CARBIDE-BASED FUEL ASSEMBLY FOR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS

Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material (e.g., SiC-SiC composite), insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material (e.g., zirconium carbide with open-cell foam structure or fibrous zirconium carbide), and interior structural member of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors BERGMAN, Joshua J, KRECICKI, Matt, ALES, Matt, INMAN, James B, GALICKI, Danny, GUSTAFSON, Jeremy L, BARRINGER, Eric A, WITTER, Jonathan K, RIDGEWAY, Roger, JENSEN, Russell R, SWANSON, Ryan T
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 14.04.2022
Subjects
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
NUCLEAR PHYSICS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
NUCLEAR REACTORS
PHYSICS
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material (e.g., SiC-SiC composite), insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material (e.g., zirconium carbide with open-cell foam structure or fibrous zirconium carbide), and interior structural member of refractory ceramic-graphite composite material (e.g., zirconium carbide-graphite or niobium carbide-graphite). Spacer structures between various layers provide a defined and controlled spacing relationship. A fuel element bundle positioned between support meshes includes a plurality of distributively arranged fuel elements or a solid, unitary fuel element with coolant channels, each having a fuel composition including high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU). Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block and the upper end of the outer structural member is attached to a metallic inlet tube for hydrogen propellant and the lower end of the outer structural member is interfaced with a support plate, forming a NTP reactor.
Bibliography:Application Number: US202117399881