Patent US3899392A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3899392A
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Nuclear fuel element containing particles of an alloyed Zr, Ti and Ni getter material
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-12-08
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1991-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear fuel element for use in the core of a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The nuclear fuel element has disposed therein an alloy having the essential components of nickel, titanium and zirconium, and the alloy reacts with water, water vapor and reactive gases at reactor ambient temperatures. The alloy is disposed in the plenum of the fuel element in the form of particles in a hollow gas permeable container having a multiplicity of openings of size smaller than the size of the particles. The openings permit gases and liquids entering the plenum to contact the particles of alloy. The container is preferably held in the spring in the plenum of the fuel element.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard N Grossman
- 👤 Harry A Levin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:29
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: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A NUCLEAR FUEL ELEMNT WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONAGATED CONTAINER, A BODY OF NUCLEAR FUEL MATERIAL DISPOSED IN AND PARTICALLY FILLING SAID CONTAINER AND FORMUNG AN INTERVAL CAVITY, AN END CLOSURE INTEGRALLY SECURED AND SEALED AT EACH END OF SAID CONTAINER, A HELICAL MEMBER POSITIONED IN THE CAVITY, A HOLLOW, GAS-PERMEABLE CONTAINER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAVITY AND HAVING THEREIN A MULTIFLICITY OF PARTICLES OF A TENARY ALLOY, THE ALLOY BEING COMPRISED OF FROM ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 12 WEIGHT PERCENT NICKEL, OF GREATER THAN 3 TO ABOUT 30 WEIGHT PERCENT TITANIUM AND THE BALANCE IS ZIRCONIUM, AND THE ALLOY BEING A GETTER MATERIAL FOR WATER, WATER VAPOR AND REACTIVE GASES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A NUCLEAR FUEL ELEMNT WHICH COMPRISES AN ELONAGATED CONTAINER, A BODY OF NUCLEAR FUEL MATERIAL DISPOSED IN AND PARTICALLY FILLING SAID CONTAINER AND FORMUNG AN INTERVAL CAVITY, AN END CLOSURE INTEGRALLY SECURED AND SEALED AT EACH END OF SAID CONTAINER, A HELICAL MEMBER POSITIONED IN THE CAVITY, A HOLLOW, GAS-PERMEABLE CONTAINER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAVITY AND HAVING THEREIN A MULTIFLICITY OF PARTICLES OF A TENARY ALLOY, THE ALLOY BEING COMPRISED OF FROM ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 12 WEIGHT PERCENT NICKEL, OF GREATER THAN 3 TO ABOUT 30 WEIGHT PERCENT TITANIUM AND THE BALANCE IS ZIRCONIUM, AND THE ALLOY BEING A GETTER MATERIAL FOR WATER, WATER VAPOR AND REACTIVE GASES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the hollow, gaspermeable container is disposed within the helical member in said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the ternary alloy has an intermetallic nickel-containing phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the ternary alloy is comprised of about 4 weight percent nickel, about 11 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the ternary alloy is comprised of about 12 weight percent nickel, about 11 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the ternary alloy is comprised of about 5 weight percent nickel, about 10 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the metallic container and the helical member are comprised of stainless steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the elongated container is comprised of a metal selected from the class consisting of zirconium, zirconium alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, niobium, niobium alloys and magnesium alloys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel material is selected from the group consisting of uranium compounds, plutonium compounds, thorium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel material is comprised of uranium dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel material is a mixture comprised of uranium dioxide and plutonium dioxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a method for producing a nuclear fuel element, the improvement which comprises partly filling a clad container with nuclear fuel material leaving a cavity at one end which is open, inserting a helical member into said cavity, inserting a multiplicity of particles of a ternary alloy of a getter material for water, water vapor and reactive gases into a hollow, gas-permeable container, the alloy being comprised of from about 3 to about 12 weight percent nickel, of greater than 3 to about 30 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium, inserting the hollow, gas permeable container into said cavity, applying an end closure to the end of the clad container leaving the cavity in communication with the nuclear fuel, and then bonding the end of the clad container to said end closure to form a tight seal therebetween, whereby said ternary alloy is exposed to water, water vapor and reactive gases within the clad container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a method for producing a nuclear fuel element, the improvement which comprises partly filling a clad container with nuclear fuel material leaving a cavity at one end which is open, inserting a helical member into said cavity, inserting a multiplicity of particles of a ternary alloy of a getter material for water, water vapor and reactive gases into a hollow, gas-permeable container, the alloy being comprised of from about 3 to about 12 weight percent nickel, of greater than 3 to about 30 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium, inserting the hollow, gas permeable container into said cavity, applying an end closure to the end of the clad container leaving the cavity in communication with the nuclear fuel, and then bonding the end of the clad container to said end closure to form a tight seal therebetween, whereby said ternary alloy is exposed to water, water vapor and reactive gases within the clad container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the hollow, gas-permeable container is inserted into the helical member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the ternary alloy has an intermetallic nickel-containing phase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the ternary alloy is comprised of about 4 weight percent nickel, about 11 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the ternary alloy is comprised of about 12 weight percent nickel, about 11 weight percent titanium and the balance is zirconium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the ternary alloy is comprised of about 10 weight percent titanium, 5 weight percent nickel and the balance is zirconium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 12 in which the container is metallic and the container is inserted inside the helical member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |