Patents by Inventor Philippe AMPHOUX

Philippe AMPHOUX 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: 20250006392
    Abstract: The invention essentially consists in using in combination a thermal storage loop, arranged between the primary circuit and secondary circuit of a reactor, with a dry-air cooling device connected to the condenser of the secondary circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Philippe AMPHOUX, Jean-Baptiste DROIN
  • Publication number: 20240371535
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor with liquid coolant and solid fuel assemblies incorporates a heat removal system using a liquid metal bath for removing nominal heat and phase-change material(s) (PCM) for removing the decay heat in an accident situation. The nuclear reactor uses a liquid metal or molten salt primary coolant that simultaneously ensures passive heat removal, by natural convection in the primary circuit, in normal and accident operating modes during shutdown through the primary vessel of the reactor, that is, beyond the second containment barrier. In the event of an incident or accident, a compact passive decay heat removal system is capable of performing the safety function for a predetermined period, typically three days, without any intervention by an operator, due to the presence of one or more PCM(s) that store(s) the decay heat produced in the core and removed by the primary vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Alessandro PANTANO, Vincent PASCAL, Philippe AMPHOUX, Pierre ALLEGRE, Christoph DODERLEIN, Pierre SCIORA
  • Publication number: 20240304344
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor with forced-convection liquid coolant and solid fuel assemblies incorporates a heat removal system using a liquid metal bath for removing the nominal heat and phase-change material(s) (PCM) for removing the decay heat in an accident situation. The solid-fuel nuclear reactor with liquid metal or molten salt primary coolant simultaneously ensures heat removal by forced convection in the primary circuit, in normal and accident operating modes, during shutdown through the primary vessel of the reactor, that is, beyond the second containment barrier. In the event of an incident or accident, a compact passive decay heat removal system is capable of performing the safety function for a predetermined period, typically three days, without any intervention by an operator, due to the presence of one or more PCM(s) that store(s) the decay heat produced in the core and removed by the primary vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Alessandro PANTANO, Vincent PASCAL, Philippe AMPHOUX, Pierre ALLEGRE, Christoph DODERLEIN, Pierre SCIORA
  • Publication number: 20240212872
    Abstract: A nuclear reactor incorporating a DHR system that simultaneously guarantees removal of decay heat as soon as the reactor is shut down; removal of heat through the primary vessel and then behind the secondary vessel; improved and entirely passive (Seebeck effect) heat removal by thermal conduction through fins distributed around the primary vessel in the guard gap and which, when pivoted into their deployed position, form a kind of thermal bridge between the primary and secondary vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Alessandro PANTANO, Philippe AMPHOUX