Nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9269462-B2
Application number	US-65320509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2009
Priority date	Aug 28, 2009
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include a vented nuclear fission fuel module system. Given by way of non-limiting example and not of limitation, an illustrative vented nuclear fission fuel module system includes a nuclear fission fuel element capable of generating a gaseous fission product. A valve body is associated with the nuclear fission fuel element, and the valve body defines a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product. A reclosable valve is in operative communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum, and the valve body includes a flexible diaphragm coupled to the valve for moving the valve to a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vented nuclear fission fuel module system, comprising:
a valve body associated with a nuclear fission fuel element, said nuclear fission fuel element capable of generating a gaseous fission product, and said valve body defining a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product; and
a reclosable valve in operative communication with the plenum, the reclosable valve capable of controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum, wherein said valve body comprises a flexible diaphragm coupled to said valve and capable of moving said valve to a closed position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cap mounted on said valve; and
a manipulator extendable to said cap for manipulating said cap.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a manipulator extendable to said valve for manipulating said valve.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an articulated manipulator arm extendable to the plenum; and
a receptacle carried by said articulated manipulator arm and engageable with the plenum for receiving the gaseous fission product controllably vented from the plenum.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said valve is responsive to at least one parameter chosen from a group comprising pressure in the plenum and a type of gaseous fission product in the plenum.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in operative communication with the plenum.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said sensor is capable of determining at least one parameter chosen from a group comprising pressure, a type of fission product, a type of gaseous fission product, and a radioactive fission product.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein said sensor comprises a sensor chosen from a radiation sensor, a chemical sensor, and an optical sensor.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein said sensor comprises a transmitter.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit an identification signal identifying said valve body.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a canister capable of surrounding said fuel element.

12. The system of claim 11 ,
wherein said canister has a bottom portion defining a first opening; and
wherein said canister has a side portion defining a second opening.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein said canister comprises a tube sheet therein having a contour shaped for guiding a coolant along a coolant flow path extending from the first opening and through the second opening.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein said canister comprises a ceramic tube sheet therein for dissipating heat and having a contour shaped for guiding a coolant along a coolant flow path extending from the first opening and through the second opening.

15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir coupled to said valve for receiving the gaseous fission product vented by said valve.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said reservoir comprises a filter for separating a condensed phase fission product from the gaseous fission product.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said filter comprises a filter chosen from a group comprising a HEPA filter, a semi-permeable membrane, an electrostatic collector, and a cold trap.

18. The system of claim 15 ,
wherein said reservoir is capable of being coupled to a reactor vessel; and
wherein said reservoir is capable of being decoupled from the reactor vessel for removing the gaseous fission product from the reactor vessel.

19. The system of claim 15 ,
wherein said reservoir is capable of being coupled to a reactor vessel; and
wherein said reservoir is capable of remaining coupled to the reactor vessel for storing the gaseous fission product at the reactor vessel.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein said reclosable valve is sealably reclosable.

21. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller coupled to said reclosable valve for controlling operation of said reclosable valve.

22. A vented nuclear fission fuel module system, comprising:
a nuclear fission fuel element capable of generating a gaseous fission product;
a valve body associated with said nuclear fission fuel element, said valve body defining a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product; and
a reclosable valve in operative communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum, wherein said valve body comprises a flexible diaphragm coupled to said valve for moving said valve to a closed position.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein said nuclear fission fuel element, said valve body and said valve define a vented nuclear fission fuel module, and further comprising a canister surrounding said fuel element.

24. The system of claim 23 ,
wherein said canister has a bottom portion defining a first opening; and
wherein said canister has a side portion defining a second opening.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein said canister comprises a tube sheet therein having a contour shaped for guiding a coolant along a coolant flow path extending from the first opening and through the second opening.

26. The system of claim 24 , wherein said canister comprises a ceramic tube sheet therein for dissipating heat and having a contour shaped for guiding a coolant along a coolant flow path extending from the first opening and through the second opening.

27. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a reservoir coupled to said valve for receiving the gaseous fission product vented by said valve.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein said reservoir comprises a filter for separating a condensed phase fission product from the gaseous fission product.

29. The system of claim 27 ,
wherein said reservoir is capable of being coupled to a reactor vessel; and
wherein said reservoir is capable of being decoupled from the reactor vessel for removing the gaseous fission product from the reactor vessel.

30. The system of claim 27 ,
wherein said reservoir is capable of being coupled to a reactor vessel; and
wherein said reservoir is capable of remaining coupled to the reactor vessel for storing the gaseous fission product at the reactor vessel.

Assignees

• Ahlfeld Charles E
• Hejzlar Pavel
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Mcalees David G
• Mcwhirter Jon D
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Odedra Ashok
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Walter Joshua C
• Weaver Kevan D
• Weaver Thomas Allan
• Whitmer Charles
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Zimmerman George B
• Terrapower Llc

Inventors

• Ahlfeld Charles E
• Hejzlar Pavel
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Mcalees David G
• Mcwhirter Jon D
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Odedra Ashok
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Walter Joshua C
• Weaver Kevan D
• Weaver Thomas Allan
• Whitmer Charles
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Zimmerman George B

Classifications

• G21C1/026 Primary

  Reactors not needing refuelling, i.e. reactors of the type breed-and-burn, e.g. travelling or deflagration wave reactors or seed-blanket reactors · CPC title

• G21C3/3213 Primary

  Means for the storage or removal of fission gases (means for the storage of fission gases in the elements G21C3/16; means for the removal of fission gases from elements G21C3/04) · CPC title

• Y02E30/34

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• G21C19/303

  specially adapted for gases (decontamination of gases G21F9/02) · CPC title

• G21C3/041

  Means for removal of gases from fuel elements · CPC title