US 11,929,183 B2
Thorium-based fuel design for pressurized heavy water reactors
Mehul Shah, Oak Brook, IL (US); Rida Milany, North York (CA); and Koroush Shirvan, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to CLEAN CORE THORIUM ENERGY LLC, Oak Brook, IL (US)
Filed by CLEAN CORE THORIUM ENERGY LLC, Oak Brook, IL (US)
Filed on May 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/195,112.
Application 18/195,112 is a division of application No. 17/838,928, filed on Jun. 13, 2022, granted, now 11,705,249.
Application 17/838,928 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2021/047719, filed on Aug. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/186,990, filed on May 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0021328 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. G21C 3/326 (2006.01); G21C 3/04 (2006.01); G21C 3/328 (2006.01); G21C 3/58 (2006.01); G21C 1/08 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 3/3265 (2019.01) [G21C 3/045 (2019.01); G21C 3/048 (2019.01); G21C 3/328 (2013.01); G21C 3/58 (2013.01); G21C 1/086 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel bundle configured to be used in a PHWR, the fuel bundle comprising:
a plurality of fuel pins, each of said plurality of fuel pins comprising:
a sealed tube, and
a plurality of fuel pellets disposed inside the sealed tube, the plurality of fuel pellets each comprising thorium and uranium fuel,
wherein a fuel composition of each of the fuel pellets is between 55 and 90 wt % thorium,
wherein the fuel composition of each of the fuel pellets is between 10 and 45 wt % uranium,
wherein 235U enrichment of the uranium is between 10.5% and 20%,
wherein the fuel composition of at least one of the plurality of fuel pins differs from the fuel composition in at least one other of the plurality of fuel pins,
wherein the fuel bundle is shaped and configured to be used in a PHWR,
wherein the plurality of fuel pins comprise:
an inner fuel pin comprising a central fuel pin,
a first ring of fuel pins disposed radially outwardly from the inner fuel pin, and
a second ring of fuel pins disposed radially outwardly from the first ring of fuel pins, and
wherein a thorium weight percentage of the fuel composition of the inner fuel pin is lower than a thorium weight percentage of the fuel composition of each of the second ring fuel pins.