Abstract: Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads.

Abstract: A system for producing at least one hydrocarbon fuel from a carbonaceous material, the system including: a nuclear power plant; a hydrocarbon fuel manufacturing plant, including at least an electrolyzer unit for producing a first hydrogen stream from water and electric power provided by the nuclear power plant, and an hydrocarbon fuel synthesis unit, the nuclear power plant supplying power to a power distribution grid to which electric power consumers other than the hydrocarbon manufacturing plant are electrically connected; a buffer storage of at least one given hydrocarbon fuel; a reforming unit for producing a second hydrogen stream from the at least one given hydrocarbon fuel, and a device to feed the at least one given hydrocarbon fuel to the reforming unit at a controlled feed flow rate; a device to feed the hydrocarbon fuel synthesis unit with the first hydrogen stream at a first controlled flow rate and with the second hydrogen stream at a second controlled flow rate; and a device to control the fi

Abstract: Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads.

Abstract: A system for generating hydrogen includes a liquid metal nuclear reactor having a non-radioactive secondary heat loop, a steam generator connected to the secondary heat loop, a high temperature water cracking system, and a topping heater. The heat produced by the nuclear reactor is used to raise the temperature of the feed water for the cracking system to between about 450° C. to about 550° C. The topping heater raises the feed water temperature from the 450° C. to 550° C. range to at least 850° C. so that the cracking system can operate efficiently to produce hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A method of separating and recovering useful rare FP contained in spent nuclear fuels (platinum group element (Ru, Rh, Pd), Ag, Tc, Se, Te) selectively and at high recovery percentage is provided. Nitric acid solution to be processed containing useful rare FP in spent nuclear fuels is electrolytically reduced by using Pd2+ or Fe2+ as a catalyst and rare FP are collectively deposited on an electrode and then deposits on the electrode are collectively dissolved by electrolytic oxidation. Then, the deposit-dissolved solution is electrolytically reduced at low current density, medium current density and high current density, successively, whereby Ag.Pd group, Se.Te group and Ru.Rh.Tc group are separately deposited and recovered, group by group. A cooperation system for nuclear power generation and fuel cell power generation can be provided by utilizing the recovered rare FP as electrode materials and production and purification catalysts for hydrogen fuel in fuel cell.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for avoiding potential accidents in water-cooled nuclear reactors of the type having an enclosing containment, due to the formation of an explosive gas mixture in the containment. Air is withdrawn from the containment and fed to at least one internal combustion engine as combustion air for the engine. The exhaust gases created by the internal combustion engine are then recycled back into the containment. The result is the lowering of the oxygen partial pressure in the containment to below the critical limit for oxyhydrogen explosion.

Abstract: The exhaust gas of a fusion reactor contains, besides non-burnt fuel (tritium and deuterium) and helium, the "ash" from the nuclear fusion reaction a number of impurities with the radioactive tritium and/or deuterium chemically bound to them. In order to clean the exhaust gas, both the elemental and the chemically bound tritium and/or deuterium fractions are separated from the exhaust gas. Separation is achieved exclusively by physical and catalytical process steps, namely a palladium/silver permeator, a CuO/Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 /ZnO catalyst bed and a further palladium/silver permeator containing a nickel/aluminum oxide bulk catalyst.

Abstract: Irradiation of a siloxane derives SiO at low temperatures and forms the basis for a closed cycle reforming the siloxane that decomposes water to produce H.sub.2 and O.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dissociating steam in a fusion reaction central chamber. The charged particle energy from an ignited fusion fuel pellet is directed to and distributed in a suitable volume of steam, bringing the steam to temperature and pressure conditions leading to dissociation into hydrogen and oxygen. The resulting atomic and molecular velocities are sufficiently high to allow egress of the separated products through a suitable shaped nozzle prior to recombination, making it practical to separate and capture the dissociated products.

Abstract: Improved closed-loop pyrochemical processes for the decomposition of water in which at least one of the reaction steps in each process is carried out pyrochemically within the central reaction chamber of a thermonuclear reactor during and immediately after a thermonuclear reaction, and in which one of the reagents in or products of the chamber reaction is a metal having a boiling temperature which is higher than the decomposition temperature of the associated metal oxide. The product of the pyrochemical reaction which includes the metal element is in the condensed phase after completion of the reaction and may thus be easily separated from the remaining gaseous reaction products.

Abstract: A multi-step chemical and radiolytic process for the production of gas such as hydrogen and oxygen. A highly radiosensitive gas such as carbon dioxide is injected directly into the reaction chamber of a fusion reactor and is molecularly dissociated to form carbon monoxide and pure oxygen when the fusion fuel is burned. The carbon monoxide is then mixed with steam at an elevated temperature to form carbon dioxide and pure hydrogen. The carbon dioxide is recycled and injected into the central reaction chamber to complete a closed-loop process for production of pure hydrogen and oxygen at the expense of water.

Abstract: Improved closed-loop pyrochemical processes for the decomposition of water in which at least one reaction step in each process has a high energy requirement that may be expressed in standard Gibbs free energy change terms of more than 10 to 20 kcal/mole at 298.degree. K., .DELTA.G.sup.o.sub.f298. Such high energy steps are carried out in the central reaction chamber of a thermonuclear reactor wherein the energy of intense shock waves, hereinafter called the blast waves, caused by a pellet-by-pellet intermittent thermonuclear reaction provides an automatic drive for the process step kinetics. During the radial outward propagation of the blast wave reaction materials within the chamber are heated and compressed within the blast wave and entrained behind the blast wave. The product density immediately behind the blast wave remains directly proportional to the ambient density ahead of the wave.

Abstract: A falling bed of ceramic particles receives neutron irradiation from a neutron-producing plasma and thereby transports energy as heat from the plasma to a heat exchange location where the ceramic particles are cooled by a gas flow. The cooled ceramic particles are elevated to a location from which they may again pass by gravity through the region where they are exposed to neutron radiation. Ceramic particles of alumina, magnesia, silica and combinations of these materials are contemplated as high-temperature materials that will accept energy from neutron irradiation. Separate containers of material incorporating lithium are exposed to the neutron flux for the breeding of tritium that may subsequently be used in neutron-producing reactions. The falling bed of ceramic particles includes velocity partitioning between compartments near to the neutron-producing plasma and compartments away from the plasma to moderate the maximum temperature in the bed.