Title:
ROBUST NUCLEAR PROPULSION FISSION REACTOR WITH TRI-PITCH PATTERNED CORE AND DRUM ABSORBERS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2021/071599
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
Nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure has an active core region including fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures (such as drum absorbers), and a core former conformal mating the outer surface of the fuel element structures to the reflector. Fuel element structures are arranged abutting nearest neighbor fuel element structures in a tri-pitch design. Cladding bodies defining coolant channels are inserted into and joined to upper and lower core plates to from a continuous structure that is a first portion of the containment structure. The nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure can be incorporated into a nuclear thermal propulsion engine for propulsion applications, such as space propulsion.
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Inventors:
GRAMLICH CRAIG D (US)
FISHER BENJAMIN D (US)
RUSSELL II WILLIAM E (US)
FISHER BENJAMIN D (US)
RUSSELL II WILLIAM E (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2020/047722
Publication Date:
June 10, 2021
Filing Date:
August 25, 2020
Export Citation:
Assignee:
BWXT ADVANCED TECH LLC (US)
International Classes:
G21D5/06; B64G1/40; G21D5/02
Foreign References:
| US5410578A | 1995-04-25 | |||
| US20100172460A1 | 2010-07-08 | |||
| US20170263345A1 | 2017-09-14 | |||
| US20180233238A1 | 2018-08-16 | |||
| US20170213610A1 | 2017-07-27 | |||
| US3820325A | 1974-06-28 | |||
| US5475722A | 1995-12-12 | |||
| US4609522A | 1986-09-02 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KILLIAN, Jeffrey G. et al. (US)
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