FUNCTIONALLY GRADED LATTICE CERMET FUEL STRUCTURE WITH SHAPE CORRESPONDING TO A MATHEMATICALLY-BASED PERIODIC SOLID, PARTICULARLY FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS

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FUNCTIONALLY GRADED LATTICE CERMET FUEL STRUCTURE WITH SHAPE CORRESPONDING TO A MATHEMATICALLY-BASED PERIODIC SOLID, PARTICULARLY FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240038405 titled 'FUNCTIONALLY GRADED LATTICE CERMET FUEL STRUCTURE WITH SHAPE CORRESPONDING TO A MATHEMATICALLY-BASED PERIODIC SOLID, PARTICULARLY FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application for a nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure. The structure includes an active core region with fuel element structures, a reflector with rotatable neutron absorber structures, and a core former that conforms to the outer surface of the fuel element structures. The fuel element structures are arranged in a tri-pitch design, with nearest neighbor structures abutting each other. Cladding bodies with coolant channels are inserted into and joined to lower and upper core plates to form a continuous structure that serves as the first portion of the containment structure. The fuel element has a structure with a shape corresponding to a mathematically-based periodic solid, such as a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) in a gyroid structure. This nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure can be incorporated into a nuclear thermal propulsion engine for space propulsion applications.

The patent application describes a nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure with an active core region, reflector, and core former.
The fuel element structures are arranged in a tri-pitch design, with nearest neighbor structures abutting each other.
Cladding bodies with coolant channels are inserted into and joined to lower and upper core plates to form a continuous structure.
The fuel element has a structure with a shape corresponding to a mathematically-based periodic solid, such as a TPMS in a gyroid structure.
This nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure can be used in a nuclear thermal propulsion engine for space propulsion.

Potential Applications

Space propulsion systems
Nuclear thermal propulsion engines

Problems Solved

Efficient and reliable nuclear propulsion for space applications
Structural integrity and containment of the reactor core

Benefits

Improved efficiency and performance of space propulsion systems
Enhanced safety and reliability of nuclear thermal propulsion engines

Original Abstract Submitted

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 lower and upper core plates to from a continuous structure that is a first portion of the containment structure. the body of the fuel element has a structure with a shape corresponding to a mathematically-based periodic solid, such as a triply periodic minimal surface (tpms) in a gyroid structure. the nuclear propulsion fission reactor structure can be incorporated into a nuclear thermal propulsion engine for propulsion applications, such as space propulsion.

20240038405. FUNCTIONALLY GRADED LATTICE CERMET FUEL STRUCTURE WITH SHAPE CORRESPONDING TO A MATHEMATICALLY-BASED PERIODIC SOLID, PARTICULARLY FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS simplified abstract (BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC)

Contents

FUNCTIONALLY GRADED LATTICE CERMET FUEL STRUCTURE WITH SHAPE CORRESPONDING TO A MATHEMATICALLY-BASED PERIODIC SOLID, PARTICULARLY FOR NUCLEAR THERMAL PROPULSION APPLICATIONS

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Inventor(s)