Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

Abstract: A Control Neutron Absorber (CNA) assembly for a microreactor that produces nuclear energy is disclosed. The CNA assembly includes a housing, a CNA rod, and a burnable absorber. The housing includes an inner housing and an outer housing. The inner housing is configured to receive a CNA rod. The outer housing extends coaxially with the inner housing and is positioned radially outward and offset from the inner housing defining a cavity therebetween. The CNA rod includes a neutron absorbing rod including a first neutron absorbing material. The neutron absorbing rod is positioned within the inner housing and is configured to move axially relative to the inner housing. The burnable absorber includes a second neutron absorbing material, exhibits a neutron absorbing strength that is less than that of the neutron absorbing rod, is positioned within the inner housing, and is configured to receive the neutron absorbing rod therein.

Abstract: A reactor core block is disclosed including a fuel channel, a heat pipe, a primary moderator matrix configured to encompass the fuel channel and the heat pipe, and a secondary moderator channel configured to at least partially surround the fuel channel, the heat pipe, and the primary moderator matrix. The secondary moderator channel is comprised of metal hydride.

Abstract: An energy production device may include a core and a heat exchanger positioned over the core. The core may include one or more fuel rods. The core may further include a heat transmission fluid configured to flow through natural convection upwards through the one or more fuel rods and collect heat therefrom. The core may also include a reaction control device including a neutron-absorbing material. The heat exchanger may be configured to receive the heat transmission fluid and transfer the heat to an energy harnessing device positioned on an opposite side of the heat exchanger from the core.

Abstract: An energy production device may include a core configured to heat a heat transmission fluid, an energy harnessing device configured to convert heat into electrical energy and a heat transfer device positioned over the core configured to receive the heat transmission fluid and transfer the heat to the energy harnessing device. The energy production device may further include a vibration isolator positioned between the energy harnessing device and the heat transfer device. The vibration isolator may be configured to secure the energy harnessing device to the heat transfer device and substantially prevent the transmission of motion from the energy harnessing device to the heat transfer device.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A block style heat exchanger for a heat pipe reactor having a plurality of heat pipes extending from a reactor core. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of primary channels, each for receiving heat transferred from the core via one of the heat pipes. The primary channels extending within a block of one or more materials. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of secondary channels defined within the block for transmitting a flow of the secondary heat transfer medium through the heat exchanger from an inlet to an outlet. The block is formed from one or both of: a plurality of plates bonded together, with each plate defining at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of primary channels and/or the plurality of secondary channels, and/or a unitary piece of material formed from an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A system for use in shutting down a nuclear reactor includes a housing that defines a region therein sealed from an ambient environment and a gate member disposed within the region in a manner such that the gate member segregates the region into a first compartment and a second compartment isolated from the first compartment. The gate member is formed from a material having a predetermined melting point. The system further includes a neutron absorbing material disposed within the first compartment and a dispersion mechanism disposed within the region. The dispersion mechanism structured to encourage the neutron absorbing material from the first compartment into the second compartment.

Abstract: A block style heat exchanger for a heat pipe reactor having a plurality of heat pipes extending from a reactor core. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of primary channels, each for receiving heat transferred from the core via one of the heat pipes. The primary channels extending within a block of one or more materials. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of secondary channels defined within the block for transmitting a flow of the secondary heat transfer medium through the heat exchanger from an inlet to an outlet. The block is formed from one or both of: a plurality of plates bonded together, with each plate defining at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of primary channels and/or the plurality of secondary channels, and/or a unitary piece of material formed from an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A system for use in shutting down a nuclear reactor includes a housing that defines a region therein sealed from an ambient environment and a gate member disposed within the region in a manner such that the gate member segregates the region into a first compartment and a second compartment isolated from the first compartment. The gate member is formed from a material having a predetermined melting point. The system further includes a neutron absorbing material disposed within the first compartment and a dispersion mechanism disposed within the region. The dispersion mechanism structured to encourage the neutron absorbing material from the first compartment into the second compartment.

Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the “igniter core” where an “igniter core” heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A heat pipe assembly of a nuclear apparatus includes a number of elongated heat pipes and a detection system having one or more fiber optic cable assemblies that are elongated and are wrapped in a helical fashion along an exterior surface of one or more of the heat pipes. The detection system further includes an optical signal generator that supplies to each, fiber optic assembly an optical signal and additionally includes a sensor that detects a number of reflections of the optical signal and generates an output. The output is usable by an instrumentation and control system to determine a number of temperatures along one or more of the heat tubes by detecting a temperature at each of a plurality of locations along each fiber optic cable assembly.

Abstract: A system usable in a nuclear environment provides a reservoir of liquefied breathable gas in fluid communication with a deployment system. The deployment system uses a stream of the breathable gas from the reservoir to operate a gas turbine which runs an electrical generator that is mechanically connected therewith to generate electrical power that is stored in a battery bank. The stream of breathable gas then flows from the turbine and is split between a heat exchanger that is situated in heat exchange relation with the interior region of the main control room and an outlet that provides breathable gas to the control room. The portion of the stream that flows through the heat exchanger cools the main control room. The other portion of the stream that provides breathable gas to the main control room also recirculates the atmosphere in the control room.

Abstract: A molten salt reactor includes a containment vessel, a reactor core, a neutron reflector spaced from the containment vessel, and liquid fuel enclosed within the core. The liquid fuel is comprised of a nuclear fission material dissolved in a molten salt. A heat exchanger is positioned external to the containment vessel. A plurality of heat transfer pipes are provided for transferring heat from the core to the heat exchanger. Each pipe has a first and a second end. The first end of each pipe is positioned within the reactor core for absorbing heat from the fuel. The heat exchanger receives the second end of each heat transfer pipe. At least two or more reactor shut down systems are provided. At least one shut down system may be a passive system and at least one or both shut down systems may be an active or a manually operated system.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor containment system including a nuclear reactor and a container enclosing the nuclear reactor. The container includes a number of heat removal systems each having an active state and an inactive state, wherein the heat removal systems dissipate heat from the container more efficiently in the active state than in the inactive state, and wherein the heat removal systems are structured to switch from the inactive state to the active state based on a temperature of the container.

Abstract: A system usable in a nuclear environment provides a reservoir of liquefied breathable gas in fluid communication with a deployment system. The deployment system uses a stream of the breathable gas from the reservoir to operate a gas turbine which runs an electrical generator that is mechanically connected therewith to generate electrical power that is stored in a battery bank. The stream of breathable gas then flows from the turbine and is split between a heat exchanger that is situated in heat exchange relation with the interior region of the main control room and an outlet that provides breathable gas to the control room. The portion of the stream that flows through the heat exchanger cools the main control room.

Abstract: A heat pipe assembly of a nuclear apparatus includes a number of elongated heat pipes and a detection system having one or more fiber optic cable assemblies that are elongated and are wrapped in a helical fashion along an exterior surface of one or more of the heat pipes. The detection system further includes an optical signal generator that supplies to each, fiber optic assembly an optical signal and additionally includes a sensor that detects a number of reflections of the optical signal and generates an output. The output is usable by an instrumentation and control system to determine a number of temperatures along one or more of the heat tubes by detecting a temperature at each of a plurality of locations along each fiber optic cable assembly.