel are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: TerraPower, LLCInventors: Ryan Abbott, Jesse R. Cheatham, III, Anselmo T. Cisneros, JR., Ken Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, Dan Flowers, Charles Gregory Freeman, Mark A. Havstad, Christopher J. Johns, Brian C. Kelleher, William M. Kerlin, Kevin Kramer, Jeffery F. Latkowski, Jon D. McWhirter, Robert C. Petroski, Joshua C. Walter
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Patent number: 7993785Abstract: Described herein is a means to incorporate catalytic materials into the fuel flow field structures of MEMS-based fuel cells, which enable catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbon based fuel, such as methane, methanol, or butane. Methods of fabrication are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Alan F. Jankowski, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Mark A. Havstad
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Publication number: 20050207953Abstract: A chemical microreactor with a high aspect ratio. In one embodiment the chemical microreactor has a chemical microreactor section with channels having a height and with spacings having a width. There is a high aspect ratio of the height to the width. The high aspect ratio in one embodiment is more than substantially 5:1. The high aspect ratio in another embodiment is more than substantially 10:1. The high aspect ratio another embodiment is more than substantially 15:1. The high aspect ratio in one embodiment is substantially 20:1.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2004Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Ravindra Upadhye, Jeffrey Morse, David Sopchak, Mark Havstad, Robert Graff
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Publication number: 20040072039Abstract: Described herein is a means to incorporate catalytic materials into the fuel flow field structures of MEMS-based fuel cells, which enable catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbon based fuel, such as methane, methanol, or butane. Methods of fabrication are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Alan F. Jankowski, Jeffrey D. Morse, Ravindra S. Upadhye, Mark A. Havstad