FUEL BUNDLE WITH TWISTED RIBBON FUEL RODLETS FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS, STRUCTURES FOR MANUFACTURE, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

    公开(公告)号:US20230282373A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-09-07

    申请号:US18118193

    申请日:2023-03-07

    IPC分类号: G21C3/322 G21D5/02 B64G1/40

    CPC分类号: G21C3/322 G21D5/02 B64G1/408

    摘要: Fuel bundle has plurality of twisted ribbon fuel rodlets arranged in hexagonal packing or circle packing arrangement in a reactor core encased in a multilayer casing. Arrangement of twisted ribbon fuel rodlets is facilitated by rodlet seating fixture with seating surface having a plurality of protrusions that form a receiving space for ends of the twisted ribbon fuel rodlets. Manufacture of the fuel bundle incorporates fiber manufacturing technologies and, optionally, infiltration of spaces in the reactor core by infiltrant. Twisted ribbon fuel rodlet manufacturing system has sub-systems that impart twist periodicity to extruded ribbons, inspect twisted extruded ribbons, and cut twisted extruded ribbons to length. Inspection sorts twisted ribbon fuel rodlets as well as provides feedback to adjust operation of sub-systems. The fuel bundle (and optional fuel bundle support) can be incorporated into a fuel assembly of nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure of, for example, a nuclear thermal propulsion engine.

    MODIFIED POLYMER DERIVED CERAMICS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USING SAME, AND CERAMIC BODIES MANUFACTURED THEREBY

    公开(公告)号:US20200308064A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-10-01

    申请号:US16835398

    申请日:2020-03-31

    摘要: Pre-ceramic particle solutions can prepared by a Coordinated-PDC process, a Direct-PDC process or a Coordinated-Direct-PDC process. The pre-ceramic particle solution includes a polymer selected from the group consisting of (i) an organic polymer including a metal or metalloid cation, (ii) a first organometallic polymer and (iii) a second organometallic polymer including a metal or metalloid cation different from a metal in the second organometallic polymer, a plurality of particles selected from the group consisting of (a) a ceramic fuel particle and (b) a moderator particle, a dispersant, and a polymerization initiator. The pre-ceramic particle solution can be supplied to an additive manufacturing process, such as digital light projection, and made into a structure (which is pre-ceramic particle green body) that can then be debinded to form a polymer-derived ceramic sintered body. In some embodiments, the polymer-derived ceramic sintered body is a component or structure for fission reactors.

    FUEL BUNDLE WITH TWISTED RIBBON FUEL RODLETS FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS, STRUCTURES FOR MANUFACTURE, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE

    公开(公告)号:US20230282374A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-09-07

    申请号:US18118206

    申请日:2023-03-07

    IPC分类号: G21C3/322

    CPC分类号: G21C3/322

    摘要: Fuel bundle has plurality of twisted ribbon fuel rodlets arranged hexagonal packing or circle packing arrangement in a reactor core encased in a multilayer casing. Arrangement of twisted ribbon fuel rodlets is facilitated by rodlet seating fixture with seating surface having a plurality of protrusions that form a receiving space for ends of the twisted ribbon fuel rodlets. Manufacture of the fuel bundle incorporates fiber manufacturing technologies and, optionally, infiltration of spaces in the reactor core by infiltrant. Twisted ribbon fuel rodlet manufacturing system has sub-systems that impart twist periodicity to extruded ribbons, inspect twisted extruded ribbons, and cut twisted extruded ribbons to length. Inspection sorts twisted ribbon fuel rodlets as well as provides feedback to adjust operation of sub-systems. The fuel bundle (and optional fuel bundle support) can be incorporated into a fuel assembly of nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure of, for example, a nuclear thermal propulsion engine.

    PHOTON PROPAGATION MODIFIED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USING SAME

    公开(公告)号:US20220134650A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-05-05

    申请号:US17515625

    申请日:2021-11-01

    摘要: Additive manufacturing compositions include low-absorbing particles or non-absorbing particles that have an absorbance for wavelengths of 300 nm to 700 nm that is equal to or greater than 0 Au and is less 1.0 Au, such as 0.001 Au≤absorbance≤0.7 Au. Slurries including such particles and an uranium-containing particle and that are used in additive manufacturing processes have an increased penetration depth for curative radiation. Removal of low-absorbing particles or non-absorbing particles during post-processing of as-manufactured products results in pores that create porosity in the as-manufactured product that provide a volume accommodating fission gases and/or can enhance wicking of certain heat pipe coolant liquids. Low-absorbing particles or non-absorbing particles can be functionalized for improved properties, for example, with fissionable material for improved ceramic yields, with burnable poisons or stabilizers for increased homogeneity, with stabilizers for localized delivery of the stabilizer, or with combinations thereof.