US 12,437,891 B2
Using additive manufacturing in creating a nuclear fuel structure with a shape corresponding to a mathematically-based periodic solid having a triply periodic minimal surface
Benjamin D. Fisher, Lynchburg, VA (US); John R. Salasin, Lynchburg, VA (US); Craig D. Gramlich, Forest, VA (US); and Jonathan K. Witter, Forest, VA (US)
Assigned to BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed by BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC, Lynchburg, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/386,031.
Application 17/852,434 is a division of application No. 16/835,388, filed on Mar. 31, 2020, granted, now 11,424,041, issued on Aug. 23, 2022.
Application 18/386,031 is a continuation of application No. 17/852,434, filed on Jun. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,817,225.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/827,706, filed on Apr. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0266077 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. G21C 21/02 (2006.01); G21C 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC G21C 21/02 (2013.01) [G21C 3/044 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
26. A method of manufacturing a nuclear fuel segment, the method comprising:
varying a parameter of a lattice structure of a first mathematically-based periodic solid to form a second mathematically-based periodic solid, wherein the second mathematically-based periodic solid comprises a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) and wherein the varying includes varying:
a periodicity of the first mathematically-based periodic solid,
a thickness of the first mathematically-based periodic solid, and
a bias of the first mathematically-based periodic solid, where the bias relates to converging and diverging regions;
embodying the second mathematically-based periodic solid in a gridded mesh;
sectioning the gridded mesh into a plurality of layers; and
depositing a fissionable fuel composition, via an additive manufacturing process, to manufacture a body having a structure with a shape corresponding to the second mathematically-based periodic solid,
wherein the plurality of layers are used to control the additive manufacturing process.