Patents by Inventor Radu Pomirleanu
Radu Pomirleanu 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: 20220108808Abstract: A control rod for a nuclear fuel assembly is described herein that includes a neutron absorbing material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. that does not form a eutectic with a melting point less than 1500° C., and may further include a cladding material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. The cladding material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium, a zirconium alloy, tungsten, and molybdenum. The absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of Gd2O3, Ir, B4C, Re, and Hf. The metal cladding or the absorbing material may be coated with an anti-oxidation coating of Cr with or without a Nb intermediate layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Edward J. LAHODA, Frank A. BOYLAN, Ho Q. LAM, Mitchell E. NISSLEY, Raymond E. SCHNEIDER, Robert L. OELRICH, Sumit RAY, Radu POMIRLEANU, Zeses KAROUTAS, Michael J. HONE
-
Patent number: 11289213Abstract: A control rod for a nuclear fuel assembly is described herein that includes a neutron absorbing material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. that does not form a eutectic with a melting point less than 1500° C., and may further include a cladding material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. The cladding material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium, a zirconium alloy, tungsten, and molybdenum. The absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of Gd2O3, Ir, B4C, Re, and Hf. The metal cladding or the absorbing material may be coated with an anti-oxidation coating of Cr with or without a Nb intermediate layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Edward J. Lahoda, Frank A. Boylan, Ho Q. Lam, Mitchell E. Nissley, Raymond E. Schneider, Robert L. Oelrich, Sumit Ray, Radu Pomirleanu, Zeses Karoutas, Michael J. Hone
-
Publication number: 20190066853Abstract: A high temperature control rod for a nuclear fuel assembly is described herein that includes a neutron absorbing material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. that does not form a eutectic with a melting point less than 1500° C., and may further include a cladding material having a melting point greater than 1500° C. The cladding material is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, zirconium, a zirconium alloy, tungsten, and molybdenum. The absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of Gd2O3, Ir, B4C, Re, and Hf. The metal cladding or the absorbing material may be coated with an anti-oxidation coating of Cr with or without a Nb intermediate layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: EDWARD J. LAHODA, FRANK A. BOYLAN, HO Q. LAM, MITCHELL E. NISSLEY, RAYMOND E. SCHNEIDER, ROBERT L. OELRICH, SUMIT RAY, RADU POMIRLEANU, ZESES KAROUTAS, MICHAEL J. HONE
-
Patent number: 8571165Abstract: The present invention provides a gray rod control assembly for a nuclear reactor. The gray rod control assembly includes a spider assembly having a plurality of radial extending flukes and a plurality of gray rod assemblies coupled to the flukes of the spider assembly. Each of the gray rod assemblies includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug, and a neutron absorber. The neutron absorber includes a matrix of refractory metal fabricated to be porous into which a metal or metal alloy is infused. The neutron absorber is distributed among a plurality of the gray rod assemblies.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael J. Hone, Carroll J. Long, Jr., Radu Pomirleanu, Mark P. Goldenfield
-
Publication number: 20120281805Abstract: The present invention provides a gray rod control assembly for a nuclear reactor. The gray rod control assembly includes a spider assembly having a plurality of radial extending flukes and a plurality of gray rod assemblies coupled to the flukes of the spider assembly. Each of the gray rod assemblies includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug, and a neutron absorber. The neutron absorber includes a matrix of refractory metal fabricated to be porous into which a metal or metal alloy is infused. The neutron absorber is distributed among a plurality of the gray rod assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: Westinhouse Electric Company, LLCInventors: Michael J. Hone, Carroll J. Long, JR., Radu Pomirleanu, Mark P. Goldenfield
-
Patent number: 8293151Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclear fuel compositions including triuranium disilicide. The triuranium disilicide includes a uranium component which includes uranium-235. The uranium-235 is present in an amount such that it constitutes from about 0.7% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the uranium component of the triuranium disilicide. The nuclear fuel compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in light water reactors.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Edward J. Lahoda, Radu Pomirleanu, Sumit Ray, Lars Hallstadius
-
Publication number: 20120002778Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclear fuel compositions including triuranium disilicide. The triuranium disilicide includes a uranium component which includes uranium-235. The uranium-235 is present in an amount such that it constitutes from about 0.7% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the uranium component of the triuranium disilicide. The nuclear fuel compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in light water reactors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Inventors: Edward J. Lahoda, Sumit Ray, Radu Pomirleanu, Lars Hallstadius
-
Publication number: 20120002777Abstract: The present invention relates to nuclear fuel compositions including triuranium disilicide. The triuranium disilicide includes a uranium component which includes uranium-235. The uranium-235 is present in an amount such that it constitutes from about 0.7% to about 20% by weight based on the total weight of the uranium component of the triuranium disilicide. The nuclear fuel compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in light water reactors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLCInventors: Edward J. Lahoda, Radu Pomirleanu, Sumit Ray, Lars Hallstadius
-
Patent number: 8031826Abstract: The present invention provides a gray rod control assembly (GRCA) containing an improved neutron absorber comprised of a porous matrix of refractory metal infused with a neutron absorbing metal or metal alloy for a nuclear reactor. The reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies, each including numerous elongated fuel rods supported in an organized array by substantially transverse support grids, and a plurality of guide thimbles disposed through the support grids and along the fuel rods. The GRCA includes a spider assembly structured to provide controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies within the thimbles of the fuel assembly, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug and the improved neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventors: Michael J. Hone, Carroll J. Long, Jr., Radu Pomirleanu, Mark P. Goldenfield
-
Publication number: 20110206174Abstract: The invention refers to a nuclear fuel, a fuel element, a fuel assembly and a method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel. The nuclear fuel is adapted for use in a water cooled nuclear reactor, including light water reactors LWR, such as Boiling Water Reactors BWR and Pressure Water Reactors PWR. The nuclear fuel comprises an uranium-containing compound consisting of UN. The uranium content of the uranium-containing compound comprises less than 10% by weight of the isotope 235U. The nuclear fuel comprises an additive substantially consisting of at least one element, in elementary form or as a compound, selected from the group consisting of Zr, Mo, Si, Al, Nb and U.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC SWEDEN ABInventors: Lars HALLSTADIUS, Edward J. LAHODA, Janne WALLENIUS, Mikael JOLKKONEN, Radu POMIRLEANU, Sumit RAY
-
Publication number: 20110170652Abstract: The present invention provides a gray rod control assembly (GRCA) containing an improved neutron absorber comprised of a porous matrix of refractory metal infused with a neutron absorbing metal or metal alloy for a nuclear reactor. The reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies, each including numerous elongated fuel rods supported in an organized array by substantially transverse support grids, and a plurality of guide thimbles disposed through the support grids and along the fuel rods. The GRCA includes a spider assembly structured to provide controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies within the thimbles of the fuel assembly, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug and the improved neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2008Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Michael J. Hone, Carroll J. Long, JR., Radu Pomirleanu, Mark P. Goldenfield
-
Publication number: 20050069080Abstract: A nuclear fuel assembly having a parallel array of elongated fuel elements supported between an upper and lower nozzle. Main support grids are substantially evenly spaced along the elongated dimension of the assembly to maintain the spacing between fuel elements. A plurality of auxiliary vibration-resistant grids respectively positioned between the main support grids in the middle third elongated dimension of the fuel elements, that are smaller in height and provide a larger fuel element contact area than the main support grids.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: Mark Goldenfield, Quang Nguyen, Gregory Settle, Radu Pomirleanu, Abdelaziz Elmahdi, Lewis Walton, Raymond Brashier