US3772147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressurized fuel elements for a nuclear reactor
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1970-10-27
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Granted: 1973-11-13
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Expires: 1990-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An internally pressurized hermetically clad fuel element for a nuclear reactor having a normally sealed chamber within the fuel element plenum. The chamber is maintained at a lower pressure than the internal pressure of the fuel element and at least a portion of one of the chamber walls is formed from a permeable membrane material which allows the plenum gases to diffuse into the chamber at a rate comparable to the rate of fission gas release from the fuel during burn up.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bratton
- 👤 E Roberts
- 👤 P Smerd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/17; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
The nuclear fuel element of claim 1 wherein said diffusion means comprises a permeable membrane which forms at least a portion of at least one wall of said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The nuclear fuel element of claim 2 wherein the filling gas in said plenum is selected so as to have a diffusion rate through said membrane comparable to that of krypton and xenon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The nuclear fuel element of claim 3 whierein said filling gas is selected from the group consisting of argon, krypton, and xenon. release from the fuel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The nuclear fuel element of claim 2 wherein said membrane is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of borosilicate glass, clear fused silica, soda-lime, CsCl, and quartz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The nuclear fuel element of claim 1 wherein said casing member forms the side walls of said sealed chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The nuclear fuel element of claim 2 wherein said chamber comprises a sealed can and said membrane forms at least a portion of at least one wall of said can.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3197381A
Cited
US3406094A
Cited
US3350271A
Cited
US3291698A
Cited
US3356585A
Cited
US3519537A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-12 | 1977-05-14 | 1977-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-12 | 1981-05-14 | 1981-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-12 | 1985-05-14 | 1985-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |