US4880597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alloy coated fuel cladding
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co LLC
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Filing: 1988-06-24
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Granted: 1989-11-14
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Expires: 2008-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A fuel element for a nuclear reactor having a zirconium tin alloy cladding tube, with a thin coating of enriched boron-containing alloy burnable poison, such as nickel-thallium-boron deposited from a reducing agent by an electroless plating process.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Bryan
- 👤 Nathan Fuhrman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 10:02
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/06; G21C21/00; G21C21/02; G21C3/07; G21C3/16; G21C3/18; G21C3/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
In a fuel element for use in a nuclear reactor which includes a fissionable material contained within a zirconium-alloy cladding tube, the improvement which comprises: a coating on the inside of the zirconium-alloy cladding tube, said coating including a nickel-thallium-boron burnable poison compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a fuel element for use in a nuclear reactor which includes a fissionable material contained within a zirconium-alloy cladding tube, the improvement which comprises: a coating on the inside of the zirconium-alloy cladding tube, said coating including a nickel-thallium-boron burnable poison compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fuel element of claim 1 in which the burnable poison compound is a deposit from an electroless plating process which includes a boron-containing reducing agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fuel element of claim 1 in which the burnable poison compound includes boron enriched in B 10 to the range of 50 to 80 percent by weight to give a desired nuclear poison level for use in the nuclear reactor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fuel element of claim 1 in which the zirconium-alloy is from the group Zircaloy-2 or Zircaloy-4.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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US4582676A
Cited
US4587087A
Cited
US4587088A
Cited
US4824634A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-05-15 | 1993-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-13 | 1997-05-15 | 1997-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-13 | 2001-05-15 | 2001-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |