US4022662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear fuel element having a metal liner and a diffusion barrier
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-11-11
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Granted: 1977-05-10
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Expires: 1994-11-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved nuclear fuel element is disclosed for use in the core of nuclear reactors. The improved nuclear fuel element has a metal liner and a diffusion barrier disposed between the cladding and the nuclear fuel material. The diffusion barrier is in the form of a metal coating with the diffusion barrier being coated on the internal surface of the cladding in one embodiment and the diffusion barrier being coated on the outside surface of the metal liner in another embodiment. The diffusion barrier is a coating of chromium or a chromium alloy and serves to prevent any alloying or formation of low melting eutectic liquid phases between the metal liner and the cladding at elevated temperatures. The metal liner is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel, and nickel alloys.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald M. Gordon
- 👤 II Robert L. Cowan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:37
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/16; G21C3/20; G21C3/06; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A nuclear fuel element comprising (a) a central core of a body of nuclear fuel material selected from uranium compounds, plutonium compounds, thorium compounds and mixtures thereof, (b) a separate unattached metal liner of a constant thickness greater than the longest fission product recoil distance and comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel and nickel alloys surrounding the central core of nuclear fuel material, (c) an elongated clad container selected from the group consisting of zirconium and zirconium alloys surrounding the metal liner so as to leave a gap between the liner and the container and (d) a diffusion barrier selected from the group consisting of chromium alloys being coated on the inside surface of the clad container, said fuel element being assembled so the clad container, the core, and the metal liner are not in direct contact during use in a nuclear reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A nuclear fuel element comprising (a) a central core of a body of nuclear fuel material selected from uranium compounds, plutonium compounds, thorium compounds and mixtures thereof, (b) a separate unattached metal liner of a constant thickness greater than the longest fission product recoil distance and comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel and nickel alloys surrounding the central core of nuclear fuel material, (c) an elongated clad container selected from the group consisting of zirconium and zirconium alloys surrounding the metal liner so as to leave a gap between the liner and the container and (d) a diffusion barrier selected from the group consisting of chromium alloys being coated on the inside surface of the clad container, said fuel element being assembled so the clad container, the core, and the metal liner are not in direct contact during use in a nuclear reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 which has in addition a plenum portion and a nuclear fuel element retaining means in the form of a helical member in the plenum portion of the fuel element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the metal liner is comprised of stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the metal liner is comprised of copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the metal liner is comprised of a copper alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the metal liner is comprised of nickel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the metal liner is comprised of a nickel alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the clad container is comprised of zirconium alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the diffusion barrier is chromium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the diffusion barrier is a chromium alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel material consists of uranium compounds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel material is comprised of uranium dioxide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 1 in which the nuclear fuel material is a mixture comprising uranium dioxide and plutonium dioxide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A nuclear fuel element comprising (a) a central core of a body of nuclear fuel material selected from uranium compounds, plutonium compounds, thorium compounds and mixtures thereof, (b) a separate unattached metal liner of a constant thickness greater than the longest fission product recoil distance and comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel and nickel alloys surrounding the central core of nuclear fuel material, (c) a diffusion barrier selected from the group consisting of chromium and chromium alloys being coated on the outside surface of the metal liner and (d) an elongated clad container selected from the group consisting of zirconium and zirconium alloys surrounding the metal liner and leaving a gap between the liner and the container, said fuel element being assembled so the clad container, the core, and the metal liner are not in direct contact during use in a nuclear reactor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
153 words
A nuclear fuel element comprising (a) a central core of a body of nuclear fuel material selected from uranium compounds, plutonium compounds, thorium compounds and mixtures thereof, (b) a separate unattached metal liner of a constant thickness greater than the longest fission product recoil distance and comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, copper, copper alloys, nickel and nickel alloys surrounding the central core of nuclear fuel material, (c) a diffusion barrier selected from the group consisting of chromium and chromium alloys being coated on the outside surface of the metal liner and (d) an elongated clad container selected from the group consisting of zirconium and zirconium alloys surrounding the metal liner and leaving a gap between the liner and the container, said fuel element being assembled so the clad container, the core, and the metal liner are not in direct contact during use in a nuclear reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 which has in addition a plenum portion and a nuclear fuel element retaining means in the form of a helical member in the plenum portion of the fuel element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the metal liner is comprised of stainless steel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the metal liner is comprised of copper.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the metal liner is comprised of a copper alloy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the metal liner is comprised of nickel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the metal liner is comprised of a nickel alloy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the clad container is comprised of zirconium alloy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the diffusion barrier is chromium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the diffusion barrier is a chromium alloy.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the nuclear fuel material consists of uranium compounds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the nuclear fuel material is comprised of uranium dioxide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A nuclear fuel element of claim 14 in which the nuclear fuel material is a mixture comprising uranium dioxide and plutonium dioxide.
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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) | 1980-05-09 | 1980-11-08 | 1981-05-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-09 | 1984-11-08 | 1985-05-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-09 | 1988-11-08 | 1989-05-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |