Abstract:
A composition comprising a high volumetric loading of near spherical particles in a high temperature matrix is disclosed. The matrix material encapsulates the solid particulate material, wherein each individual particle of the solid particulate material is in close contact with an average of at least (6) adjacent particles. A method comprising providing a solid particulate material, providing a mold, providing a means for packing the particles in the mold to provide the high packing density which may include : evacuating the solid particulate material of gas in the void spaces between the particles of the particulate material, evacuating the mold, introducing the evacuated solid particulate material into the mold, providing a fluid matrix material, and introducing the fluid matrix material into the void spaces while constraining the solid particulate material.
Abstract:
A gerotor mechanism having one or more "work gerotor sets" that operate on the working fluid, where the inner and outer gerotors approach each other closely, but do not make mechanical contact; b) one or more "sync gerotor sets" which using direct lubricated or non-lubricated contact between the inner and outer gerotors to transmit mechanical drive and to keep the assembly of gerotor sets synchronized and co- rotating, and, c) one or more mounting members (e.g. central common shaft, "CoRotor bearings", etc.) to provide nominally independent rotation of all rotating components of the work gerotor sets; to transmit forces between work and synch gerotor sets; and to act as a mechanical seal that keeps separate the working fluid of the work gerotor set from the working fluid of the sync gerotor set.
Abstract:
A novel containment system for encapsulating nuclear fuel particles is disclosed. The containment system has a gas-impervious ceramic composite hollow shell having a spheroidal or ovoidal shape. The shell has a pair of longitudinally aligned round openings that are sealed with a gas-impervious ceramic composite tube to define a cavity between the shell inner surface and the tube outer surface. A ceramic composite matrix containing the nuclear fuel particles is enclosed within the cavity. The ceramic composite matrix has a controlled porosity, and can contain moderators or neutron absorbing material. The tube and shell are composed of a ceramic matrix composite material composed of ceramic reinforcement material that is bound together by a polymer-derived ceramic material.