US 11,728,044 B2
Carbide-based fuel assembly for thermal propulsion applications
Eric A. Barringer, Rustburg, VA (US); Russell R. Jensen, Lynchburg, VA (US); Jeremy L. Gustafson, Lynchburg, VA (US); Matt Ales, Puyallup, WA (US); Joshua J. Bergman, Valensole (FR); Ryan T. Swanson, Lynchburg, VA (US); Jonathan K. Witter, Forest, VA (US); Danny Galicki, Knoxville, TN (US); James B. Inman, Forest, VA (US); Matt Krecicki, Winter Park, FL (US); and Roger Ridgeway, Hurt, VA (US)
Assigned to BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US); and BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US); and BWXT Nuclear Energy, Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/399,822.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/090,373, filed on Oct. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0115149 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. G21C 3/07 (2006.01); G21C 5/12 (2006.01); G21C 3/64 (2006.01); F02K 9/42 (2006.01); G21C 5/02 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01); G21C 3/322 (2006.01); G21C 3/324 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 3/07 (2013.01) [G21C 3/64 (2013.01); G21C 5/126 (2013.01); B64G 1/408 (2013.01); F02K 9/425 (2013.01); G21C 3/322 (2013.01); G21C 3/324 (2013.01); G21C 5/02 (2013.01)] 47 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel assembly, comprising:
a fuel assembly outer structure;
a first fuel element contained within the fuel assembly outer structure; and
an insulation layer interposed between an inner surface of the fuel assembly outer structure and an outer envelope surface of the first fuel element,
wherein the fuel assembly outer structure is formed of a ceramic matrix composite material,
wherein the insulation layer is formed of a first refractory ceramic material,
wherein the insulation layer is spaced apart from the outer envelope surface of the first fuel element and extends parallel to the first fuel element from a first end surface of the first fuel element to a second end surface of the first fuel element, and
wherein the first refractory ceramic material is a zirconium carbide refractory ceramic material and is porous with 60 to 85% of the volume consisting of void spaces.