US3933582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plutonium fuel adjacent burnable poison
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-09-10
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Granted: 1976-01-20
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Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A nuclear fuel assembly utilizing fissile fuel of high fission cross section, such as plutonium, in the fuel adjacent burnable poison to reduce local power perturbations.
Inventors
- 👤 William V. MacNabb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:12
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/326; G21C3/328; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor core comprising: a plurality of spaced apart elongated fuel elements, burnable poison in at least one of said fuel elements, fissile plutonium in all of the fuel elements which are adjacent said one of said fuel elements, the initial fissile fuel in the fuel elements which are more remote from said one of said fuel elements than said adjacent fuel elements consisting of fissile uranium whereby the initial power in said fuel adjacent said one of fuel elements in said core is increased relative to the initial power in said more remote fuel elements as compared to a similar fuel assembly wherein all of the initial fissile fuel consists of uranium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor core comprising: a plurality of spaced apart elongated fuel elements, burnable poison in at least one of said fuel elements, fissile plutonium in all of the fuel elements which are adjacent said one of said fuel elements, the initial fissile fuel in the fuel elements which are more remote from said one of said fuel elements than said adjacent fuel elements consisting of fissile uranium whereby the initial power in said fuel adjacent said one of fuel elements in said core is increased relative to the initial power in said more remote fuel elements as compared to a similar fuel assembly wherein all of the initial fissile fuel consists of uranium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor core comprising a plurality of spaced apart elements including: a first element in said assembly containing a burnable poison, a first plurality of fuel elements surrounding said first element and spaced therefrom within about one neutron diffusion length, a second plurality of fuel elements in said assembly spaced from said first element more than one neutron diffusion length, said first plurality of fuel elements containing initial fissile plutonium, and the initial fissile fuel in said second plurality of fuel elements consisting of fissile uranium whereby the initial power in said first plurality of fuel elements in said core is increased relative to the initial power in said second plurality of fuel elements as compared to a similar fuel assembly wherein all of the initial fissile fuel consists of uranium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
A fuel assembly for use in a nuclear reactor core comprising a plurality of spaced apart elements including: a first element in said assembly containing a burnable poison, a first plurality of fuel elements surrounding said first element and spaced therefrom within about one neutron diffusion length, a second plurality of fuel elements in said assembly spaced from said first element more than one neutron diffusion length, said first plurality of fuel elements containing initial fissile plutonium, and the initial fissile fuel in said second plurality of fuel elements consisting of fissile uranium whereby the initial power in said first plurality of fuel elements in said core is increased relative to the initial power in said second plurality of fuel elements as compared to a similar fuel assembly wherein all of the initial fissile fuel consists of uranium.
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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) | 1979-01-19 | 1979-07-21 | 1980-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-19 | 1983-07-21 | 1984-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-19 | 1987-07-21 | 1988-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |