WO2019164645A2 - Nuclear powered internal engine nuclear fuel cycle and housing design improvements - Google Patents
Nuclear powered internal engine nuclear fuel cycle and housing design improvements Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2019164645A2 WO2019164645A2 PCT/US2019/015712 US2019015712W WO2019164645A2 WO 2019164645 A2 WO2019164645 A2 WO 2019164645A2 US 2019015712 W US2019015712 W US 2019015712W WO 2019164645 A2 WO2019164645 A2 WO 2019164645A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- nanofuel
- engine
- exemplary embodiment
- exemplary
- nuclear
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000003758 nuclear fuel Substances 0.000 title description 58
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 title description 33
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 title description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 340
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 185
- 239000002915 spent fuel radioactive waste Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 118
- 230000004992 fission Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 85
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 64
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 51
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 51
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 50
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 39
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 126
- JFALSRSLKYAFGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N uranium(0) Chemical compound [U] JFALSRSLKYAFGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 50
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 48
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 48
- 229910052770 Uranium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 45
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 claims description 42
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims description 39
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims description 34
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 34
- 229910052778 Plutonium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 31
- OYEHPCDNVJXUIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N plutonium atom Chemical compound [Pu] OYEHPCDNVJXUIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 31
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 31
- 230000009257 reactivity Effects 0.000 claims description 29
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen Chemical compound [H][H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 27
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 230000004927 fusion Effects 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 18
- 229910052790 beryllium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000011068 loading method Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-ZSJDYOACSA-N Heavy water Chemical compound [2H]O[2H] XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-ZSJDYOACSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- ATBAMAFKBVZNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N beryllium atom Chemical compound [Be] ATBAMAFKBVZNFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000003682 fluorination reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910052734 helium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000035755 proliferation Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 229910052686 Californium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- HGLDOAKPQXAFKI-UHFFFAOYSA-N californium atom Chemical compound [Cf] HGLDOAKPQXAFKI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000001307 helium Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N helium atom Chemical compound [He] SWQJXJOGLNCZEY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000013213 extrapolation Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005372 isotope separation Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 129
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 abstract description 32
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 77
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 55
- 238000004088 simulation Methods 0.000 description 42
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 39
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 33
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 31
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 25
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 24
- ZSLUVFAKFWKJRC-IGMARMGPSA-N 232Th Chemical compound [232Th] ZSLUVFAKFWKJRC-IGMARMGPSA-N 0.000 description 21
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 21
- 239000002803 fossil fuel Substances 0.000 description 18
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 15
- 238000010248 power generation Methods 0.000 description 15
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 14
- 229910052776 Thorium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 14
- USCBBUFEOOSGAJ-UHFFFAOYSA-J tetrafluoroplutonium Chemical compound F[Pu](F)(F)F USCBBUFEOOSGAJ-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 14
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 13
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 13
- 238000012958 reprocessing Methods 0.000 description 13
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 12
- 238000007726 management method Methods 0.000 description 12
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 description 11
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 description 11
- UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-VVKOMZTBSA-N Dideuterium Chemical compound [2H][2H] UFHFLCQGNIYNRP-VVKOMZTBSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 230000004907 flux Effects 0.000 description 10
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000035882 stress Effects 0.000 description 10
- 239000003102 growth factor Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000009377 nuclear transmutation Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000002927 high level radioactive waste Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 7
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000009395 breeding Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000001488 breeding effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000012634 fragment Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000005025 nuclear technology Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000002914 transuranic radioactive waste Substances 0.000 description 6
- FCTBKIHDJGHPPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N uranium dioxide Inorganic materials O=[U]=O FCTBKIHDJGHPPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fluorane Chemical compound F KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 238000004364 calculation method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000009375 geological disposal Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000012010 growth Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000011824 nuclear material Substances 0.000 description 5
- OJSBUHMRXCPOJV-UHFFFAOYSA-H plutonium hexafluoride Chemical compound F[Pu](F)(F)(F)(F)F OJSBUHMRXCPOJV-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 5
- QFBBQHPDWGVACX-UHFFFAOYSA-J [F-].[F-].[F-].[F-].[Am+4] Chemical compound [F-].[F-].[F-].[F-].[Am+4] QFBBQHPDWGVACX-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 4
- SOLQLNAXKAQIPH-UHFFFAOYSA-J [F-].[F-].[F-].[F-].[Np+4] Chemical compound [F-].[F-].[F-].[F-].[Np+4] SOLQLNAXKAQIPH-UHFFFAOYSA-J 0.000 description 4
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000000875 corresponding effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000005431 greenhouse gas Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 4
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000012827 research and development Methods 0.000 description 4
- SANRKQGLYCLAFE-UHFFFAOYSA-H uranium hexafluoride Chemical compound F[U](F)(F)(F)(F)F SANRKQGLYCLAFE-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 4
- 244000000188 Vaccinium ovalifolium Species 0.000 description 3
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- ZZUFCTLCJUWOSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N furosemide Chemical compound C1=C(Cl)C(S(=O)(=O)N)=CC(C(O)=O)=C1NCC1=CC=CO1 ZZUFCTLCJUWOSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000014509 gene expression Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000015654 memory Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000036962 time dependent Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229940054541 urex Drugs 0.000 description 3
- LTPBRCUWZOMYOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Beryllium oxide Chemical compound O=[Be] LTPBRCUWZOMYOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- WZECUPJJEIXUKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[U+6] Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[U+6] WZECUPJJEIXUKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000084 colloidal system Substances 0.000 description 2
- ZAASRHQPRFFWCS-UHFFFAOYSA-P diazanium;oxygen(2-);uranium Chemical compound [NH4+].[NH4+].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[U].[U] ZAASRHQPRFFWCS-UHFFFAOYSA-P 0.000 description 2
- 238000005315 distribution function Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008030 elimination Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003379 elimination reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000155 isotopic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005461 lubrication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003921 oil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- OOAWCECZEHPMBX-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxygen(2-);uranium(4+) Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[U+4] OOAWCECZEHPMBX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003208 petroleum Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000191 radiation effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001225 therapeutic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000439 uranium oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002028 Biomass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 101100060546 Danio rerio coa3a gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- YZCKVEUIGOORGS-OUBTZVSYSA-N Deuterium Chemical compound [2H] YZCKVEUIGOORGS-OUBTZVSYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-M Fluoride anion Chemical compound [F-] KRHYYFGTRYWZRS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 241001527806 Iti Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000000342 Monte Carlo simulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 208000019155 Radiation injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 244000181025 Rosa gallica Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000183290 Scleropages leichardti Species 0.000 description 1
- 240000006365 Vitis vinifera Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052768 actinide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001255 actinides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009286 beneficial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000033228 biological regulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000004369 blood Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 244000309464 bull Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000009933 burial Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052792 caesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N caesium atom Chemical compound [Cs] TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004422 calculation algorithm Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001311 chemical methods and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005094 computer simulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002596 correlated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010612 desalination reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052805 deuterium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002283 diesel fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005265 energy consumption Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007717 exclusion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000001153 fluoro group Chemical group F* 0.000 description 1
- 230000002431 foraging effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003502 gasoline Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003721 gunpowder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910001385 heavy metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000040 hydrogen fluoride Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011835 investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012332 laboratory investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003137 locomotive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035800 maturation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000968 medical method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- MYWUZJCMWCOHBA-VIFPVBQESA-N methamphetamine Chemical compound CN[C@@H](C)CC1=CC=CC=C1 MYWUZJCMWCOHBA-VIFPVBQESA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008450 motivation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005457 optimization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000644 propagated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005180 public health Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002901 radioactive waste Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004449 solid propellant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052712 strontium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N strontium atom Chemical compound [Sr] CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000029305 taxis Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004613 tight binding model Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052722 tritium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000035899 viability Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011179 visual inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
- B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
- B63H21/18—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being powered by nuclear energy
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C19/00—Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
- G21C19/42—Reprocessing of irradiated fuel
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C19/00—Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
- G21C19/42—Reprocessing of irradiated fuel
- G21C19/44—Reprocessing of irradiated fuel of irradiated solid fuel
- G21C19/46—Aqueous processes, e.g. by using organic extraction means, including the regeneration of these means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C19/00—Arrangements for treating, for handling, or for facilitating the handling of, fuel or other materials which are used within the reactor, e.g. within its pressure vessel
- G21C19/42—Reprocessing of irradiated fuel
- G21C19/44—Reprocessing of irradiated fuel of irradiated solid fuel
- G21C19/48—Non-aqueous processes
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C3/42—Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
- G21C3/42—Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel
- G21C3/58—Solid reactor fuel Pellets made of fissile material
- G21C3/62—Ceramic fuel
- G21C3/623—Oxide fuels
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21D—NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- G21D5/00—Arrangements of reactor and engine in which reactor-produced heat is converted into mechanical energy
- G21D5/02—Reactor and engine structurally combined, e.g. portable
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21F—PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR
- G21F7/00—Shielded cells or rooms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
- B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
- B63G8/08—Propulsion
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
- B64G1/408—Nuclear spacecraft propulsion
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T70/00—Maritime or waterways transport
- Y02T70/50—Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02T90/40—Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to nanotechnology, and more particularly to energy applications of nanotechnology.
- Modem IC engines may rely on an explosive mixture of fossil fuel and air to generate heat and produce useful mechanical work. While numerous IC engine designs exist, the designs all tend to perform the following processes: intake, where a working fluid enters the engine; compression, where the working fluid experiences a decrease in volume; combustion, where the working fluid experiences a rapid increase in pressure; expansion, where the working fluid performs useful mechanical work; and exhaust, where the working fluid exits the engine.
- an exemplary nanofuel engine apparatus may include an internal combustion engine adapted to receive a nanofuel that releases nuclear energy; and receive the nanofuel internal to the internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include a moderator, a molecule with dimensions on a nanometer scale, and a molecular mixture.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may further include a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine includes the reflector, where the reflector thickness is less than or equal to 60 cm beryllium (Be).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include at least one of: an alternator; a flywheel; a generator; a propeller; a shaft; and/or a wheel.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine is adapted to generate heat, and may further include a system adapted to use the heat.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the system adapted to use heat may include at least one of: a radiation effects simulator; and/or a medical therapeutic apparatus.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may further include at least one of: an external ignition source; and/or an internal ignition source.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the external ignition source, and where the external ignition source may include at least one of: a fusion neutron source; and/or a radioactive material that emits neutrons.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the external ignition source, and where the external ignition source may include the fusion neutron source, and where the fusion neutron source may include at least one of: an accelerator-based neutron generator; and/or a Z-pinch- based neutron generator.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the external ignition source, and where the external ignition source may include the radioactive material that emits neutrons, and where the radioactive material that emits neutrons may include californium isotope 252 ( 252 Cf).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the internal ignition source, and where the internal ignition source may include a radioactive material that emits neutrons.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the internal ignition source, and where the internal ignition source may include the radioactive material that emits neutrons, and where the radioactive material that emits neutrons may include at least one of: a transuranic element; and/or a fission product.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include at least one of: a reciprocating engine; a reciprocating piston engine; a rotary engine; and/or a wankel rotary engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include: a fissile fuel, where the fissile fuel may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced fission; a passive agent, where the passive agent may include: a nuclide which may include a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range; and a moderator, where the moderator may include: a low atomic number element.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include the fissile fuel, where the fissile fuel may include the nuclide that undergoes neutron induced fission, and where the nuclide that undergoes neutron induced fission may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 239 ( 239 Pu); uranium isotope 235 ( 235 U); and/or uranium isotope 233 ( 233 U).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include the passive agent, where the passive agent may include the nuclide, which may include the strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in the low epithermal energy range, and where the nuclide may include the strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in the low epithermal energy range may include: plutonium isotope 240 ( 240 Pu) having the strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section near 1 eV.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include the moderator, where the moderator may include: the low atomic number element, where the low atomic number element may include at least one of: any of all elements having an atomic number (Z) less than 11 (Z ⁇ 11); hydrogen (H); and/or helium (He).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the fissile fuel may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): and/or uranium isotope 235 dioxide ( 235 U02).
- the fissile fuel may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): and/or uranium isotope 235 dioxide ( 235 U02).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the passive agent may include plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the moderator may include at least one of: molecular hydrogen (FF): molecular deuterium (D 2 ); and/or hydrogen fluoride (HF).
- the moderator may include at least one of: molecular hydrogen (FF): molecular deuterium (D 2 ); and/or hydrogen fluoride (HF).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include: where the fissile fuel may include: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): where the passive agent may include: plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,): and where the moderator may include: molecular hydrogen (FF).
- the fissile fuel may include: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): where the passive agent may include: plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,): and where the moderator may include: molecular hydrogen (FF).
- FF molecular hydrogen
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel further may include at least one of: a fertile fuel, where the fertile fuel may include: a nuclide that undergoes neutron induced transmutation into a fissile nuclide; a transuranic element, where the transuranic element may include: any of all elements with an atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92); and/or a fission product, where the fission product may include: any of all fission reaction products.
- a fertile fuel may include: a nuclide that undergoes neutron induced transmutation into a fissile nuclide
- a transuranic element where the transuranic element may include: any of all elements with an atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92)
- a fission product where the fission product may include: any of all fission reaction products.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include the fertile fuel, where the fertile fuel may include the nuclide that may undergo the neutron induced transmutation into the fissile nuclide; and where the nuclide may include at least one of: uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); and/or thorium isotope 232 ( 232 Th).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include the transuranic element, where the transuranic element may include any of all elements with atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92); and where the transuranic element may include: material considered by U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to be at least one of: high-level waste (HLW); and/or transuranic (TRU) waste.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel further may include: a fertile fuel, where the fertile fuel may include at least one of: uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); uranium isotope 238 hexafluoride ( 238 UFr,): uranium isotope 238 dioxide ( 238 U0 2 ); uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U) as part of a molecule; thorium isotope 232 ( 232 Th); thorium isotope 232 dioxide ( 232 Th0 2 ); and/or thorium isotope 232 tetrafluoride ( 232 ThF 4 ).
- the fertile fuel may include at least one of: uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); uranium isotope 238 hexafluoride ( 238 UFr,): uranium isotope 238 dioxide ( 238 U0 2 ); uran
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include where at least one of: a fuel cycle coupled to the internal combustion engine; a compressor coupled to said internal combustion engine; and/or a heat exchanger coupled to the internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include at least one filter to extract at least one material, where the at least one filter may be coupled to the internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine further may include: a housing which may include a reflector; an intake in the housing of the internal combustion engine; and/or an exhaust in said housing distanced apart from the intake of the housing of the internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine further may include: at least one rotor; and a housing, which may include an epitrochoid shape.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel engine apparatus further may include at least one of: at least one ceramic filter; at least one compressor; at least one filter; at least one heat exchanger; at least one neutron source; at least one pump; at least one reprocessing plant; at least one separator; and/or at least one valve.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include at least one property, which may include at least one of: where the nanofuel may include approximately a million times an energy density of fossil fuels; where the nanofuel used in the internal combustion engine of the nanofuel engine apparatus, releases approximately one part in a million of a nanofuel energy content in the internal combustion engine; and/or where the nanofuel used in the internal combustion engine of the nanofuel engine apparatus, releases a substantially equivalent amount of energy per fuel mass as compared to a conventional fossil fuel-based internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel may include at least one property, which may include at least one of: where the nanofuel may include approximately a million times an energy density of fossil fuels; where the nanofuel used in the internal combustion engine of the nanofuel engine apparatus, releases approximately one part in a million of a nanofuel energy content in the internal combustion engine; and/or where the nanofuel used in the internal combustion engine of the nanofuel engine apparatus, releases a substantially equivalent amount of energy per fuel mass as compared to a conventional fossil fuel-based internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the reflector may be on at least a portion of a housing near a top dead center (TDC) position.
- TDC top dead center
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the reflector may include at least one of: beryllium (Be); beryllium oxide (BeO); graphite (C); heavy water (D 2 0); and/or water (fhO).
- Be beryllium
- BeO beryllium oxide
- C graphite
- D 2 0 heavy water
- fhO water
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include a rotary engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the rotary engine may include: a rotor; a rotor housing; a side housing; a rotor gear; and a stationary gear.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where at least a portion of the rotor housing may include a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where at least a portion of the rotor may include a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the rotary engine is adapted to allow partial and/or full separation of an intake and an exhaust port.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include: a fissile fuel, where the fissile fuel may include: a nuclide that undergoes neutron induced fission; a passive agent, where the passive agent may include: a nuclide which may include a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range; a moderator, where the moderator may include: a low atomic number element; and a fission product, where the fission product may include: any of all fission reaction products.
- a fissile fuel where the fissile fuel may include: a nuclide that undergoes neutron induced fission
- a passive agent where the passive agent may include: a nuclide which may include a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range
- a moderator where the moderator may include: a low atomic number element
- a fission product where the fission product may include: any
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel further may include at least one of: a fertile fuel, where the fertile fuel may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced transmutation into a fissile nuclide; and/or a transuranic element, where the transuranic element may include: any of all elements with an atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may be adapted to: a) operate in a spark ignition mode that may use a neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel; and/or b) operate in a compression ignition mode that may create neutrons in the nanofuel.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine of (a) may be adapted to operate in the spark ignition mode that may use the neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel, and the internal combustion engine may be further adapted to at least one of: i) use a fusion neutron source; and/or ii) use a radioactive material that may emit neutrons.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine of the (a) (i) may be adapted to use the fusion neutron source to operate the internal combustion engine in the spark ignition mode that may use the neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel, which may include the internal combustion engine adapted to at least one of: use an accelerator-based neutron generator; and/or use a Z-pinch-based neutron generator.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine of the (a) (ii) may be adapted to use the radioactive material that may emit neutrons to operate the internal combustion engine in the spark ignition mode that may use the neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel, which may include the internal combustion engine adapted to use californium isotope 252 ( 252 Cf).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine of the (b) may be adapted to operate in the compression ignition mode that may create neutrons in the nanofuel, which may be further adapted to use the radioactive material that may emit neutrons, where the internal combustion engine may be adapted to at least one of: use neutrons emitted from a fission product; and/or use neutrons emitted from a transuranic element.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include at least one of: a reciprocating engine geometry; and/or a rotary engine geometry; where the internal combustion engine may be adapted to compress the nanofuel; where the internal combustion engine may contain a mass of the nanofuel internal to the internal combustion engine that may be confined in an engine core that may change with compression; and where the internal combustion engine may include a criticality that may change with the engine core.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include a nanofuel.
- B m may include a material buckling of the engine core
- B g may include a geometric buckling of the engine core.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the rotary engine geometry, and further may include: a housing, which may include a shape, which may include at least one of: a substantially oval shape; and/or an epitrochoid.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the rotary engine geometry, and further may include: a housing; and a rotor, where at least a portion of the rotor may contain a cavity.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the cavity may include at least one of: an arbitrary shape; a cylindrical shape; an ellipsoidal shape; a rectangular shape; and/or a spherical shape.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where at least one of the: housing, and/or the rotor, may include a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where at least a portion of at least one of: the housing, and/or the rotor, may not include a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the reflector is chosen from at least one of a material, or a dimension to provide a structural integrity.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include a safety feature, which may include at least one of: a nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity; and/or the criticality that changes with the engine core.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine may include the reciprocating engine geometry, wherein the engine core may include a cylindrical shape, which may include a cylinder radius R and a cylinder height H, and where the criticality may include: where L may
- k ⁇ may include an infinite medium multiplication factor
- v 0 and p may include known constants
- R c may include an extrapolated critical radius of the engine core
- H c may include an extrapolated critical height of the engine core.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the internal combustion engine is further adapted to: release energy until the engine core gets too large, where the engine core gets too large means the reciprocating engine geometry may include the cylinder radius R less than a critical radius R c (R ⁇ R c ), where the critical radius [[ Ri of the eagiae core for the reciprocating eagiae .geometry ay include: R c -
- r is a coa3 ⁇ 4>ressioa ratio, where is an extrapolation distance, md where a subscript oae (1) ay represent an inlet property.
- R c of the engine core for the reciprocating engine geometry may include:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where performance of the internal combustion engine may be improved by decreasing an engine core surface to volume ratio, where the engine core surface to volume ratio is proportional to the neutron leakage.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where to regulate performance, a combustion duration may be controlled by at least one of: variation of the nanofuel; variation of an inlet nanofuel state; and/or variation of a compression ratio r.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may further include a closed thermodynamic fuel cycle that may continuously recycle the nanofuel. Recycling may maximize fuel utilization, in an exemplary embodiment.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where at least one of an engine speed and/or a r may be adjusted to ensure a peak nanofuel pressure may occur when the internal combustion engine is near a top dead center (TDC) position.
- TDC top dead center
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include a tetrafluoride mixture, which may include at least one of: neptunium tetrafluoride (NpF 4 ); plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF 4 ); and/or americium tetrafluoride (AmF 4 ).
- a tetrafluoride mixture which may include at least one of: neptunium tetrafluoride (NpF 4 ); plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF 4 ); and/or americium tetrafluoride (AmF 4 ).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the tetrafluoride mixture may be loaded into a fluorination reactor, where the fluorination reactor may be adapted to convert at least one of the neptunium tetrafluoride (NpF 4 ) and/or the plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF 4 ) into hexafluoride molecules.
- the fluorination reactor may be adapted to convert at least one of the neptunium tetrafluoride (NpF 4 ) and/or the plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF 4 ) into hexafluoride molecules.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where particulates of the americium tetrafluoride (AmF 4 ) may be dispersed within a gaseous hexafluoride medium of the hexafluoride molecules forming an aerosol.
- AmF 4 americium tetrafluoride
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the aerosol is mixed with a moderator.
- a desirable concentration may depend on application.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the nanofuel may include light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF).
- LWR light water reactor
- SNF spent nuclear fuel
- the nanofuel engine apparatus may include where the at least one of: may act as a radioactive nuclear waste burner; may release less energy per mass of the nanofuel with the LWR SNF as compared to the nanofuel without the LWR SNF, for the nanofuel with a substantially equivalent composition; and/or may require a larger volume to release a substantially equivalent amount of energy using the nanofuel with the LWR SNF as compared to the nanofuel without the LWR SNF, for the nanofuel with a substantially equivalent composition.
- the radioactive waste burner may produce clean energy, and/or reduce geological storage requirements for the LWR SNF.
- a nanofuel engine apparatus may include a property, which may include a plurality of passive safety modes, which may include: a) where when nanofuel gets too hot, the nanofuel stops producing energy due to a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity; and/or b) where when an engine core gets too large, the nanofuel may stop producing energy due to a criticality that may change with the engine core.
- an exemplary chemical composition may include: a nanofuel, which may include: a fissile fuel, which may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced fission; a passive agent, which may include: a nuclide with a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range; and a moderator, which may include: a low atomic number element.
- a nanofuel which may include: a fissile fuel, which may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced fission; a passive agent, which may include: a nuclide with a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range; and a moderator, which may include: a low atomic number element.
- the chemical composition may include where the fissile fuel may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 239 ( 239 Pu); uranium isotope 235 ( 235 U); uranium isotope 233 ( 233 U); plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): and/or uranium isotope 235 dioxide ( 235 U0 2 ).
- the fissile fuel may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 239 ( 239 Pu); uranium isotope 235 ( 235 U); uranium isotope 233 ( 233 U); plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): and/or uranium isotope 235 dioxide ( 235 U0 2 ).
- the chemical composition may include where the passive agent may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 240 ( 240 Pu); and/or plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,).
- the passive agent may include at least one of: plutonium isotope 240 ( 240 Pu); and/or plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,).
- the chemical composition may include where the moderator may include at least one of: any of all elements having an atomic number (Z) less than 11 (Z ⁇ 11); hydrogen (H); molecular hydrogen (FF): molecular deuterium (D 2 ); hydrogen fluoride (HF); and/or helium (He).
- the moderator may include at least one of: any of all elements having an atomic number (Z) less than 11 (Z ⁇ 11); hydrogen (H); molecular hydrogen (FF): molecular deuterium (D 2 ); hydrogen fluoride (HF); and/or helium (He).
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel may include: where the fissile fuel may include: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): where the passive agent may include: plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,): and where the moderator may include: molecular hydrogen (FF).
- the fissile fuel may include: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFr,): where the passive agent may include: plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,): and where the moderator may include: molecular hydrogen (FF).
- FF molecular hydrogen
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel further may include at least one of: a fertile fuel, which may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced transmutation into a fissile nuclide; a transuranic element that may include: any of all elements with an atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92); and/or a fission product that may include: any of all fission reaction products.
- a fertile fuel which may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced transmutation into a fissile nuclide
- a transuranic element that may include: any of all elements with an atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92)
- a fission product that may include: any of all fission reaction products.
- the chemical composition may further include the fertile fuel, where the fertile fuel may include at least one of: uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); uranium isotope 238 hexafluoride ( 238 UFr,): uranium isotope 238 dioxide ( 238 U0 2 ): uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U) as part of a molecule; thorium isotope 232 ( 232 Th); thorium isotope 232 dioxide ( 232 Th0 2 ); and/or thorium isotope 232 tetrafluoride ( 232 ThF4).
- the fertile fuel may include at least one of: uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); uranium isotope 238 hexafluoride ( 238 UFr,): uranium isotope 238 dioxide ( 238 U0 2 ): uranium isotope 238 ( 2
- the chemical composition may further include the transuranic element, where the transuranic element comprises: material considered by U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to be at least one of: high-level waste (HLW); and/or transuranic (TRU) waste.
- the transuranic element comprises: material considered by U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to be at least one of: high-level waste (HLW); and/or transuranic (TRU) waste.
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel may include an infinite medium neutron multiplication factor (k ⁇ ), which may be greater than one ( k ⁇ > 1).
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel may include a neutron population exponential growth factor (a), which may be greater than zero generations per second (gen/s) (a > 0 gen/s).
- a neutron population exponential growth factor
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel may be in a supercritical state, where the supercritical state may include: an infinite medium neutron multiplication factor (k ⁇ ), which may be greater than one ( k ⁇ > 1); and a neutron population exponential growth factor (a), which may be greater than zero generations per second (a > 0 gen/s).
- k ⁇ infinite medium neutron multiplication factor
- a neutron population exponential growth factor
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel may be supercritical, where the k ⁇ may be greater than or equal to 1.2, and the k ⁇ may be less than or equal to 1.7, and the alpha (a) may be greater than or equal to 1,000 gen/s, and the alpha (a) may be less than or equal to 9,000 gen/s.
- the chemical composition may include where a neutron population may increase by approximately 10 orders of magnitude in approximately 10 ms, when the a may be around 2,000 gen/s.
- ar temperature coefficient of reactivity
- the chemical composition may include where the nanofuel may include where the moderator may absorb fission fragment kinetic energy, where the nanofuel temperature may increase due to the absorption of fission fragment kinetic energy in the moderator, where a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity (ar ⁇ 0 l/K) may cause a neutron population exponential growth factor (a) to decrease and eventually transition the nanofuel into a subcritical state where a ⁇ 0 gen/s, and where the subcritical state may exponentially decrease a neutron population and may complete a combustion process.
- a neutron population exponential growth factor
- a method of obtaining transuranic elements for nanofuel may include: a) receiving spent nuclear fuel; b) separating the transuranic elements from the spent nuclear fuel, where the separating may include: separating the spent nuclear fuel into at least one stream, where the at least one stream may include the transuranic elements, which may include at least one of: any of all elements with an atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92); a fissile fuel; a passive agent; a fertile fuel; and/or a fission product; and c) providing the transuranic elements.
- the method may include where the (a) of the receiving the spent nuclear fuel, may include receiving commercial light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel.
- LWR commercial light water reactor
- the method may include where the (b) of may separating the spent nuclear fuel into at least one stream may include at least one of: i) separating into a stream of substantially uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); ii) separating into a stream of substantially fission products; and/or iii) separating into a stream of the transuranic elements.
- the method may include where the (b) (i) of the separating into the stream of substantially uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U), may further include: productizing the stream of substantially uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U) as a commodity.
- the method may include where the (c) of providing the transuranic elements may include: providing the transuranic elements in a solid form; providing the transuranic elements in a liquid form; and/or providing the transuranic elements in a gaseous form. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method may include where the (c) of providing the transuranic elements may include providing the transuranic elements in a plasma form.
- the method may include where the providing the transuranic elements in the solid form may include at least one of: providing the transuranic elements in a substantially tetrafluoride (F 4 ) form; and/or providing the transuranic elements in a substantially dioxide (O2) form.
- F 4 substantially tetrafluoride
- O2 substantially dioxide
- the method may include where the (b) of the separating the spent nuclear fuel into at least one stream may include at least one of: i) separating by at least one process of pyrochemical processing or pyroprocessing; ii) separating by at least one process of electrometallurgical treatment; iii) separating without isotope separation; and/or iv) separating by a proliferation resistant, environmentally friendly process.
- the method may include where the (c) of providing the transuranic elements may include: providing the transuranic elements for use in a nanofuel engine.
- a method of using transuranic elements to create nanofuel may include: a) receiving the transuranic elements; where the transuranic elements may include at least one of: any of all elements with atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92); a fissile fuel; and/or a passive agent; and where the transuranic elements have had substantially most fission products removed therefrom; and b) mixing the transuranic elements with a moderator to obtain nanofuel.
- the method may further include: c) loading the transuranic elements and the moderator in a nanofuel engine.
- the method may include where the (a) may include loading the transuranic elements in a nanofuel engine.
- the method may include where the transuranic elements may include: at least one stream, which may include at least one of: a stream of substantially uranium isotope 238 ( 238 U); a stream of substantially fission products; or a stream of the transuranic elements.
- the method may include where the fissile fuel may include: plutonium isotope 239 hexafluoride ( 239 PuFe).
- the method may include where the passive agent may include: plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride ( 24(l PuFr,).
- the method may include where the moderator may include: molecular hydrogen (3 ⁇ 4).
- the method may include where the (b) may include i) converting the transuranic elements into a gas form; and ii) mixing the transuranic elements in the gas form with the moderator to obtain the nanofuel.
- the method may include where the (b) (i) of converting the transuranic elements into a gaseous form may include: loading the transuranic elements in a tetrafluoride form into a fluorination reactor; and converting the transuranic elements in the tetrafluoride form to the transuranic elements in a substantially hexafluoride form.
- the method may include where the (b) (ii) of mixing the transuranic elements with the moderator to obtain the nanofuel, may include: any of all elements having an atomic number (Z) less than 11 (Z ⁇ 11).
- the method may include where the (b) of mixing the transuranic elements with the moderator to obtain the nanofuel may include: leaving the nanofuel ready for operation in a nanofuel engine.
- a method of operating a nanofuel engine loaded with nanofuel may include at least one of: a) operating the nanofuel engine in a spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using a source external to the nanofuel; and/or b) operating the nanofuel engine in a compression ignition mode by creating neutrons in the nanofuel, which may include: i) using radioactive material that may emit neutrons.
- the method may include where the (a) of the operating the nanofuel engine in the spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using the source external to the nanofuel, may include at least one of: i) using a fusion neutron source; and/or ii) using a radioactive material that may emit neutrons.
- the method may include where the (a) (i) of the using the fusion neutron source in the operating the nanofuel engine in the spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using the source external to the nanofuel may include at least one of: using an accelerator-based neutron generator; and/or using a Z-pinch-based neutron generator.
- the method may include where the (a) (ii) of the using the radioactive material that may emit neutrons in the operating of the nanofuel engine in the spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using the source external to the nanofuel may include using isotope 252 californium ( 252 Cf)
- the method may include where the (b) (i) of the operating the nanofuel engine in the compression ignition mode by creating the neutrons in the nanofuel may include the using the radioactive material that may emit neutrons may include at least one of: using neutrons emitted from a fission product; or using neutrons emitted from a transuranic element.
- a method of using nanofuel in a nanofuel engine may include: a) compressing the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine; and b) igniting the nanofuel using a neutron source, where the igniting may include: triggering a release of nuclear energy from the nanofuel.
- the method may include where the nanofuel may include a moderator, a molecule with dimensions on a nanometer scale, and a molecular mixture.
- the method may include where the nanofuel may include: a fissile fuel, where the fissile fuel may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced fission; a passive agent, where the passive agent may include: a nuclide which may include a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range; and a moderator, where the moderator may include: a low atomic number element.
- the method may include where the triggering the release of nuclear energy from the nanofuel may further include using the energy released from the nanofuel to generate heat.
- the method may further include: c) capturing the release of nuclear energy from the nanofuel in the nanofuel, where the nanofuel is also a working fluid in the nanofuel engine; and d) using the energy in the working fluid to perform work.
- the method may further include: c) receiving the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine.
- the method may further include: c) exhausting the nanofuel from the nanofuel engine.
- r compression ratio
- x Q/(M c v T)
- Q the energy deposited in the nanofuel
- M a mass of the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine
- c v is a constant-volume heat capacity of the nanofuel
- T is a temperature of the nanofuel.
- the method may include where the compression ratio r may include: a ratio of an engine core volume of the nanofuel engine in a bottom dead center (BDC) position to an engine core volume of the nanofuel engine in a top dead center (TDC) position.
- BDC bottom dead center
- TDC top dead center
- the method may further include: c) controlling the release of nuclear energy from the nanofuel by at least one of: changing the nanofuel; adjusting an inlet nanofuel state; or varying a compression ratio r.
- the method may include where the compressing of the nanofuel of the (a), may include: placing a mass of the nanofuel into an engine core, where the engine core may change with the compressing of the nanofuel.
- the method may include where the compressing of the nanofuel may be accomplished by at least one of: at least one piston, in a reciprocating engine, where the reciprocating engine may include at least one housing; and/or at least one rotor, in a rotary engine, where the rotary engine may include at least one housing.
- the method may include where the igniting of the (b), may include at least one of: igniting via an external neutron source; and/or igniting via an internal neutron source.
- the method may include where the release of nuclear energy, may include at least one of: i) releasing energy until a nanofuel temperature gets too high and the nanofuel engine transitions into a subcritical state due to a nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity; and/or ii) releasing energy until an engine core gets too large and the nanofuel engine transitions into a subcritical state due to a criticality of the engine core.
- the method may include where the release of nuclear energy may include the (ii), and where the (ii) may include: where the criticality of the engine core may include: where B m may include a material buckling of the engine core, and where B g may include a geometric buckling of the engine core.
- the method may include where the criticality of the engine core may include: where the nanofuel engine further may include a cylindrical shape reciprocating engine geometry, where the engine core may include a cylinder radius R and a cylinder height H, and where the criticality may include: here L may
- k ⁇ may include an infinite medium multiplication factor
- v 0 and p may include known constants
- R c may include an extrapolated critical radius of the engine core
- H c may include an extrapolated critical height of the engine core.
- the method may include where the releasing energy until the engine core gets too large may include: where the nanofuel engine apparatus may be supercritical when the cylinder radius R is greater than a critical radius R c (R > R c ): and where the critical radius R c of the engine core of the criticality for the cylindrical shape reciprocating engine geometry may include: R c — d, where r is a
- the method may include where the (ii) may include: where the releasing energy until the engine core gets too large with respect to the criticality, where the criticality may relate to a reflector of the nanofuel engine, where the reflector may reduce neutron leakage, and where the reflector may include at least one of: making the nanofuel engine smaller than without the reflector; or slowing down and returning fast neutrons back into the nanofuel by a finite thickness of the reflector.
- the method may include where the using the energy in the working fluid to perform work of the (d), may include at least one of: driving an alternator; driving a generator; driving a propeller; generating heat; turning a shaft; and/or turning at least one wheel.
- the method may further include c) cooling the nanofuel with a heat exchanger; and d) returning the nanofuel to the nanofuel engine.
- the method may include where the nanofuel engine may further include a rotary engine, and may further include at least one of: allowing a full separation, and/or allowing a partial separation, of an intake and an exhaust port.
- the method may include where the partial separation of the intake and the exhaust port may include: regulating an amount of the nanofuel left in the nanofuel engine, and permitting at least one of: using neutrons emitted from a fission product, and/or affecting energy released.
- the method may include where the nanofuel engine may include a rotary engine, where the rotary engine may include a rotor, where the rotor may include a rotor cavity shape, which may include at least one of: an arbitrary shape, a cylindrical shape, an ellipsoidal shape, a rectangular shape, and/or a spherical shape; and where performance of the rotary engine may be improved by decreasing the rotor cavity shape surface to volume ratio.
- the method may include where the nanofuel engine may include a rotor cavity shape, which may include the ellipsoidal shape, where the rotary engine dimensions are dependent on the ellipsoidal shape when the rotor is in a top dead center (TDC) position, where a geometric condition arises where a rotor center-to-tip distance ( R r ) may depend on a minor radius (b) of the ellipsoidal shape and a reflector thickness (A) fitting between a rotor housing minor radius and an output shaft rotor journal when the rotor is in the TDC position, R r e/R r is an eccentricity ratio.
- TDC top dead center
- K trochoid constant
- the method may include where the trochoid constant K is greater than 5 and less than 11 (5 K 11).
- the method may further include at least one of a variable cycle speed, and/or a variable nanofuel engine power.
- a nanofuel engine apparatus can include: an internal combustion engine configured to receive a nanofuel that releases nuclear energy; receive the nanofuel internal to internal combustion engine; compress the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine; and ignite the nanofuel using a neutron source, wherein the ignite comprises where the internal combustion engine is configured to: trigger a release of nuclear energy from the nanofuel.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, e.g., but not limited to, where the nanofuel engine can include a rotary engine, where the rotary engine can include a rotor, wherein said rotor comprises a rotor cavity shape that comprises any of: an arbitrary shape; a cylindrical shape; an ellipsoidal shape; a rectangular shape; and/or a spherical shape, etc.; and where performance of the rotary engine is improved by decreasing said rotor cavity shape surface to volume ratio.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus in an example embodiment, can include, e.g., but not limited to, where the rotor cavity shape can include the ellipsoidal shape, where the rotary engine dimensions are dependent on the ellipsoidal shape when the rotor is in a top dead center (TDC) position, where a geometric condition arises where a rotor center-to-tip distance ( R r ) depends on a minor radius (b) of the ellipsoidal shape and a reflector thickness (D) fitting between a rotor housing minor radius and an output shaft rotor journal when the rotor is in the
- K trochoid constant
- the nanofuel engine apparatus in an example embodiment, can include, e.g., but not limited to, where the trochoid constant K is greater than 5 and less than 11 (5 ⁇ K ⁇ 11).
- Another example embodiment can include, e.g., but not limited to, a method of using nanofuel in a nanofuel engine comprising: a) compressing the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine; and b) igniting the nanofuel using a neutron source, wherein said igniting can include: triggering a release of nuclear energy from the nanofuel.
- the method of using the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine can include, e.g., but not limited to, where the nanofuel engine comprises a rotary engine, wherein said rotary engine can include a rotor, where the rotor can include a rotor cavity shape that can include any of: an arbitrary shape; a cylindrical shape; an ellipsoidal shape; a rectangular shape; and/or a spherical shape, etc.; and where performance of the rotary engine is improved by decreasing the rotor cavity shape surface to volume ratio.
- the method of using the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine can include, e.g., but not limited to, where the rotor cavity shape can include the ellipsoidal shape, where the rotary engine dimensions are dependent on the ellipsoidal shape when the rotor is in a top dead center (TDC) position, where a geometric condition arises where a rotor center-to-tip distance ( R r ) depends on a minor radius (b) of the ellipsoidal shape and a reflector thickness (D) fitting between a rotor housing minor radius and an output shaft rotor journal
- TDC top dead center
- K trochoid constant
- the method of using the nanofuel in the nanofuel engine can include, e.g., but not limited to, where the trochoid constant K is greater than 5 and less than 11 (5 ⁇ K ⁇ 11).
- a nanofuel may include: a fissile fuel, where the fissile fuel may include: a nuclide that may undergo neutron induced fission; a passive agent, where the passive agent may include: a nuclide which may include a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range; and a moderator, where the moderator may include: a low atomic number element.
- FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary view of an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary small modular nanofuel-electric engine system; which according to an exemplary embodiment may include exemplary power generation technology, which may include, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary nanofuel engine and an exemplary fuel cycle coupled to something such as, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary alternator and/or generator, in order to produce alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) electricity from movement of the exemplary nanofuel engine, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- exemplary power generation technology which may include, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary nanofuel engine and an exemplary fuel cycle coupled to something such as, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary alternator and/or generator, in order to produce alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) electricity from movement of the exemplary nanofuel engine, according to an exemplary embodiment
- AC alternating current
- DC direct current
- FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment illustrating exemplary main reciprocating internal-combustion (IC) engine piston positions, namely the bottom dead center (BDC) position and the top dead center (TDC) position, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of exemplary characteristics of the ideal Otto cycle, namely pressure ratios, temperature ratios, thermal efficiency, and mean effective pressure as a function of the dimensionless parameters r and x, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 5,151 Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations, depicting in FIG. 5A a plot of the quantity k ⁇ and in FIG. 5B a plot of the quantity a, as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions m( Fh, 239 PuF 6 , 2 40 PUF 6 ), according to an exemplary embodiment; more specifically, FIG. 5A plots k, as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions /n(Fh. 9 PuFr,. 240 PuF 6 ), according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 5B plots a as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions /n(Fh. 9 PuFr,. 24(1 PuFr,). according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIGS. 6A and 6B depict an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 639 Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations, as a function of the nanofuel temperature, according to an exemplary embodiment; particularly, FIG. 6A depicts k ⁇ (T), namely k, . and FIG. 6B depicts a(7), namely a, both as a function of the nanofuel temperature, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary engine core critical radius R c , according to an exemplary embodiment, for exemplary Fuel c (in Tables I and II), according to an exemplary embodiment, as a function of an exemplary engine core height H, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary nanofuel engine simulation geometry, and exemplary piston dynamics, according to an exemplary embodiment; in particular, FIG. 8 plots the variable engine core height with time, illustrating the time evolution of the engine core geometry;
- FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary numerical simulation of an exemplary 4-stroke nanofuel reciprocating engine operating in an exemplary spark-ignition mode, according to an exemplary embodiment; more specifically, FIG. 9A compares a simulated Otto cycle with an ideal Otto cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 9B illustrates an average nanofuel pressure p [bar] in the engine core as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIGS. 10A and 10B depict an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary numerical simulation of an exemplary 4-stroke nanofuel reciprocating engine operating in an exemplary spark-ignition mode, according to an exemplary embodiment; specifically, FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary time-integrated one-sided neutron flux G [n/keV] leaving an exemplary engine core and entering an exemplary engine core as a function of neutron energy E [keV], according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 10B illustrates the energy production rate Q [GJ/s] in the nanofuel in the engine core as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIGS. 11A and 11B depict an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary numerical simulation of an exemplary 4-stroke nanofuel reciprocating engine operating in an exemplary compression-ignition mode, according to an exemplary embodiment; more specifically, FIG. 11A compares a simulated Otto cycle with an ideal Otto cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 11B illustrates an average nanofuel pressure p [bar] in the engine core as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- Be Beryllium
- FIG. 14B depicts an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 2,601 static optimal engine core geometry simulations depicting the energy released during combustion Q [MJ] as a function of the engine core radius and the Be reflector thickness, according to an exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary embodiment illustrating exemplary main Wankel rotary internal-combustion (IC) engine fuel volume positions, namely the bottom dead center (BDC) position and the top dead center (TDC) position, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary embodiment illustrating an exemplary circular arc flank rounding geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment;
- FIG. 19 depicts an exemplary embodiment illustrating an exemplary nanofuel rotary engine geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary embodiment illustrating of an exemplary nuclear fuel cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment; more specifically: FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary nuclear fuel cycle flow diagram, according to an exemplary embodiment, which may include, e.g., but is not limited to, various elements, which may begin with the major steps of the exemplary present once-through open fuel cycle used in the U.S., namely: an exemplary mining and/or milling process; an exemplary enrichment process; an exemplary fuel fabrication process; and/or an exemplary LWR power plant process, according to an exemplary embodiment; in addition, the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle flow diagram, may include one or more processes for creating nanofuel, which may include, e.g., but is not limited to, the following processes: an exemplary interim storage process; an exemplary separation process; an exemplary nanofuel engine process; and/or an exemplary geological disposal process, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- processes for creating nanofuel which may include, e.g., but is not limited to, the following processes: an exemplary
- FIG. 21 depicts an exemplary nuclear reactor site diagram containing an exemplary nuclear reactor area, an exemplary nuclear powered internal engine area, and an exemplary onsite spent nuclear fuel refinery, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary onsite spent nuclear fuel refinery may include, in one example embodiment, among other things, an exemplary storage facility, an exemplary reprocessing facility, and an exemplary fuel fabrication facility, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 22 depicts a nuclear powered internal engine housing constructed using multiple layers, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 23 depicts a nuclear powered internal engine housing containing an internal channel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary small modular nanofuel engine including an exemplary internal-combustion (IC) engine that may run on an exemplary nanofuel, also set forth herein, that may release nuclear energy).
- IC internal-combustion
- Various advantages of embodiments of the present invention may include, e.g., but are not limited to: economics, safety, and waste management. Exemplary economic advantages may include: (1) an exemplary low nanofuel cost; (2) an exemplary low overnight capital cost, which may result from an exemplary small engine size and/or modular manufacturing (including learning); (3) an exemplary low financing cost, which may be due in part to an exemplary short construction time; and/or (4) exemplary low operations and maintenance costs, which are comparable to existing IC engines, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Exemplary safety advantages may include: (1) an exemplary nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity (ar ⁇ 0 l/K), which may decrease the energy released during combustion as the nanofuel temperature increases; (2) an exemplary engine core dynamic criticality, where the engine core is supercritical when the engine core radius is less than a critical radius ( R ⁇ R c ) that is inversely proportional to the compression ratio ( R c ⁇ l/r); (3) an exemplary low nanofuel inventory, which is several hundred times less than comparable capacity commercial light water reactors (LWRs); (4) an exemplary robust fortification from, e.g., natural disasters and/or sabotage, etc.; and/or (5) an exemplary ability to shutdown in an emergency without auxiliary power, external water supplies, and/or operator intervention, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity ar ⁇ 0 l/K
- an exemplary engine core dynamic criticality where the engine core is supercritical when the engine core radius is less than a critical radius (
- Exemplary waste management advantages may include: (1) an exemplary closed thermodynamic cycle that may permit 100% fissile fuel utilization; (2) an exemplary reduction of highly radioactive material and/or minimization of waste requiring long-term geological storage; and/or (3) the use of existing commercial LWR spent nuclear fuel, which may offer a significant technological advance in the present nuclear fuel cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the overnight capital cost refers to the cost of a nuclear power plant if it were constructed overnight. It includes the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) costs associated with the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS), the turbine generator, and the balance of plant (BOP). It also includes the owner’s costs associated with site-specific activities, such as: project management, legal services, licensing (state and federal), facilities, taxes, and transmission (local grid improvements).
- EPC engineering, procurement, and construction
- Contingency costs are included; time-dependent costs, such as financing and escalation costs, are excluded.
- time-dependent costs such as financing and escalation costs
- all-in capital cost which includes the overnight capital cost and time-dependent costs, such as financing and escalation costs
- Nuclear energy is a clean (with respect to greenhouse gas emissions), safe, and sustainable alternative energy source.
- Commercial nuclear power plants are the only proven large-scale means of generating carbon-free electricity.
- Nuclear fuel has approximately 10 6 times the energy density of fossil fuels; e.g., the energy released per unit mass of 239 Pu is 80.12 GJ/g (J. J. DUDERSTADT and L. J. HAMILTON, Nuclear Reactor Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1976)), while for gasoline (CsHn) it is 45.92 kJ/g (C. F.
- the NRC released 10 CFR 52, which introduces several new commercial nuclear power plant licensing options.
- the Construction and Operation License authorizes both the construction of a nuclear power plant and the subsequent operation after the licensee has completed the required inspections, tests, analysis, and acceptance criteria (ITAAC).
- ITAAC Analysis and acceptance criteria
- the NRC introduced the Early Site Permit (ESP), which addresses site safety issues, environmental protection issues, and emergency planning independent of the review of a specific nuclear power plant design.
- ESP Early Site Permit
- these new licensing options reduce the economic risk of deploying a new nuclear power plant. While this is an improvement for the deployment of present nuclear technology, the capital cost of such an endeavor is still too large.
- Technical Maturity Assessment Technology typically has a life cycle that includes: ideation, research and development (R&D), commercialization (learning, which is defined below), adoption (growth, maturation, decline), and obsolescence.
- R&D research and development
- EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
- the unit cost prior to commercialization is typically a factor of 2-3 larger than predicted during the ideation stage.
- S. INWOOD “Program on technology innovation: Integrated generation technology options,” 1022782, EPRI (2011). Since an uncertainty in technical maturity translates into an uncertainty in unit cost, one can kindly point out that the GW e -scale Generation III+ nuclear power plant technology maturity level assessments performed a few years ago were incorrect.
- DOE LGP The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 (“Energy Policy Act of 2005,” 2005, United States Public Law 109-58) is a law that seeks to accelerate the deployment of clean alternative energy technology through the development of programs such as the DOE LGP. Published by the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office at http:// lpo.energy.gov/.
- a loan guarantee is a contract between the government, private creditors, and a borrower that the government will cover a portion of the borrower’s debt obligation in the event that the borrower defaults.
- the purpose of a loan guarantee is to reduce the all-in capital cost by reducing the financing cost.
- SMR designs have enhanced passive safety features (eliminating external water and auxiliary power requirements in the event of an accident) and reduced nuclear fuel inventories. Their operation revolves around standardized components (such as common instrumentation and controls) that improve the operations and maintenance personnel training quality and depth of talent. Together, these factors decrease the potential safety risk to the environment and the public in an emergency, increase site location possibilities, and create new markets for nuclear power.
- a small modular nanofuel-electric engine that may include, according to an exemplary embodiment, a nanofuel engine and a fuel cycle coupled to an alternator or generator in order to produce exemplary alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC), respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- AC alternating current
- DC direct current
- FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary view of an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary small modular nanofuel-electric engine system 100; which according to an exemplary embodiment may include exemplary power generation technology, which may include, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 and an exemplary fuel cycle 104 coupled to something such as, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary alternator and/or generator 106, in order to produce alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC) electricity from movement of the exemplary nanofuel engine 102, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nanofuel engine 102 may be coupled to other systems including, e.g., a component of an exemplary nuclear fuel cycle as described below with reference to FIG.
- the exemplary nanofuel engine 102 may alternatively be coupled, according to an exemplary embodiment, to a system for providing transportation such as, e.g., but not limited to, a locomotive, a vehicle, a ship, a submarine, etc.
- a system for providing transportation such as, e.g., but not limited to, a locomotive, a vehicle, a ship, a submarine, etc.
- the exemplary nanofuel engine 102 may be used to generate heat, according to an exemplary embodiment, and the heat may be used for various conventional purposes.
- FIG. 1 illustrates in exemplary system diagram 100 various exemplary main logical components of an exemplary small modular nanofuel-electric engine, according to an exemplary embodiment, that may include an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 and an exemplary fuel cycle 104 coupled to an exemplary alternator and/or generator 106 in order to produce alternating current (AC) and/or direct current (DC).
- exemplary nanofuel engine 102 will be set forth herein including, e.g., but not limited to, a reciprocating engine, as well as a rotary engine, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Nuclear engines have been considered for potential extraterrestrial propulsion systems since World War II. See, e.g., R. W. BUSSARD and R.D. DELAUER, Nuclear Rocket Propulsion, McGraw-Hill, New York (1958), and K. THOM, “Review of Fission Engine Concepts,” J. Spacecraft, 9, 9, 633 (1972). These nuclear engines operate in an open thermodynamic cycle external-combustion fashion, where the working fluid is heated by a separate (or external) nuclear reactor (which uses a solid or liquid fuel) and is passed to an exhaust nozzle that generates thrust.
- a separate nuclear reactor which uses a solid or liquid fuel
- Rocket efficiency is proportional to the working fluid ejected speed, i.e., v ⁇ jT /m ⁇ , where T is the working fluid temperature and / «. / is the working fluid molecular weight.
- a nanofuel engine 102 may operate in a closed internal-combustion (IC) fashion, where nuclear energy is released in the working fluid, which is also the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- HEIDRICH et al “Nuclear-driven technologies that could reduce the cost of electricity by several fold,” UCRL-JC-108960, LLNL (1991)) discussed a few economic advantages of releasing nuclear energy in the working fluid (citing a potential ten (lO)-fold reduction in the cost of electricity generation) and demonstrated a self-shutoff safety mechanism that is characteristic of certain nuclear fuel mixtures.
- Section II sets forth an internal-combustion (IC) engine review that examines an ideal Otto cycle, which includes an exemplary, simplified thermodynamic description of an exemplary actual IC engine, and presents a set of exemplary dimensionless parameters that may enable analytic quantitative comparisons of engine design alternatives, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- IC internal-combustion
- Sections III and IV take an exemplary approach to identifying important exemplary nanofuel engine design principles that closely parallel an exemplary orthodox nuclear engineering technique for calculating an effective multiplication factor by division into an exemplary infinite medium multiplication factor, which depends on the nuclear fuel properties, and an exemplary nonleakage probability, which depends on reactor core geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section III sets forth exemplary nanofuel properties, which may include, e.g., but not limited to, defining exemplary main nanofuel ingredients, surveying several exemplary nanofuel properties, and highlighting exemplary safety advantages of a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity of the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section IV sets forth an exemplary engine core geometry, which may include, e.g., but not limited to, considering an exemplary nanofuel reciprocating engine geometry, developing an exemplary general analytic criticality condition that may describe the engine core critical radius and/or mass, and highlighting exemplary safety features of an exemplary dynamic engine geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section V sets forth an exemplary operation including, e.g., but not limited to, discussing an ideal Otto cycle for a nanofuel engine, establishing an exemplary spark-ignition mode and an exemplary compression-ignition mode of operation, numerically quantifying several characteristics of the combustion process (including, e.g., the energy released), and revealing several exemplary design knobs, which may be used for regulating engine performance, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section V is supplemented by an exemplary neutron reflector discussion (see App. A), which may analytically determine (and numerically verify) an optimal reflector thickness using Fermi age theory and diffusion theory, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section VI sets forth exemplary performance including, e.g., but not limited to, illustrating several exemplary design principles through a numerical simulation of an exemplary generic nanofuel 4-stroke reciprocating engine operating in both an exemplary spark-ignition mode and exemplary compression-ignition mode.
- this section may demonstrate near ideal nanofuel engine efficiencies, highlighting an exemplary relation between exemplary engine operating speed and exemplary engine power, discussing qualitative features of the energy dependent neutron flux, and proposing exemplary efficient fuel utilization strategies, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section VI is supplemented by an exemplary piston case strength discussion (see App. B), which may use the theory of elasticity to calculate an exemplary effect of exemplary nanofuel pressure on exemplary piston case integrity, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section VII sets forth a light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) section, which may include, e.g., but not limited to, demonstrating an exemplary feasibility of efficiently using exemplary commercial LWR SNF in an exemplary small modular nanofuel engine, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- LWR light water reactor
- SNF spent nuclear fuel
- exemplary nanofuel mixtures may include, e.g., but not limited to, a typical commercial LWR SNF isotopic composition, examining criticality, and numerically quantifying an exemplary wide-range of exemplary operating conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary embodiment of the nanofuel engine 102 may use SNF to generate power and to further process the SNF converting the SNF into various commoditized by products.
- Section VIII sets forth an exemplary discussion of various exemplary advantages that may include, e.g., but not limited to, concluding with an exemplary discussion of various exemplary, but nonlimiting advantages of an exemplary small modular nanofuel engine, according to various exemplary embodiments.
- Sec. VIII may consider exemplary economics, exemplary safety, and exemplary waste management facets of an exemplary small modular nanofuel engine, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Second, Sec. VIII may include highlights on how an exemplary nanofuel engine may exceed all Generation IV goals for future nuclear energy systems, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Sec. VIII may consider exemplary economics, exemplary safety, and exemplary waste management facets of an exemplary small modular nanofuel engine, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Sec. VIII may include highlights on how an exemplary nanofuel engine may exceed all Generation IV goals for future nuclear energy systems, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- VIII may propose an exemplary construction of an exemplary robust research engine that may serve as an exemplary platform for developing exemplary, theoretical, computational, and/or experimental tools, etc., to support exemplary physics design optimization, detailed engineering feasibility studies, and rapid commercialization, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section IX set forth an exemplary nanofuel rotary engine and explores the feasibility of developing an exemplary nanofuel rotary engine, according to an exemplary embodiment. More specifically, Sec. IX, presents an exemplary rotary engine review, develops an exemplary rotary engine flank cavity that is suitable for nanofuel combustion, and describes an exemplary compact nanofuel rotary engine configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Section X set forth an exemplary nuclear fuel cycle for creating and using nanofuel that is an extension of the once-through open fuel cycle used in the U.S. to fuel commercial light water reactors (LWRs), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- LWRs light water reactors
- a reciprocating internal-combustion (IC) engine is the most reliable and widely used power source in the world, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- IC internal-combustion
- FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary diagram 300 illustrating exemplary main reciprocating IC engine piston positions 302a and 302b, namely the bottom dead center (BDC) position 302a (left) and the top dead center (TDC) position 302b (right), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary piston 302 may be coupled by an exemplary connecting rod 308, and/or to an exemplary crank 306, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary engine core 304 may comprise a volume internal to an exemplary cylindrical piston case 314, and bounded between a circular endcap 316 and the exemplary piston 302, where the engine core 304 may be cylindrical in shape, and may thus have an exemplary radius R 310, and exemplary height H 312, which may be variable depending on the position of piston 302, as it moves reciprocatingly between positions 302a and 302b, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary process diagram 200 for an exemplary ideal Otto cycle, which will now be discussed with reference to the exemplary piston 302 of diagram 300 of FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- state 1 of process diagram 200 see FIG. 2
- the piston 302 is located in the bottom dead center (BDC) position 302a (see FIG.
- the fuel is isentropically compressed, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the piston 302 is located in the top dead center (TDC) position 302b (see FIG. 3) and the compression ratio (r) is given by
- combustion occurs at constant volume and the system releases energy ( Q ) in the working fluid, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Q energy
- exemplary process 3-4 of process diagram 200 the fuel isentropically expands and the piston 302 returns to the BDC position 302a, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the fuel is cooled at constant volume and the cycle is complete, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- thermodynamic properties can be expressed relative to their initial state with the introduction of one more dimensionless parameter, according to an exemplary embodiment, namely
- mep mean effective pressure
- the work done in applying the mep to the piston 302 during the entire expansion process 3-4 of process diagram in 200 is equivalent to the work of the actual cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of exemplary characteristics 400-450, namely pressure ratios 400 (Eq. 4, left) and 410 (Eq. 4, right), temperature ratios 420 (Eq. 5, left) and 430 (Eq. 5, right), thermal efficiency 440 (Eq. 2), and mean effective pressure 450 (Eq. 6) of the ideal Otto cycle (see FIG. 2) as a function of the dimensionless parameters r (Eq. 1) and x (Eq. 3); where curve labels correspond to x, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- An exemplary nanofuel which is the working fluid in the exemplary nanofuel engine 102, is composed of an exemplary, but nonlimiting, six (6) ingredients, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:
- Fissile Fuel may include a nuclide, according to an exemplary embodiment, that may undergo thermal neutron induced fission, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the most common examples are 239 Pu, 235 U, and 233 U, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Passive Agent may include a nuclide with a strong resonance neutron absorption cross- section in the low epithermal energy range, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- 239 Pu has a large resonance neutron absorption cross-section near 1 eV, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Moderator may include a low atomic number element such as, e.g., but not limited to, H and He, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the role of the moderator, according to an exemplary embodiment, is to thermalize the neutron population and absorb fission fragment kinetic energy, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Fertile Fuel may include a nuclide, according to an exemplary embodiment, that may undergo neutron induced transmutation into a fissile nuclide, according to an exemplary embodiment. Also known as breeding material, according to an exemplary embodiment. Two practical examples are 238 U (for 239 Pu), and 232 Th (for 233 U), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Transuranic Elements may include, according to an exemplary embodiment, all elements with atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- This definition may intentionally include material that is considered by the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to be high-level waste (HLW) and transuranic (TRU) waste, according to an exemplary embodiment. See“Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as Amended,” 1954, United States Public Law 83-703.
- Fission Products may include all fission reaction products, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the fission products may also be interpreted, according to an exemplary embodiment, as all matter not covered by the other ingredients, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Nano with reference to exemplary nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment, may be used to emphasize the general presence of molecules and complex clusters in the fuel that may have dimensions on the nanometer scale and introduce quantum phenomena that may affect engine performance, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the theoretical and computational modeling of nanofuel properties may be very intensive, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the mixture of uranium dioxide (UO2) and molecular hydrogen (H2) is an aerosol that may behave as a colloidal system with solid particle clusters dispersed in a gaseous medium, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- UO2 uranium dioxide
- H2 molecular hydrogen
- nanofuel ingredients As a starting point, let us take a subset of the nanofuel ingredients, according to an exemplary embodiment, and study their interplay.
- the potential use of fertile fuel is briefly mentioned herein; the addition of transuranic elements, according to an exemplary embodiment, is covered in Sec. VII; and the presence of fission products (and their delayed neutrons), according to an exemplary embodiment, is utilized in Sec. VI.
- plutonium (Pu) Compared to uranium (U) alternatives, plutonium (Pu), according to an exemplary embodiment, lends to smaller critical assemblies and is readily available through the exemplary pyrochemical processing of existing commercial LWR SNF (see FIG. 20, 2016)— both points have significant economic advantages, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- creating a homogeneous gaseous molecular mixture of these nanofuel ingredients involves a few exemplary chemistry stages.
- a sold plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF 4 ) mixture of the fissile fuel and passive agent is formed, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Solid PuF 4 allows for safe (due to containment) and efficient (due to the large density) transport, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the PuF 4 is loaded into a fluorination reactor, according to an exemplary embodiment, and converted into plutonium hexafluoride (PuFr,) via the exemplary chemical reaction of Eq. 7:
- PuFr, and Eh are mixed until the desired concentration is achieved. Since PuF 6 reacts slowly with Eh, this last stage is an active part of a nanofuel engine 102 fuel cycle 104 (see FIG. 1), according to an exemplary embodiment. See M. J. STEINDLER, “Laboratory Investigations in Support of Fluid Bed Fluoride Volatility Processes Part II. The Properties of Plutonium Hexafluoride,” ANL-6753, ANL (1963).
- the ensuing numerical simulations may: (1) use a Monte Carlo method to solve the infinite medium neutron transport problem for a homogeneous fuel mixture; (2) rely on nuclear data from the LLNL evaluated nuclear data library (ENDL) (see R. J.
- FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 5,151 Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations, depicting in FIG. 5A in graph 500 a plot of the quantity k ⁇ and in FIG. 5B in graph 510 a plot of the quantity a, as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions /n(H 2 . 239 PuFr,. 24(1 PuFr,). according to an exemplary embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 5A in exemplary graph 500 plots k, as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions m(H 2 , 239 PuF 6 , 240 PUF 6 ), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 5A in exemplary graph 500 plots k, as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions m(H 2 , 239 PuF 6 , 240 PUF 6 ), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 5B in exemplary graph 510 plots a as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions m(H 2 , 239 PuF 6 , 240 PUF 6 ), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the abscissa i.e., x / -coordinate
- the ordinate i.e., x 2 -coordinate
- n 101 data points in each dimension, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the 240 PuF 6 mass fraction is given by
- FIGS. 5 A and 5B (collectively FIG. 5) clearly illustrate a large supercritical (k ⁇ > 1, a > 0 gen/s) domain, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Numerous supercritical nanofuels have substantial moderator mass fractions; a few interesting results are reported in Table I below, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 5A in exemplary graph 500 shows that k ⁇ > 2 for small values of / «.(FF) and m( 240 PuF 6 ) (or large values of /n( 239 PuFr,)) which is not obvious given the abundance of F atoms present in the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- this limit may allow one neutron to continue the chain reaction and the other neutron to create new fissile fuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 according to an exemplary embodiment, this suggests that a modest breeding ratio may be obtained with the introduction of a fertile fuel such as 238 UF 6 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a controls the neutron population growth rate and affects the amount of energy released, according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, after solving Eq. 9 for t, we find
- FIG. 5B and Table I show that numerous nanofuels have a values on the order of a few times 10 3 gen/s, i.e., several thousands of gen/s, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Another important nanofuel property is the temperature coefficient of reactivity (mt):
- a negative at means that the neutron multiplication factor (k) decreases as the nanofuel temperature increases, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a positive at means that the neutron multiplication factor increases as the nanofuel temperature increases, according to an exemplary embodiment. Since k is a positive number, the sign of at is proportional to the derivative of k(T).
- FIGS. 6A and 6B depict an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 639 Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations, as a function of the nanofuel temperature, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 6A depicts in graph 600, k ⁇ (T), namely k,.
- FIG. 6B in graph 610 depicts a(7), namely a, both as a function of the nanofuel temperature T, and the legend label refers to various exemplary nanofuels, according to an exemplary embodiment, defined in Table I, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 6A in exemplary graph 600 plots k ⁇ as a function of T for the various exemplary nanofuels identified in Table I above, according to an exemplary embodiment, and shows a large k’(T) ⁇ 0 domain.
- FIG. 6B in exemplary graph 610 plots a as a function of T, for the various exemplary nanofuels identified in Table I, according to an exemplary embodiment. From a safety perspective, a negative at ensures that the nanofuel stops releasing energy once a critical temperature is reached and places an upper limit on the energy produced during combustion, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the fission energy production rate is proportional to the neutron population, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the nanofuel is supercritical (k > 1 and a > 0 gen/s) and the injection of neutrons starts an exponential growth in the neutron population according to Eq. 9, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the moderator absorbs the kinetic energy of the fission fragments, according to an exemplary embodiment (which accounts for 80% of the total energy released during fission), and the nanofuel temperature increases, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exponential neutron population growth rate is slowing down and eventually, according to an exemplary embodiment, the nanofuel turns subcritical (k ⁇ 1 and a ⁇ 0 gen/s), according to an exemplary embodiment. At this point, the neutron population exponentially decays and the combustion process reaches an end, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the physical explanation for at ⁇ 0 l/K involves the strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in the passive agent, according to an exemplary embodiment. Due to collisions with the moderator, the neutron velocity distribution function rapidly relaxes toward a Maxwellian velocity distribution characterized by the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment. As the nanofuel temperatures increases, and the neutron velocity distribution function broadens, there are more neutrons with energies near the passive agent resonance absorption cross-section, according to an exemplary embodiment. This creates a neutron sink that significantly increases with the nanofuel temperature, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Bj ⁇ is the material buckling (nanofuel properties) and B g is the geometric buckling (engine core 304 geometry), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the material buckling is determined by the nanofuel properties according to Eq. 14:
- L /D/ ⁇ a is the neutron diffusion length (a measure of how far neutrons will travel from their source before they are absorbed), I) is the neutron diffusion coefficient, and ⁇ a s the macroscopic neutron absorption cross-section, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the geometric buckling is determined by the engine core 304 geometry according to Eq. 15:
- R c R c — d
- R c 45.94 cm
- M c 12.18 kg
- M c ( 239 PuFe) 5.481 kg.
- TABLE II sets forth a table of critical engine core 304 characteristics for the exemplary nanofuels identified in Table I, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the density decreases by 10 3 and the critical mass increases by 10 6 , and the volume increases by 10 9 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
- increasing the size of a commercial nuclear power plant by a factor of 10 9 (a billion) is not very appealing.
- a nanofuel engine 102 referring to FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment, we use this scaling to our advantage.
- the nanofuel density increases by a factor of r and the nanofuel critical mass decreases by a factor of r 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 is only supercritical ( R > R c ), when the piston 302 is near the TDC position 302b, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary graph 700, plotting an exemplary engine core critical radius R c , according to an exemplary embodiment, for exemplary Fuel c (in Tables I and II), according to an exemplary embodiment, as a function of an exemplary engine core height H 312, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the dynamic engine core 304 geometry may introduce two important exemplary safety features, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the engine is subcritical (R ⁇ R c ) for a majority of the Otto cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment, any accidental injection of neutrons or the presence of background neutrons has little effect on the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the spurious neutron population according to an exemplary embodiment, will simply exponentially decay in time.
- the change in engine core 304 is another means of placing an upper limit on the energy produced during combustion, according to an exemplary embodiment. Energy production ceases, according to an exemplary embodiment, once the engine core 304 is too large, according to an exemplary embodiment. V. Exemplary Operation
- FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary process diagram 200 for an exemplary ideal Otto cycle, which will now be discussed with reference to the exemplary piston 302 of diagram 300 of FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- BDC bottom dead center
- M mass of nanofuel
- a neutron source ignites the nanofuel and energy is released until either the nanofuel is too hot (due to ar ⁇ 0 l/K) or the engine core 304 is too large (due to R ⁇ R c ), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the remainder of the ideal Otto cycle is similar to the common IC engine, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Neutrons are introduced into the exemplary nanofuel either through an external source or an internal source, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- External neutron sources may include radioactive materials that emit neutrons (e.g., 252 Cf) and fusion neutron sources (e.g., accelerators and Z-pinches), etc.; internal neutron sources also may include radioactive materials that emit neutrons (e.g., fission products and transuranic elements), etc., according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an external fusion neutron source may be an exemplary, or preferred means of injecting neutrons into the system, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- fission product delayed neutrons may be the preferred neutron source, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the spark-ignition mode of engine operation may refer to the use of an external neutron source and the compression-ignition mode of engine operation, according to an exemplary embodiment, may refer to the use of an internal neutron source.
- accelerator-based neutron generators are a mature technology and commercial products are readily available.
- the All-Russia Research Institute of Automatics ING-013 (see the All-Russia Research Institute of Automatics web site http://www.vniia.ru/ for more information) produces 10 8 neutrons within 0.8 us. according to an exemplary embodiment.
- P power consumption
- P operating lifetime
- Activation Technology Corporation N550 see the Activation Technology Corporation web site
- exemplary Z-pinch-based dense plasma focus (DPF) neutron generators may offer a very simple and energy efficient means of performing nuclear fusion, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- DPF dense plasma focus
- Z-pinch-based neutron generators are not as technically mature as accelerator-based neutron generators, they offer an energy efficient and cost effective alternative, according to an exemplary embodiment. See G. DECKER, W. KIES, and G. PROSS,“The first and the final nanoseconds of a fast focus discharge,” Phys. Fluids, 26, 2, 571 (1983) and G. DECKER, W. KIES, M. MALZIG, C. VAN CALKER, and G ZIETHER,“High Performance 300 kV driver speed 2 for MA pinch discharges,” Nucl. Instrum. Meth. A, 249, 477 (1986).
- TABLE III sets forth a table listing exemplary static optimal engine core geometry simulations for the exemplary nanofuels identified in Table I and the exemplary critical engine core 304 dimensions presented in Table II.
- the piston height H 312 is treated as a moving boundary condition that evolves in time according to
- cps is the cycles per second for a 4-stroke reciprocating engine, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 simulation geometry, and exemplary piston 302 dynamics, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 8 illustrates the exemplary nanofuel engine 102 simulation geometry along with the piston 302 dynamics.
- Diagram 810 illustrates piston positions from 802-808, including the piston 302 in the BDC position 302a, 802 and in the TDC position 302b, 806.
- Graph 800 plots the variable engine core height H 312 with time t, illustrating the time evolution of the engine core 304 geometry.
- the decrease in Q, c. and other peak nanofuel property values are due to the increase in neutron leakage caused by the engine piston 302 spending more time away from the optimal engine core geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 9A and 9B depict an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary numerical simulation of an exemplary 4-stroke nanofuel reciprocating engine operating in an exemplary spark-ignition mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 9A in diagram 900 compares a simulated Otto cycle with an ideal Otto cycle 902, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 9B in graph 910 illustrates an average nanofuel pressure p [bar] in the engine core 304 as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- This excellent efficiency is attributed to the small combustion duration relative to the engine operating speed, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the combustion process in a nanofuel engine 102 is more spatially uniform.
- FIGS. 10A and 10B depict an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary numerical simulation of an exemplary 4-stroke nanofuel reciprocating engine operating in an exemplary spark-ignition mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 10A in graph 1000 illustrates an exemplary time-integrated one-sided neutron flux G [n/keV] leaving an exemplary engine core 304 and entering 1002 an exemplary engine core 304 as a function of neutron energy E [keV], according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 10B in graph 1010 illustrates the energy production rate Q [GJ/s] in the nanofuel in the engine core 304 as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 10A displays in graph 1000 the time-integrated one-sided neutron flux (G) across the engine core 304 boundary plotted as a function of neutron energy (E), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 10A contains a wealth of information.
- the excess MeV neutron flux leaving the engine core 304 indicates that the fast neutrons created during fission rapidly escape the nanofuel. This is another reason why it may be useful or important to use a suitable neutron reflector for the piston 302, piston case 314, and/or endcap 316, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the excess thermal neutron flux entering 1002 the engine core 304 indicates that the thermal neutrons are absorbed in the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the excess neutron flux leaving the engine core 304 at energies slightly above 1 eV indicates that these neutrons are marginally thin and traverse the engine core 304 without interaction, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 10B displays in graph 1001 the energy production rate ( Q ) as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- This curve can be approximated by a square wave with height Q ⁇ 55 GJ/s and duration 8 ms, thereby releasing O ⁇ 440 MJ, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Another estimate of the total energy released during combustion can be found from the number of fissions per cycle and the energy released per fission, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 operates with an exemplary fuel cycle 104 (see FIG. 1) that continuously recycles the nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 Compared to a commercial pressurized-water reactor (PWR), a nanofuel engine 102, according to an exemplary embodiment, has 210 times less fuel mass and poses much less risk to the environment and the public in the event of an accident.
- a nanofuel engine 102 operating in an exemplary compression-ignition mode.
- Delayed neutrons offer a means of transitioning a nanofuel engine 102 from the spark-ignition mode of operation to the compression-ignition (diesel-like) mode.
- there are 0.0061 delayed neutrons from the thermal fission of 239 Pu according to an exemplary embodiment. See R. J. TEMPLIN, “Reactor Physics Constants,” 5800, ANL (1963).
- the engine speed and compression ratio r can be adjusted to ensure that the peak nanofuel pressure occurs when the piston 302 passes the TDC position 302b, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGS. 11A and 11B depict an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary numerical simulation of an exemplary 4-stroke nanofuel reciprocating engine operating in an exemplary compression-ignition mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 11A in diagram 1100 compares a simulated Otto cycle with an ideal Otto cycle 1102, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 11B in graph 1110 illustrates an average nanofuel pressure p [bar] in the engine core 304 as a function of time, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- This particular LWR SNF scenario includes: 4.21% initial enrichment, 50 GWd/t (gigawatt-days of thermal output per metric ton of heavy metal) bumup, 5 years of storage, and an additional 2 years of reprocessing and fabrication before reuse, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Table IV below presents the specific mass fractions (after renormalization) used in this section, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- TABLE IV sets forth a table listing exemplary LWR SNF mass fractions (after renormalization) following: 4.21% enrichment, 50 GWd/t bumup, 5 years of storage, and 2 more years prior to reuse, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the tetrafluoride mixture is loaded into a fluorination reactor, where NpF 4 and PuF 4 are converted into hexafluoride molecules, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- AmF 4 does not fluorinate and the presence of solid AmF 4 particulates dispersed within the gaseous hexafluoride medium forms a colloidal system, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the resulting aerosol is mixed with FL (the moderator) until the desired concentration is achieved, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGS. 12A and 12B depict an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 7,171 Monte Carlo neutron transport simulations, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate, according to an exemplary embodiment, a large nanofuel property plateau where k ⁇ ⁇ 1.4 and a ⁇ 3,000 gen/s.
- this moderator mass fraction domain clearly exhibits a negative temperature of reactivity and a criticality transition near T ⁇ 4,000 K, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGS. 13A and 13B depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary 3,131 static optimal engine core geometry simulations, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 13 A in graph 1300 plots the energy released during combustion Q [MJ] as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions / «.(Fh.PuFf,) and the engine core radius R 3 10. according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 13B in graph 1310 plots the peak nanofuel pressure /3 ⁇ 4 [bar] as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions / «.(Fh.PuFf,) and the engine core radius R 310, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGS. 13A and 13B display 3,131 static optimal engine core 304 geometry simulations depicting the energy released during combustion and the peak nanofuel pressure, respectively, as a function of the nanofuel ingredient mass fractions / «.(Fh.PuFf,) and the engine core radius R 310, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 can act as radioactive material burner in an exemplary embodiment, that may produce clean (carbon-free) energy and may significantly reduce geological storage (disposal) requirements for existing commercial LWR SNF, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 connected to an electric generator 106 (a nanofuel - electric engine 100) merges the diesel-electric engine benefits and low all-in capital cost with the long-term value of nuclear fuel, thereby providing an economical means of generating electricity, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Preliminary small modular nanofuel-electric engine 100 economic analyses show more than an order of magnitude reduction in the electricity generation price, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the economic projections conservatively assume a 600 20l3$/kW e overnight capital cost, a 1 year construction time, a 500 MW e power generation capacity, and operations and maintenance costs similar to existing commercial nuclear power plants.
- the average price of electricity would decrease from 15.7 2010c/kWh to 10.33 2010c/kWh. according to an exemplary embodiment. See U.S. Energy Information Administration, Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, 2011. As a final comment, a hundred (lOO)-fold reduction in electricity generation price requires addressing the subdominant economic terms, namely the operations and maintenance costs.
- nanofuels have a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the energy production rate decreases as the nanofuel temperature increases and the combustion process terminates when the nanofuel is subcritical.
- a nanofuel reciprocating engine 102 is subcritical when the engine core radius 310 is less than the critical radius, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 combustion process 2-3 of process diagram 200 starts when the piston 302 is located near the TDC position 302b and ends when either the nanofuel is too hot or the engine core 304 is too large, according to an exemplary embodiment. There is no need for auxiliary power, external water supplies, or operator intervention to ensure safe operation of a nanofuel engine 102.
- Additional safety benefits include a small nanofuel inventory and a small overall plant size, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the nanofuel inventory in a nanofuel engine 102 is several hundred times less than in a commercial LWR nuclear power plant, for an equivalent electricity generation capacity and operating duration. This significantly reduces the source requirements in ESP applications.
- the small plant size according to an exemplary embodiment, enables exemplary underground siting and fortification from natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, flooding, tornados, and tsunamis) and sabotage, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Waste management we have demonstrated the effective nanofuel utilization capabilities of a nanofuel engine 102 closed thermodynamic fuel cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment, including the ability to perform with trace amounts of highly radioactive nuclear waste, and the ability to utilize existing commercial LWR SNF.
- the closed thermodynamic fuel cycle permits 100% fissile fuel utilization, according to an exemplary embodiment, (although refueling is necessary, no nanofuel is wasted), and modest breeding, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- highly radioactive material can be included in a nanofuel engine 102, according to an exemplary embodiment, without adversely affecting the engine performance.
- a small module nanofuel engine 102 offers an economical, safe, environmentally friendly, reliable, and sustainable means of generating carbon-free energy for all energy sectors. While herein we have emphasized, according to an exemplary embodiment, so-called on the grid electricity generation capabilities, a nanofuel engine 102, according to an exemplary embodiment, has many uses off the grid. For military installations and national laboratories, a nanofuel engine 102 enables isolation from grid vulnerabilities and promotes reaching, according to an exemplary embodiment, U.S. greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, etc.. A nanofuel engine 102, according to an exemplary embodiment, also provides an ideal economical solution for: supercomputing and cloud computing facilities (where the biggest obstacle in large scale computing is power); desalination plants and other remote industrial projects; and universities, major hospitals, and large corporations.
- a nanofuel engine 102 offers a revolutionary new power generation source that addresses energy security concerns for numerous countries, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- petroleum accounts for 93% of the energy source in the transportation sector and half of this petroleum is imported. See U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2011, 2012.
- a nanofuel engine 102 is ideally suited for use in the shipping industry, including: commercial container ships and oil tankers, where fuel consumption is reported in feet/gallon units; and military ships such as destroyers and frigates, where increased speed and operating range are desirable.
- Sustainability- 1 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will provide sustainable energy generation that meets clean air objectives and promotes long-term availability of systems and effective fuel utilization for worldwide energy production.
- a nanofuel engine 102 utilizes fissile fuel that releases nuclear energy and provides a sustainable, carbon-free, alternative energy source.
- the nanofuel engine 102 operates in a closed thermodynamic fuel cycle that enables near 100% nanofuel utilization, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Sustainability is improved by introducing breeding material and using SNF from existing and future commercial nuclear power plants, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Sustainability-2 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will minimize and manage their nuclear waste and notably reduce the long-term stewardship burden, thereby improving protection for the public health and the environment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 operates in a closed thermodynamic fuel cycle that continuously transmutes radioactive nuclear waste and avoids the generation of new nuclear waste requiring long-term geological storage, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 efficiently bums the SNF from existing and future commercial nuclear power plants, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 has long-term profitability due to: (1) an exemplary low nanofuel cost; (2) an exemplary low overnight capital cost, which may result from an exemplary small engine size and/or modular manufacturing (including learning); (3) an exemplary low financing cost, which may be due in part to an exemplary short construction time; and/or (4) exemplary low operations and maintenance costs, which are comparable to existing IC engines, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 has less financial risk than any other power generation technology due to the small project balance (resulting from the small overnight capital cost and short construction time) and short payback time (resulting from the high profit margin associated with using nanofuel and having low operations and maintenance costs).
- a nanofuel engine 102 evolves from the IC engine, which is the most reliable and widely used power source in the world.
- a nanofuel engine 102 has unprecedented safety due to: (1) the nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity; (2) the geometry constraint where a nanofuel reciprocating engine is only supercritical when the engine core radius 310 is greater than the critical radius; and (3) the ultra small nanofuel inventory, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- a nanofuel engine 102 maintains the structural integrity of the material surrounding the engine core 304 (such as the piston 302, piston case 314, and endcap 316) by limiting the peak nanofuel pressure during combustion through natural safety limits (such as the nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity and the dynamic engine core criticality).
- a nanofuel engine 102 does not require auxiliary power, external water supplies, or operator intervention to shutdown in an emergency.
- Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection-1 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will increase the assurance that they are a very unattractive and the least desirable route for diversion or theft of weapons-usable materials, and provide increased physical protection against acts of terrorism.
- a nanofuel engine 102 has a small plant size that enables underground siting and fortification from natural disasters and sabotage.
- the nanofuel itself is in a highly undesirable state for weapons use.
- Appendix A Exemplary Neutron reflector
- the main purpose of a neutron reflector is to reduce the neutron leakage from the engine core 304.
- Bell in G. I. BELL,“Calculations of the critical mass of ETb as a gaseous core, with reflectors of D 2 0, Be and C,” LA-1874, LANL (1955), and incorporate information from the following references: J. J. DUDERSTADT and L. J. HAMILTON, Nuclear Reactor Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1976) and R. V. MEGHREBLIAN and D. K. HOLMES, Reactor Analysis, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York (1960).
- x is the distance from the fuel-reflector interface and T F is the Fermi age, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the slowing down density at the age to thermal is the source of thermal neutrons, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the transport of thermal neutrons is governed by the one-speed one-dimensional neutron diffusion equation:
- Eq. 31 is half the probability that a fission neutron is thermalized in either reflector and returned to the fuel.
- the total probability is
- This dimensionless parameter is the ratio of the distance traveled while slowing down to the distance traveled following thermalization and should be much less than 1 for a good reflector, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Eq. 32 semi-infinite 1402
- Eq. 34 finite 1404
- Be Beryllium
- FIG. 14B depicts an exemplary graph 1410 plotting an exemplary embodiment of exemplary 2,601 static optimal engine core geometry simulations (as defined in Sec. V) depicting the energy released during combustion Q, process 2-3 of process diagram 200, as a function of the engine core radius 310 and the Be reflector thickness, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the engine core 304 is surrounded by a Be reflector with thickness A and loaded with the nanofuel defined by Fuel c in Table I, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Variations in A and R 310. demonstrate that the energy released during combustion changes very little when A > 40 cm. This is consistent with the convergence of the finite reflector curve 1404 to the semi -infinite reflector curve 1402 in FIG. 14 A, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Appendix B Exemplary Piston Case Strength
- V x u 0 and Eq. 44 reduces to:
- V u 2 c t ,
- c 1 and c 2 are constants determined by the boundary conditions at the inner and outer surface of the piston case 314, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the nonzero components of the strain tensor are: du R (48)
- the radial stress is given by
- the nonzero components of the stress tensor are:
- Eq. 55 is known as the hoop stress and has a value at the piston case 314 inner surface of
- the Wankel rotary engine offers several advantages over the re ciprocating engine, according to an exemplary embodiment. See K. Yamamoto, Rotary Engine (Toyo Kogyo Co., Hiroshima, Japan, 1971); K. Yamamoto, Rotary Engine (Sankaido Co., Tokyo, Japan, 1981); and K. C. Weston, Energy Conversion (PWS Publishing Company, Boston, 1992).
- a rotary engine for a nanofuel engine f 02, has several advantages including, e.g., but not limited to, a substantial economic improvement derived from reducing the engine size and weight, simplifying manufacturing, and decreasing the operations and maintenance costs, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment. Furthermore, the disadvantages of fossil fuel rotary engines associated with combustion inefficiencies are eliminated in a nanofuel rotary engine by the closed thermodynamic fuel cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment. In this section, we present an exemplary rotary engine review, develop an exemplary rotary engine flank cavity that is suitable for nanofuel combustion, and describe an exemplary compact nanofuel rotary engine configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the Wankel rotary engine may also operate in an Otto cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 15 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary diagram 1500 illustrating exemplary main Wankel rotary internal-combustion (IC) engine fuel volume positions l502a and l502b, namely the bottom dead center (BDC) position l502a (left) and the top dead center (TDC) position 1502b (right), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- IC main Wankel rotary internal-combustion
- BDC bottom dead center
- TDC top dead center
- an exemplary rotor 1502 is contained in a rotor housing 1504 and may be coupled to an output shaft 1508, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 15 highlights two such volumes, namely 1502a and 1502b, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the ideal Otto cycle assumes that all processes are internally reversible and the working fluid is an ideal gas with constant specific heats, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the cycle starts in state 1 of process diagram 200, according to an exemplary embodiment, when the fuel is located in the bottom dead center (BDC) position l502a.
- the rotor 1502 may execute a counterclockwise rotation and may isentropically compress the fuel.
- state 2 of process diagram 200 according to an exemplary embodiment, the fuel is located in the TDC position l502b and the compression ratio (r) is given by
- the working fluid isentropically expands and generates a direct counterclockwise torque on the output shaft 1508.
- the working fluid is cooled at constant volume and the cycle is complete.
- the rotor housing 1504 of a Wankel rotary engine is a two-lobed epitrochoid given by
- (x 1 , x 2 ) denotes the rotor housing 1504 curve in Cartesian coordinates
- Q e [0,2p) is defined from the positive x/-a ⁇ is in the counterclockwise sense
- R r is the generating radius or the rotor 1502 center-to-tip distance
- e is the eccentricity, according to an exemplary embodiment. See D. H. Nash, Mathematics Magazine 50, 87 (1977).
- the rotor 1502 tip positions are given
- m e [0,1,2], i.e., m is an integer selected from a group greater than or equal to zero (0), and less than or equal to two (2), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the eccentricity ratio has an upper limit, according to an exemplary embodiment:
- FIG. 16 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary diagram 1600 illustrating an exemplary circular arc flank 1602 rounding geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 16 in diagram 1600 depicts, according to an exemplary embodiment, a circular arc flank 1602, according to an exemplary embodiment, which is a common shape for flank 1506 rounding, and establishes the following geometric relations:
- / is the circular radius of the circular arc flank 1602
- d is the angle subtended by the circular arc flank 1602
- h is the circular arc flank 1602 maximum height above the straight flank 1506, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the circular arc height must be less than the clearance distance to ensure the rotor flank 1602 does not contact the rotor housing 1504, i.e., h ⁇ d ⁇ . where d ⁇ is defined in Eq. 66.
- V max refers to the fuel volume in the BDC position 1502a
- V llim refers to the fuel volume in the TDC position l502b
- V seg refers to the additional rotor 1502 volume introduced by flank rounding 1602, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- w is the rotor 1504 width, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Rotary engines may introduce a flank cavity in the rotor 1502 on the rotor flank 1602 to improve the combustion characteristics.
- a flank cavity that is suitable for nanofuel combustion using our nanofuel reciprocating engine design, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- nanofuel engine 102 design closely parallels the orthodox nuclear engineering technique for calculating the effective multiplication factor by separating the problem into an infinite medium multiplication factor, which depends on the nuclear fuel properties, and a nonleakage probability, which depends on the reactor core geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- An advantage of this approach is that nuclear fuel properties can be studied independent of reactor core geometries, and vice versa, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- nanofuel engine 102 design according to an exemplary embodiment, the same dichotomy exists.
- the nanofuel properties established for a reciprocating engine design are valid for a rotary engine.
- Table I which illustrate interesting nanofuel compositions and their properties, are valid for a rotary engine design.
- neutron leakage is proportional to the engine core surface to volume ratio and has a minimum value for a sphere.
- the engine core contains the nanofuel.
- FIG. 17 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary flank cavity geometry in the TDC position l502b, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary 30 cm thick beryllium (Be) reflector surrounds the ellipsoidal flank cavity 1702 and reduces neutron leakage, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Appendix A discusses the relationship between the Be reflector thickness and the neutron leakage from an engine core.
- the combustion process 2-3 of process diagram 200 may begin with the injection of 10 8 fusion (14 MeV) neutrons into the system within 1 ps and may end due to the nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity (the rotor 1502 is stationary in these simulations, which stems from an approximation where the combustion process is faster than the rotation speed), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIGS. 18A, 18B, 18C, and 18D depict various exemplary embodiments of exemplary nanofuel rotary engine ellipsoidal flank cavity 1702 simulations, according to various exemplary embodiments.
- An ellipsoidal flank cavity 1702 in the flank rotor 1602 offers sufficient performance for use in a nanofuel rotary engine.
- the volume of the elongated cavity increased by 1.311
- the surface to volume ratio increased by 1.248
- the energy released only increased by 1.087.
- the reduction in minor radius from 100 cm to 64 cm means a reduction in the overall rotary engine dimensions (and hence cost).
- the nanofuel properties and rotor flank cavity geometry may strongly influence the nanofuel rotary engine performance, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the ellipsoidal flank cavity 1702 minor radius and a reflector thickness must fit between the rotor housing 1504 minor radius and the output shaft rotor journal 1706, according to an exemplary embodiment. Assuming the diameter of the output shaft 1508 rotor journal 1706 is 6e, this geometric condition, according to an exemplary embodiment, is
- K R r /e is the trochoid constant, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- Eq. 75 shows that R r is inversely proportional to K and the rotary engine size decreases as K increases, according to an exemplary embodiment, which is not obvious from the definition of K. It is also true that R r is directly proportional to e/R r and the rotary engine size decreases as e/R r decreases, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 19 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary diagram 1900 illustrating an exemplary nanofuel rotary engine geometry, according to an exemplary embodiment. Any depicted dimensions are exemplary, but not limiting, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the alternator efficiency is 98%
- the electric capacity is 118.0 MW e ), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- At cps 10, or 600 RPM (revolutions per minute)
- the electric capacity is 1,180 MW e , according to an exemplary embodiment.
- This compact configuration enables straightforward construction of a nanofuel rotary engine, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the nanofuel rotary engine operation retains the benefits of the nanofuel reciprocating engine, notably the nanofuel negative temperature coefficient of reactivity and the criticality dependence on engine core dynamics, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the engine core contains the nanofuel, including the flank cavity 1702 as well as the volume between the rotor 1502, rotor housing 1504, and side housing, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the nanofuel rotary engine is also capable of using light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- LWR light water reactor
- SNF spent nuclear fuel
- moderator mass fractions in the range 0.4 ⁇ ⁇ 0.6 mixed with the aerosol formed from the isotope concentrations in Table IV (which are typical of LWR SNF), offer favorable nanofuel properties, namely: k ⁇ ⁇ 1.4, a ⁇ 3,000 gen/s, a negative temperature of reactivity ( a T ⁇ 0 l/K), and a criticality transition near T ⁇ 4,000 K, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary diagram 2000 illustrating an exemplary nuclear fuel cycle, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 may offer a proliferation resistant solution to eliminating high-level waste (HLW) and transuranic (TRU) waste, as defined by the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (“Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as Amended,” 1954, United States Public Law 83-703), in commercial LWR spent nuclear fuel (SNF), according to an exemplary embodiment.
- HMW high-level waste
- TRU transuranic
- FIG. 20 depicts an exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 flow diagram, according to an exemplary embodiment, which may include, e.g., but is not limited to, various elements, which may begin with the major steps of the exemplary present once-through open fuel cycle used in the U.S., namely: an exemplary mining and/or milling process 2002; an exemplary enrichment process 2004; an exemplary fuel fabrication process 2006; and/or an exemplary LWR power plant process 2008, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 flow diagram may include one or more processes for creating nanofuel, which may include, e.g., but is not limited to, the following processes: an exemplary interim storage process 2010; an exemplary separation process 2016; an exemplary nanofuel engine process 2018; and/or an exemplary geological disposal process 2012, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the mining and/or milling process 2002 may involve a metal mining operation that may extract uranium (U) ore and/or a milling operation that may extract exemplary uranium oxide from the ore and/or produce yellow cake, which is a form of U traded in commodity markets.
- Natural U may contain about 0.7% of the fissile nuclide 235 U and the reset may contain mostly 238 U, in an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 may continue with an exemplary enrichment process 2004, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary enrichment process 2004 may involve the conversion of exemplary uranium oxide and/or yellow cake to uranium hexafluoride (UFr,) and/or may increase the concentration of the fissile nuclide 235 U to somewhere in the range of 3% to 5%, which is appropriate for use in most commercial LWRs.
- the exemplary process of increasing the concentration of 235 U above the natural level of 0.7% is called enrichment.
- the exemplary enrichment process 2004 may involve the creation of an exemplary depleted uranium product stream containing mostly pure 238 U (less than 0.3% 235 U).
- the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 may continue with an exemplary depleted uranium process 2014 and/or an exemplary fuel fabrication process 2006, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary fuel fabrication process 2006 may involve the conversion of uranium hexafluoride (UFr,) into an exemplary fuel element that may be suitable for use in a LWR.
- the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 may continue with an exemplary LWR power plant process 2008, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary LWR power plant process 2008 may involve the use of exemplary fuel elements in a LWR for electricity generation 2020 followed by on-site SNF storage.
- the SNF may be stored, e.g., in water pools for several years and then may be moved to long term dry storage, in an exemplary embodiment.
- this SNF may be advantageously used in an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 according to the following processes. From the exemplary LWR power plant process 2008, the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 may continue with an exemplary interim storage process 2010, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary interim storage process 2010 may involve the collection of SNF in an exemplary consolidated storage facility (CSF), as defined by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (see Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future Report to the Secretary of Energy, 2012).
- the SNF may include, e.g., but is not limited to, LWR SNF.
- the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 may continue with an exemplary separation process 2016, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary separation process 2016 may involve conversion of SNF into an exemplary three product streams, namely: an exemplary depleted uranium stream for trade in commodity markets; an exemplary low-level radioactive nuclear waste stream, which may include, fission products and may require exemplary short term environmental isolation; and/or an exemplary nanofuel stream for use in an exemplary nanofuel engine 102, according to an exemplary embodiment, etc.
- the exemplary separation process 2016 may rely on exemplary electrometallurgical treatment methods and/or exemplary pyrochemical processing (also known as pyroprocessing), according to an exemplary embodiment. From the separation process 2016, the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle 2000 may continue with an exemplary depleted uranium process 2014, an exemplary geological disposal process 2012, and/or an exemplary nanofuel engine process 2018, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary depleted uranium process 2014 may involve productizing 238 U as a commodity and/or trade in the commodity markets, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary geological disposal process 2012 may involve isolation of fission products from the environment. Since the high- level radioactive nuclear waste may be retained in the nanofuel stream, the remaining low-level radioactive nuclear waste, which may be similar to that generated by most hospitals, may merely require conversion into an exemplary glass and/or ceramic form and may then include subsequent exemplary shallow land burial for approximately a hundred years, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nanofuel engine process 2018 may involve exemplary use of the exemplary nanofuel in an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 for electricity generation 2022 and/or for transportation 2024, as illustrated, and may, according to an exemplary embodiment, run on exemplary transuranic elements and/or high- level radioactive nuclear waste from SNF, as illustrated.
- the exemplary waste generated by an exemplary nanofuel engine 102 may be considered low-level radioactive nuclear waste, which may be similar to that generated by most hospitals, which may be sent to an exemplary geological disposal process 2012, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 21 depicts an exemplary nuclear reactor site diagram 3000 containing, in one example, nonlimiting, embodiment, an exemplary nuclear reactor area 3004, an exemplary nuclear powered internal engine area 3006, and an exemplary onsite spent nuclear fuel refinery 3008.
- the onsite spent nuclear fuel (SNF) refinery 3008 may include, according to one exemplary embodiment, an exemplary storage facility 3010, an exemplary reprocessing facility 3012, and an exemplary fuel fabrication facility 3014.
- the exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002 is an exemplary physical boundary of an example geographic zone including, in one example non-limiting embodiment, an exemplary nuclear reactor (not shown or labeled), the periphery of which is typically externally marked by example fences or other appropriate external security barriers and containment.
- an exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002 there may include, in an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary area 3004 with an exemplary nuclear reactor (not shown or labeled) and other support buildings (not shown or labeledO, such as, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary spent nuclear fuel (SNF) water pool and/or an exemplary dry cask storage areas (not shown or labeled).
- SNF spent nuclear fuel
- exemplary dry cask storage areas not shown or labeled
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 is within the exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002 and may contain a storage facility 3010, according to an exemplary embodiment.
- An exemplary storage facility 3010 is intended to safely store and monitor SNF from the exemplary nuclear reactor area 3004 or other n exemplary radioactive material from outside the exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002, such as, e.g., but not limited to from other exemplary nuclear reactor sites, and/or from medical processes, and/or industrial processes, and/or military processes, etc.
- An example, according to one exemplary embodiment, of an exemplary storage facility 3010 can include, e.g., but not limited to, any independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) as defined by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
- ISFSI independent spent fuel storage installation
- NRC US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 may include, in an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary reprocessing facility 3012.
- An exemplary reprocessing facility 3012 can separate SNF, and/or other radioactive material, etc., into an exemplary stream of nuclear material that may be recycled into new nuclear fuel (and/or nanofuel, according to one exemplary embodiment) and/or other material streams that may, or may not, have additional uses, etc.
- An example of an exemplary separation technique is the UREX (URanium Extraction) process, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 may contain a fuel fabrication facility 3014.
- An exemplary fuel fabrication facility 3014 can take exemplary nuclear material and can create nuclear fuel (and/or nanofuel, according to an exemplary embodiment) for use in an exemplary nuclear reactor.
- An example of an exemplary fuel fabrication facility 3014 can include, e.g., but not limited to, , according to one exemplary embodiment, creating exemplary nuclear fuel for use in a nuclear powered internal engine using chemical processes, such as, e.g., but not limited to, fluorinating an exemplary tetrafluoride transuranic stream from UREX processing and/or mixing the product with molecular hydrogen, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002 that can encompass an exemplary light-water reactor (LWR) in an exemplary area 3004 for the exemplary purpose of, e.g., but not limited to, generating exemplary base load electricity, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- LWR light-water reactor
- a common commercial nuclear power plant configuration can be used, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 can reside within the exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002 and can further contain, according to one exemplary embodiment, an exemplary storage facility 3010, an exemplary reprocessing facility 3012, and/or an exemplary fuel fabrication facility 3014, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002 can encompass an exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine, according to an exemplary embodiment, in an exemplary area 3006 for the exemplary, but nonlimiting purpose of generating peak load electricity, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008, can create nuclear fuel (such as, e.g., nanofuel according to an exemplary embodiment, etc.) for use in the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine in area 3006, created from exemplary SNF in area 3004, and/or other radioactive material, etc., according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine, according to one exemplary embodiment, in the exemplary area 3006 can produce, e.g., but not limited to, electricity and can, e.g., but not limited to, reduce the long-lived radioactive material from SNF, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary front end to the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle can include, e.g., but not limited to, an exemplary series of industrial processes (such as, e.g., but not limited to, mining, milling, enrichment, and/or fuel fabrication, etc.) that can create an exemplary nuclear fuel (and/or nanofuel according to an exemplary embodiment) for use in nuclear reactors, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary nuclear fuel is typically used for about 18- 36 months, according to one exemplary embodiment, it is then removed and stored in an exemplary water pool and dry cask storage areas, according to one exemplary embodiment, and it is subsequently referred to as SNF, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- An exemplary local back end to the exemplary nuclear fuel cycle may start by moving SNF from exemplary area 3004 to the storage facility 3010.
- the exemplary storage facility 3010 may include exemplary SNF handling and/or monitoring capabilities, according to one exemplary embodiment, such as, e.g., but not limited to, equipment for performing cask leak testing, which can decrease the potential safety risk to the environment and the public, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary SNF may be moved from the exemplary storage facility 3010 to the exemplary reprocessing facility 3012, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary reprocessing facility 3012 may reprocess exemplary SNF using the exemplary proliferation resistant UREX+la process to separate the exemplary transuranic elements, which are the primary long-term dose rate contributors in nuclear waste, into an exemplary single product stream, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary transuranic elements which include nuclear material, may be moved from the exemplary reprocessing facility 3012 to the exemplary fuel fabrication facility 3014, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary fuel fabrication facility 3014 may create exemplary nuclear fuel (such as, e.g., but not limited to, exemplary nanofuel, according to one exemplary embodiment) for use in the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine, or other exemplary nuclear powered internal engine, in exemplary area 3006, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear fuel for use in the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine may be moved from the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 to the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine in exemplary area 3006, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary nuclear fuel according to one exemplary embodiment, can be used in the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine, according to one exemplary embodiment, until the exemplary nuclear fuel is completely consumed, which is about one million cycles per engine core mass M loading, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine, or exemplary nuclear powered internal engine will, e.g., but not limited to, produce electricity and reduce the volume and radiotoxicity of the nuclear waste from the exemplary commercial LWR nuclear power plant in exemplary area 3004, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Exemplary byproducts from the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine in exemplary area 3006 can include, e.g., but not limited to, the exemplary radioactive isotopes cesium isotope 137 ( 137 Cs) and strontium isotope 90 ( 90 Sr), according to one exemplary embodiment.
- These exemplary byproducts are valuable and may be used in exemplary industrial (e.g., but not limited to, radioisotope thermoelectric generators, according to one exemplary embodiment) and the exemplary health care (e.g., blood irradiators, according to one exemplary embodiment) industries.
- These exemplary byproducts may be moved to the exemplary storage facility 3010 for exemplary safekeeping before sale, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the two exemplary nuclear power plants can create a load following power generation station, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary LWR power plant can be used in generating base load electricity and, according to one exemplary embodiment, the exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine power plant may adjust its electric power production, according to one exemplary embodiment, to match the fluctuation in electricity demand throughout the day, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- an exemplary nuclear powered internal engine may be used to produce energy in other energy sectors, according to one exemplary embodiment, such as, e.g., but not limited to, for transportation, and/or industrial processes, and/or commercial and/or residential use, etc.
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 throughput requirements can be set by the rate of exemplary nuclear powered rotary internal engine fuel consumption, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 may require only approximately 1% of the throughput requirements of an exemplary centralized reprocessing facility, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- This can enable the advantages of small modular manufacturing methods, according to one exemplary embodiment, such as, e.g., but not limited to, exemplary factory fabrication and exemplary rapid onsite assembly, to be applied to an exemplary SNF refinery, according to one exemplary embodiment. It seems appropriate to introduce the phrase“small modular refinery (SMR)” and refer to such an exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 as an exemplary SNF SMR, replacing the more common definition of small modular reactor for SMR, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- SMR small modular refinery
- an exemplary onsite SNF refinery 3008 can be coupled with an exemplary nuclear powered internal engine for, for example, but not limited to, exemplary generating electricity in exemplary area 3006 extending, according to one exemplary embodiment the exemplary lifetime of an exemplary existing nuclear power generating station contained within the exemplary nuclear reactor site boundary 3002, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- this exemplary approach can provide a means to generate revenue through, e.g., but not limited to, the sale of nuclear power beyond the expiration date of the nuclear reactors contained in exemplary area 3004, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary nuclear waste containing long-lived radioactive material will be created, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- This local back end to the nuclear fuel cycle eliminates the long-lived radioactive material in the nuclear waste and can generate revenue through the sale of clean energy in any energy sector, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 22 depicts an exemplary nuclear powered internal engine housing constructed using multiple layers in diagram 3100, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary nuclear powered internal engine housing can include the exemplary material surrounding the exemplary engine core 3102, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- TDC top dead center
- the exemplary housing can act as an exemplary neutron reflector, which can effectively reduce exemplary neutron leakage from the exemplary engine core 3102, and the exemplary nuclear material properties can be important, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Pertinent nuclear material properties can include, e.g., but not limited to, the Fermi age, or the age to thermalization, and/or the thermal neutron diffusion length, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the housing also acts to mechanically confine the engine core 3102 pressure, and the mechanical material properties are important. Pertinent mechanical material properties include the yield stress and Young modulus.
- the exemplary housing may be constructed in exemplary layers, according to one exemplary embodiment, including an inner layer 3104, which can be adjacent to the exemplary engine core 3102, and one, or more, additional outer layers 3106, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary outer layers 3106 may be the same material as the inner layer 3104, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Exemplary possible reasons for, e.g., but not limited to, designing an exemplary multi-layered housing can include, e.g., but not limited to, reducing cost, improving structural integrity, providing manufacturing alternatives, and/or adding functionality, etc.
- an exemplary housing including an example 30 cm thick D i beryllium (Be) layer 3104, and an exemplary vacuum layer 3106, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- This exemplary housing can provide for an exemplary conservative nuclear powered internal engine performance design by, e.g., but not limited to, allowing neutrons to escape in the exemplary vacuum layer 3106, and/or by providing no additional structural integrity, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Reducing the cost of the exemplary housing (which can include one or more layers of material, collectively 3108) of the exemplary engine, according to one exemplary embodiment, may be obtained by using a less expensive material in one (or more) of the exemplary plurality of layers, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary graphite price per unit mass is about 700 times less than beryllium (Be)
- the exemplary graphite price per unit mass is about 700 times less than beryllium (Be)
- exemplary 20 cm thick (exemplary thickness 3112) D i Be layer 3104 and an exemplary 40 cm thick (exemplary thickness 3110) D 2 graphite layer 3106 according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary 10 cm reduction in the Be layer 3104 amounts to an exemplary 10% decrease in the number of exemplary thermal neutrons entering the exemplary engine core 3102 (such as, e.g., but not limited to, from 59.1% to 49.1%) and an exemplary 33% decrease in the exemplary Be layer 3104 material cost, according to one exemplary embodiment. Since an exemplary 40 cm thick D i graphite layer 3104 would reflect an exemplary 42.2% of the fission neutrons escaping the exemplary engine core 3102, the exemplary graphite layer 3106 can compensate for the exemplary reduced nuclear performance of the exemplary thinner Be inner layer 3104, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Improving the exemplary structural integrity of the exemplary housing, according to one exemplary embodiment may be obtained by increasing the exemplary mass of the exemplary, one or more, outer layer(s) 3106, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- D i Be layer 3104 and an exemplary 2.54 cm thick (exemplary thickness 3110) D 2 lead (Pb) layer 3106, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary Pb layer 3106 can increase the exemplary pressure acting on the exemplary outer surface of the exemplary Be layer 3104, which can reduce the stress at the exemplary inner surface of the exemplary Be layer 3104 and can allow for an exemplary increase in engine core 3102 pressure, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Exemplary Pb has the added nuclear benefit of providing excellent radiation protection, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Providing exemplary manufacturing alternatives of the exemplary housing may include, e.g., but not limited to, making smaller parts and/or by varying the tolerances among the exemplary layers, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Exemplary part sizes may simply exceed exemplary machine limits or the exemplary material may not be available in the exemplary required size, either of which can require the exemplary fabrication of exemplary smaller parts, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary surface finish in the exemplary inner layer 3104 can be high, according to one exemplary embodiment, such requirements, according to one exemplary embodiment are not necessary on the exemplary outer layers 3106, according to one exemplary embodiment. Moving to exemplary lower tolerances can reduce exemplary manufacturing costs, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 23 depicts an exemplary nuclear powered internal engine housing layer 3202 containing an exemplary internal channel 3204 in exemplary diagram 3200, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- layer 3202 can be also referred to as part of an engine housing 3206 and can include one, or more than one, layers 3108 as illustrated above.
- the exemplary housing may be constructed with an exemplary layer 3202 containing, according to an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary internal channel 3204, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary internal channel 3204 may be introduced in any direction, can be of any exemplary shape or shapes, can be circular, oval, square, rectangular, or other polygonal, regular, and/or irregular cross-section, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- Exemplary possible reasons for introducing an exemplary internal channel 3204, according to one exemplary embodiment can include, e.g., but not limited to, reducing cost, providing cooling and/or lubrication, and/or introducing diagnostics and/or other instrumentation, etc., according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary neutron reflector layer 3202 For an exemplary neutron reflector layer 3202, according to one exemplary embodiment, one, or more, of several exemplary material(s), according to one exemplary embodiments, when introduced into the exemplary internal channel 3204, can be included and used to, e.g., but not limited to, reduce cost and/or improve performance of the exemplary nuclear powered internal engine, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary materials can include, e.g., but not limited to, exemplary molecular hydrogen (3 ⁇ 4), exemplary helium (He), exemplary light water (FFO). exemplary heavy water (D 2 0), and/or exemplary carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) , according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary materials can have an exemplary low atomic mass number and serve as an exemplary neutron moderator, according to one exemplary embodiment. They also have an exemplary high specific heat and thermal conductivity and serve as an exemplary coolant for reducing the exemplary temperature of the exemplary layer 3202, according to one exemplary embodiment. For an exemplary Be neutron reflector 3202, reducing the exemplary temperature can increase the yield stress and can allow higher operating pressures, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary internal channel 3204 may be used for lubrication, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- exemplary fluorolube oils can have exemplary favorable nuclear and/or mechanical properties, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary internal channel 3204 may be used for exemplary diagnostics and/or other instrumentation, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary internal channel 3204 may contain exemplary sensors to provide feedback on exemplary nuclear powered internal engine performance, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- the exemplary internal channel 3204 may also be used to enable exemplary visual inspections, such as, e.g., but not limited to, by using a scope, and/or cleaning of exemplary engine components, according to one exemplary embodiment.
- An exemplary nanofuel engine apparatus comprising: an internal engine configured to
- nanofuel engine apparatus wherein the nanofuel comprises: a moderator,
- the nanofuel engine apparatus wherein said internal engine further comprises: a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, comprising said reflector, wherein said reflector thickness is less than or equal to 60 cm beryllium (Be).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine is configured to generate heat, and further comprising
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said system adapted to use heat comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine further comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises said external ignition source, and
- said external ignition source comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises said external ignition source, and wherein said external ignition source comprises said fusion neutron source, and
- said fusion neutron source comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises said external ignition source, and
- said external ignition source comprises said radioactive material that emits neutrons
- radioactive material that emits neutrons comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises said internal ignition source, and
- said internal ignition source comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises said internal ignition source, and wherein said internal ignition source comprises said radioactive material that emits neutrons, and
- said radioactive material that emits neutrons comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises:
- a fissile fuel wherein said fissile fuel comprises:
- a passive agent wherein said passive agent comprises:
- nuclide comprising a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range
- a moderator wherein said moderator comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises said fissile fuel, wherein said fissile fuel comprises said nuclide that undergoes neutron induced fission, and wherein said nuclide that undergoes neutron induced fission comprises at least one of:
- uranium isotope 235 (235U); or
- uranium isotope 233 (233U).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises said passive agent, wherein said passive agent comprises said nuclide comprising said strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in said low epithermal energy range, and wherein said nuclide comprising said strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in said low epithermal energy range comprises:
- plutonium isotope 240 (240Pu) having said strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section near 1 eV.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises said moderator, wherein said moderator comprises:
- said low atomic number element comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said fissile fuel comprises at least one of:
- uranium isotope 235 dioxide (235U02).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said passive agent comprises: [000475] plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride (240PuF6).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said moderator comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises:
- said fissile fuel comprises:
- said passive agent comprises:
- said moderator comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel further comprises at least one of:
- a fertile fuel wherein said fertile fuel comprises:
- transuranic element wherein said transuranic element comprise:
- a fission product wherein said fission product comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises said fertile fuel, wherein said fertile fuel comprises said nuclide that undergoes neutron induced transmutation into said fissile nuclide; and wherein said nuclide comprises at least one of:
- thorium isotope 232 (232Th).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises said transuranic element, wherein said transuranic element comprises any of all elements with atomic number Z greater than 92 (Z > 92); and wherein said transuranic element comprises:
- HW high-level waste
- TRU transuranic
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel further comprises:
- a fertile fuel wherein said fertile fuel comprises at least one of:
- uranium isotope 238 (238U); [000503] uranium isotope 238 hexafluoride (238UF6);
- uranium isotope 238 (238U) as part of a molecule
- thorium isotope 232 (232Th);
- thorium isotope 232 dioxide (232Th02); or
- thorium isotope 232 tetrafluoride (232ThF4).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising:
- At least one filter to extract at least one material, said at least one filter coupled to said internal combustion engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine further comprises:
- a housing comprising a reflector
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine further comprises:
- a housing comprising an epitrochoid shape.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel engine apparatus further comprises at least one of:
- At least one ceramic filter At least one ceramic filter
- At least one compressor At least one compressor
- At least one heat exchanger At least one heat exchanger
- At least one neutron source at least one neutron source
- At least one pump At least one pump
- At least one separator At least one separator
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises at least one property comprising at least one of: [000533] wherein the nanofuel comprises approximately a million times an energy density of fossil fuels;
- nanofuel used in said internal combustion engine of the nanofuel engine apparatus releases approximately one part in a million of a nanofuel energy content in said internal engine
- nanofuel used in said internal combustion engine of the nanofuel engine apparatus releases a substantially equivalent amount of energy per fuel mass as compared to a conventional fossil fuel-based internal engine.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said reflector is at least on a portion of a housing near a top dead center (TDC) position.
- TDC top dead center
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said reflector comprises at least one of:
- Be beryllium
- BeO beryllium oxide
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said rotary engine comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein at least a portion of said rotor housing comprises a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein at least a portion of said rotor comprises a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said rotary engine is adapted to allow partial or full separation of an intake and an exhaust port.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises:
- a fissile fuel wherein said fissile fuel comprises:
- a passive agent wherein said passive agent comprises: [000558] a nuclide comprising a strong resonance neutron absorption cross-section in a low epithermal energy range;
- a moderator wherein said moderator comprises:
- a fission product wherein said fission product comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel further comprises at least one of:
- a fertile fuel wherein said fertile fuel comprises:
- transuranic element wherein said transuranic element comprise:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine is configured to at least one of:
- a) operate in a spark ignition mode that uses a neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel;
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine of said (a) is configured to operate in said spark ignition mode that uses said neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel, and said internal engine is further adapted to at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine of said (a) (i) is configured to use said fusion neutron source to operate said internal engine in said spark ignition mode that uses said neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel comprises said internal combustion engine adapted to at least one of:
- [000576] use a Z-pinch-based neutron generator.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine of said (a) (ii) is configured to use said radioactive material that emits neutrons to operate said internal combustion engine in said spark ignition mode that uses said neutron source external to the nanofuel to inject neutrons into the nanofuel comprises said internal combustion engine adapted to: [000578] use californium isotope 252 (252Cf).
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal combustion engine of said (b) is configured to operate in said compression ignition mode that creates neutrons in the nanofuel, is further configured to use a radioactive material that emits neutrons, wherein said internal engine is configured to at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises at least one of:
- said internal engine contains a mass of the nanofuel internal to said internal engine that is confined in an engine core that changes with compression;
- said internal engine comprises a criticality that changes with said engine core.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include,, further comprising:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising:
- said criticality comprises:
- Bm comprises a material buckling of said engine core
- Bg comprises a geometric buckling of said engine core.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include,, further comprising:
- said internal engine comprises said rotary engine geometry, and further comprises:
- a housing comprising a shape comprising at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising:
- said internal engine comprises said rotary engine geometry, and further comprises:
- a rotor [000606] wherein at least a portion of said rotor contains a cavity.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said cavity comprises at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein at least one of:
- [000616] comprises a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein at least a portion of at least one of:
- [000620] does not comprise a reflector.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said reflector is chosen from at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising:
- a safety feature comprising at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises said reciprocating engine geometry, wherein said engine core has a cylindrical shape comprising a cylinder radius R and a cylinder height H, and wherein said criticality comprises:
- L comprises a neutron diffusion length
- R c comprises an extrapolated critical radius of said engine core
- H c comprises an extrapolated critical height of said engine core
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine is further adapted to:
- said reciprocating engine geometry comprises said cylinder radius R less than a critical radius Rc (R ⁇ Rc)
- said critical radius Rc of said engine core for said reciprocating engine geometry comprises:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein performance of said internal engine is improved by decreasing an engine core surface to volume ratio, wherein said engine core surface to volume ratio is proportional to a neutron leakage.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said internal engine comprises a reciprocating engine geometry,
- said engine core has a cylindrical shape comprising a cylinder radius R and a cylinder height H,
- TDC top dead center
- a critical radius Rc of said engine core is between 30 cm and 70 cm
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein to regulate performance, a combustion duration is controlled by at least one of:
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, further comprising a closed thermodynamic fuel cycle that continuously recycles the nanofuel.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein at least one of an engine speed or a compression ratio r, are adjusted to ensure a peak nanofuel pressure occurs when said internal combustion engine is near a top dead center (TDC) position.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises a tetrafluoride mixture comprising at least one of:
- NpF4 neptunium tetrafluoride
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the tetrafluoride mixture is loaded into a fluorination reactor, wherein said fluorination reactor is adapted to convert at least one of the neptunium tetrafluoride (NpF4) or the plutonium tetrafluoride (PuF4) into hexafluoride molecules.
- NpF4 neptunium tetrafluoride
- PuF4 plutonium tetrafluoride
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, herein particulates of the americium tetrafluoride (AmF4) are dispersed within a gaseous hexafluoride medium of the hexafluoride molecules forming an aerosol.
- AmF4 americium tetrafluoride
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein said aerosol is mixed with a moderator.
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises light water reactor (LWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF).
- LWR light water reactor
- SNF spent nuclear fuel
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, wherein the nanofuel engine apparatus comprises at least one of:
- [000676] acts as a radioactive nuclear waste burner
- the nanofuel engine apparatus can include, having a property comprising:
- a plurality of safety modes comprising:
- An exemplary chemical composition chemical composition comprising:
- a nanofuel comprising:
- a fissile fuel comprising:
- a passive agent comprising:
- a moderator comprising:
- fissile fuel comprises at least one of:
- uranium isotope 235 (235U);
- uranium isotope 233 (233U);
- uranium isotope 235 dioxide (235U02).
- An exemplary chemical composition wherein said passive agent comprises at least one of:
- plutonium isotope 240 (240Pu); or
- plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride (240PuF6).
- An exemplary chemical composition said moderator comprises at least one of:
- nanofuel comprises:
- said fissile fuel comprises:
- said moderator comprises:
- nanofuel further comprises at least one of:
- a fertile fuel comprising:
- a transuranic element comprising:
- a fission product comprising:
- An exemplary chemical composition further comprising said fertile fuel
- said fertile fuel comprises at least one of:
- uranium isotope 238 (238U) as part of a molecule
- thorium isotope 232 (232Th);
- thorium isotope 232 dioxide (232Th02); or
- thorium isotope 232 tetrafluoride (232ThF4).
- An exemplary chemical composition further comprising said transuranic element
- transuranic element comprises:
- TRU transuranic
- An exemplary chemical composition wherein said nanofuel comprises an infinite medium neutron multiplication factor ( k ⁇ ) greater than one ( k ⁇ > 1).
- An exemplary chemical composition wherein said nanofuel comprises a neutron population exponential growth factor (a) greater than zero generations per second (gen/s) (a > 0 gen/s).
- An exemplary chemical composition wherein said nanofuel comprises a supercritical state, wherein said supercritical state comprises: [000740] an infinite medium neutron multiplication factor ( k ⁇ ) greater than one ( k ⁇ > 1); and
- An exemplary chemical composition wherein said nanofuel comprises said supercritical state, wherein said k ⁇ is greater than or equal to 1.2, and said k ⁇ is less than or equal to 1.7, and said alpha (a) is greater than or equal to 1,000 gen/s, and said alpha (a) is less than or equal to 9,000 gen/s.
- An exemplary chemical composition wherein said nanofuel comprises a temperature coefficient of reactivity (aT) that is less than zero in units of inverse Kelvin (aT ⁇ 0 l/K),
- T comprises a nanofuel temperature
- a negative temperature coefficient of reactivity (aT ⁇ 0 l/K) causes a neutron population exponential growth factor (a) to decrease and eventually transition said nanofuel into a subcritical state where a ⁇ 0 gen/s, and
- the method can include, method of obtaining transuranic elements for nanofuel comprising:
- the method can include, wherein said (a) of said receiving said spent nuclear fuel, comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said (b) of said separating said spent nuclear fuel into at least one stream comprises at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said (b) (i) of said separating into said stream of substantially uranium isotope 238 (238U), further comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said (c) of said providing the transuranic elements comprises at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said providing the transuranic elements in said solid form comprises at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said (b) of said separating said spent nuclear fuel into at least one stream comprises at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said (c) of said providing the transuranic elements comprises:
- the method can include, amethod of using transuranic elements to create nanofuel, said method comprising:
- transuranic elements comprise at least one of:
- transuranic elements have had substantially most fission products removed therefrom;
- the method can include,, further comprising:
- the method can include, wherein said (a) comprises:
- the method can include, wherein the transuranic elements comprise:
- At least one stream comprising at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said fissile fuel comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said passive agent comprises:
- plutonium isotope 240 hexafluoride (240PuF6).
- the method can include, wherein said moderator comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said (b) comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said converting the transuranic elements into a gaseous form comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said mixing the transuranic elements with said moderator to obtain said nanofuel, comprises:
- said moderator comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said (b) of mixing the transuranic elements with said moderator to obtain said nanofuel comprises:
- the method can include, amethod of operating a nanofuel engine loaded with nanofuel, comprising at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said (a) of said operating the nanofuel engine in said spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using said source external to the nanofuel, comprises at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said (a) (i) of said using said fusion neutron source in said operating the nanofuel engine in said spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using said source external to the nanofuel comprises at least one of:
- the method can include, wherein said (a) (ii) of said using said radioactive material that emits neutrons in said operating the nanofuel engine in said spark ignition mode by injecting neutrons into the nanofuel using said source external to the nanofuel comprises:
- the method can include, wherein said (b) (i) of said operating the nanofuel engine in said compression ignition mode by creating neutrons in the nanofuel comprising said using said radioactive material that emits neutrons comprises at least one of:
- a method can include, a method of using nanofuel in a nanofuel engine comprising:
- the method can include, wherein the nanofuel comprises:
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)
- Liquid Carbonaceous Fuels (AREA)
- Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB2013210.6A GB2585535A (en) | 2018-01-29 | 2019-01-29 | Nuclear powered internal engine nuclear fuel cycle and housing design improvements |
CA3088263A CA3088263A1 (en) | 2018-01-29 | 2019-01-29 | Nuclear powered internal engine nuclear fuel cycle and housing design improvements |
US16/858,552 US11450442B2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2020-04-24 | Internal-external hybrid microreactor in a compact configuration |
US17/882,365 US20230040232A1 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2022-08-05 | Method of obtaining transuranic elements and creating a nanofuel from the transuranic elements |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/883,066 | 2018-01-29 | ||
US15/883,066 US11557404B2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2018-01-29 | Method of using nanofuel in a nanofuel internal engine |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/167,900 Continuation-In-Part US9947423B2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2016-05-27 | Nanofuel internal engine |
US15/883,066 Continuation-In-Part US11557404B2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2018-01-29 | Method of using nanofuel in a nanofuel internal engine |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/858,552 Continuation-In-Part US11450442B2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2020-04-24 | Internal-external hybrid microreactor in a compact configuration |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2019164645A2 true WO2019164645A2 (en) | 2019-08-29 |
WO2019164645A3 WO2019164645A3 (en) | 2019-11-14 |
Family
ID=67687828
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2019/015712 WO2019164645A2 (en) | 2013-08-23 | 2019-01-29 | Nuclear powered internal engine nuclear fuel cycle and housing design improvements |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CA (1) | CA3088263A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2585535A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019164645A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114561603A (en) * | 2022-03-02 | 2022-05-31 | 东北大学 | Novel NbHfZrU series uranium-containing high-entropy alloy |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114030656B (en) * | 2021-11-09 | 2022-08-05 | 西安交通大学 | Novel variable-thrust nuclear heat propulsion system |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8192704B1 (en) * | 2011-02-25 | 2012-06-05 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy | Spent nuclear fuel recycling with plasma reduction and etching |
US9881706B2 (en) * | 2013-08-23 | 2018-01-30 | Global Energy Research Associates, LLC | Nuclear powered rotary internal engine apparatus |
GB201317553D0 (en) * | 2013-10-03 | 2013-11-20 | Univ Central Lancashire | Chromatographic Separation of Nuclear Waste |
RU2626854C2 (en) * | 2015-12-31 | 2017-08-02 | Федеральное Государственное Унитарное Предприятие "Горно - Химический Комбинат" (Фгуп "Гхк") | Method for producing mixed uranium and plutonium oxides |
-
2019
- 2019-01-29 CA CA3088263A patent/CA3088263A1/en active Pending
- 2019-01-29 WO PCT/US2019/015712 patent/WO2019164645A2/en active Application Filing
- 2019-01-29 GB GB2013210.6A patent/GB2585535A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN114561603A (en) * | 2022-03-02 | 2022-05-31 | 东北大学 | Novel NbHfZrU series uranium-containing high-entropy alloy |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2585535A (en) | 2021-01-13 |
CA3088263A1 (en) | 2019-08-29 |
WO2019164645A3 (en) | 2019-11-14 |
GB202013210D0 (en) | 2020-10-07 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9881706B2 (en) | Nuclear powered rotary internal engine apparatus | |
Testoni et al. | Review of nuclear microreactors: Status, potentialities and challenges | |
Sovacool | Contesting the future of nuclear power: a critical global assessment of atomic energy | |
Zohuri | Small modular reactors as renewable energy sources | |
Waldrop | Nuclear energy: Radical reactors | |
Zohuri et al. | Advanced smaller modular reactors | |
Zohuri et al. | Introduction to energy essentials: insight into nuclear, renewable, and non-renewable energies | |
Zohuri | Heat pipe applications in fission driven nuclear power plants | |
Kadak | A comparison of advanced nuclear technologies | |
Schaffrath et al. | SMRs—overview, international developments, safety features and the GRS simulation chain | |
Von Hippel et al. | Plutonium: How Nuclear Power’s Dream Fuel Became a Nightmare | |
US9947423B2 (en) | Nanofuel internal engine | |
US11557404B2 (en) | Method of using nanofuel in a nanofuel internal engine | |
WO2019164645A2 (en) | Nuclear powered internal engine nuclear fuel cycle and housing design improvements | |
Zohuri | Molten Salt Reactors and Integrated Molten Salt Reactors: Integrated Power Conversion | |
US11450442B2 (en) | Internal-external hybrid microreactor in a compact configuration | |
US20230040232A1 (en) | Method of obtaining transuranic elements and creating a nanofuel from the transuranic elements | |
Bukharin | The future of Russia's plutonium cities | |
Zohuri et al. | Energy Resources and the Role of Nuclear Energy | |
US20240331883A1 (en) | Compact mobile reactor system using high density nuclear fuel | |
Hedayat | The role of advanced nuclear reactors in non-electrical and strategic applications, producing sustainable energy supplies and reducing the greenhouse gasses | |
Mahaffey | The future of nuclear power | |
Nelson et al. | Survey of Advanced Generation IV Reactor Parameters for Integrated Energy System Modeling Capabilities | |
Zohuri et al. | Nuclear Power Structure from Past to Present | |
Meschini | Preliminary reactor design for nuclear thermal propulsion |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 19757794 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A2 |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 3088263 Country of ref document: CA |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 202013210 Country of ref document: GB Kind code of ref document: A Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20190129 |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 19757794 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A2 |
|
ENPC | Correction to former announcement of entry into national phase, pct application did not enter into the national phase |
Ref country code: GB |