Thomas J Weaver

US Patent:

8320513, Nov 27, 2012

Filed:

Apr 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/386495

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Jon D. McWhirter - Newcastle WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Medina WA, US
Ashok Odedra - Bellevue WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas A. Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y. H. Wood - Livermore CA, US
George B. Zimmerman - Lafayette CA, US

International Classification:

G21C 7/32

US Classification:

376210, 376385, 376352

Abstract:

A nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system. The flow control assembly is coupled to a nuclear fission module capable of producing a traveling burn wave at a location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly controls flow of a fluid in response to the location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly comprises a flow regulator subassembly configured to be operated according to an operating parameter associated with the nuclear fission module. In addition, the flow regulator subassembly is reconfigurable according to a predetermined input to the flow regulator subassembly. Moreover, the flow control assembly comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to the flow regulator subassembly for adjusting the flow regulator subassembly to vary fluid flow into the nuclear fission module.

US Patent:

8369474, Feb 5, 2013

Filed:

Jul 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/460157

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Jon D. McWhirter - Newcastle WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Medina WA, US
Ashok Odedra - Bellevue WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas A. Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y. H. Wood - Livermore CA, US
George B. Zimmerman - Lafayette CA, US

International Classification:

G21C 1/04

US Classification:

376352, 376347

Abstract:

A nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system. The flow control assembly is coupled to a nuclear fission module capable of producing a traveling burn wave at a location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly controls flow of a fluid in response to the location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly comprises a flow regulator subassembly configured to be operated according to an operating parameter associated with the nuclear fission module. In addition, the flow regulator subassembly is reconfigurable according to a predetermined input to the flow regulator subassembly. Moreover, the flow control assembly comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to the flow regulator subassembly for adjusting the flow regulator subassembly to vary fluid flow into the nuclear fission module.

US Patent:

8420362, Apr 16, 2013

Filed:

May 28, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/802103

Inventors:

Ronald L. Crawford - Moscow ID, US
Malcolm B. Burbank - Pullman WA, US
Thomas J. Weaver - Moscow ID, US
Barbara C. Williams - Viola ID, US

Assignee:

University of Idaho - Moscow ID

International Classification:

C12P 3/00
C12N 9/00
C12N 1/20
C12N 15/00

US Classification:

435168, 435183, 4352523, 4353201

Abstract:

A method for increasing the concentration of calcium carbonate in a geomaterial that contains indigenous microorganisms capable of hydrolyzing urea to ammonia, which method includes enriching the geomaterial with a source of nutrients, adding urea to the geomaterial which is hydrolyzed to ammonia and which raises the pH of the geomaterial, and adding a source of calcium ions to the geomaterial. Carbonate ions obtained by the hydrolysis of the urea combine with calcium ions to form calcium carbonate.

US Patent:

8488734, Jul 16, 2013

Filed:

Aug 28, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/584053

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
Pavel Hejzlar - Kirkland WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Jon D. McWhirter - Newcastle WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Bellevue WA, US
Ashok Odedra - Bellevue WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Joshua C. Walter - Kirkland WA, US
Kevan D. Weaver - Redmond WA, US
Thomas Allan Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
George B. Zimmerman - Lafayette CA, US

Assignee:

The Invention Science Fund I, LLC - Bellevue WA

International Classification:

G21C 3/04
G21C 3/00

US Classification:

376456, 376409, 376451, 973DIG 37, 973DIG 38, 973DIG 39, 973DIG 40

Abstract:

Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system.

US Patent:

20100266084, Oct 21, 2010

Filed:

Apr 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/386524

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
John Rogers Gilleland - Kirkland WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Medina WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas Allan Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y.H. Wood - Livermore CA, US
George B. Zimmerman - Lafayette CA, US

International Classification:

G21C 3/00
G21C 7/00

US Classification:

376207, 376456, 376412

Abstract:

A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.

US Patent:

20100266087, Oct 21, 2010

Filed:

Jul 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/460159

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Jon D. McWhirter - Newcastle WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Medina WA, US
Ashok Odedra - Bellevue WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas A. Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y.H. Wood - Livermore CA, US

International Classification:

G21C 7/32

US Classification:

376210

Abstract:

A nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system. The flow control assembly is coupled to a nuclear fission module capable of producing a traveling burn wave at a location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly controls flow of a fluid in response to the location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly comprises a flow regulator subassembly configured to be operated according to an operating parameter associated with the nuclear fission module. In addition, the flow regulator subassembly is reconfigurable according to a predetermined input to the flow regulator subassembly. Moreover, the flow control assembly comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to the flow regulator subassembly for adjusting the flow regulator subassembly to vary fluid flow into the nuclear fission module.

US Patent:

20100266088, Oct 21, 2010

Filed:

Jul 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/460160

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Jon D. McWhirter - Newcastle WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Medina WA, US
Ashok Odedra - Bellevue WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas A. Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y.H. Wood - Livermore CA, US
George B. Zimmerman - Lafayette CA, US

International Classification:

G21C 7/32
G21C 7/00

US Classification:

376210, 376244, 376240

Abstract:

A nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system. The flow control assembly is coupled to a nuclear fission module capable of producing a traveling burn wave at a location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly controls flow of a fluid in response to the location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly comprises a flow regulator subassembly configured to be operated according to an operating parameter associated with the nuclear fission module. In addition, the flow regulator subassembly is reconfigurable according to a predetermined input to the flow regulator subassembly. Moreover, the flow control assembly comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to the flow regulator subassembly for adjusting the flow regulator subassembly to vary fluid flow into the nuclear fission module.

US Patent:

20100266089, Oct 21, 2010

Filed:

Jul 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/459855

Inventors:

Charles E. Ahlfeld - La Jolla CA, US
John Rogers Gilleland - Kirkland WA, US
Roderick A. Hyde - Redmond WA, US
Muriel Y. Ishikawa - Livermore CA, US
David G. McAlees - Bellevue WA, US
Nathan P. Myhrvold - Medina WA, US
Clarence T. Tegreene - Bellevue WA, US
Thomas Allan Weaver - San Mateo CA, US
Charles Whitmer - North Bend WA, US
Victoria Y.H. Wood - Livermore CA, US
George B. Zimmerman - Lafayette CA, US

International Classification:

G21C 7/30

US Classification:

376213

Abstract:

A nuclear fission reactor fuel assembly and system configured for controlled removal of a volatile fission product and heat released by a burn wave in a traveling wave nuclear fission reactor and method for same. The fuel assembly comprises an enclosure adapted to enclose a porous nuclear fuel body having the volatile fission product therein. A fluid control subassembly is coupled to the enclosure and adapted to control removal of at least a portion of the volatile fission product from the porous nuclear fuel body. In addition, the fluid control subassembly is capable of circulating a heat removal fluid through the porous nuclear fuel body in order to remove heat generated by the nuclear fuel body.