Gregory Jay Pearson

US Patent:

20120163526, Jun 28, 2012

Filed:

Dec 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/979970

Inventors:

Gregory Joseph Pearson - Wilmington NC, US
Atul A. Karve - Wilmington NC, US

Assignee:

GLOBAL NUCLEAR FUEL - AMERICAS, LLC - Wilmington NC

International Classification:

G21C 15/00
G21C 3/356

US Classification:

376352, 376442

Abstract:

Fuel supports have specially configured flow paths useable in reactor cores to achieve desired levels of flow at given positions. Any number of differently-configured inlet orifices, from three to hundreds, are useable in a given core. Inlet orifice configuration may include diameter sizing or presence of flow blockages such as filters, venturis, choke plates, and/or obstructions. Fuel supports may be positioned within a core plate in the nuclear reactor, with openings for a control blade and instrumentation tubes to pass through or between the fuel supports. Different fuel support configurations may be used at outer core periphery, inner core periphery, and central core portions. Example methods configure fuel support characteristics by examining the effect of modifying flow loss coefficients at particular bundle locations and configuring associated inlet orifices to achieve the modified flow loss coefficients, if the effect is a positive one.

US Patent:

20130343502, Dec 26, 2013

Filed:

Jun 23, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/531514

Inventors:

Gregory J. Pearson - Wilmington NC, US
Atul A. Karve - Wilmington NC, US

International Classification:

G21C 7/06
G21C 19/00

US Classification:

376236, 376267

Abstract:

Cores include different types of control cells in different numbers and positions. A periphery of the core just inside the perimeter may have higher reactivity fuel in outer control cells, and lower reactivity cells may be placed in an inner core inside the inner ring. Cores can include about half fresh fuel positioned in higher proportions in the inner ring and away from inner control cells. Cores are compatible with multiple core control cell setups, including BWRs, ESBWRs, ABWRs, etc. Cores can be loaded during conventional outages. Cores can be operated with control elements in only the inner ring control cells for reactivity adjustment. Control elements in outer control cells need be moved only at sequence exchanges. Near end of cycle, reactivity in the core may be controlled with inner control cells alone, and control elements in outer control cells can be fully withdrawn.