{
  "patent_number": "US 10475543",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Make Meltdown-Proof Nuclear Fuel Pellets",
  "original_title": "Dispersion ceramic micro-encapsulated (DCM) nuclear fuel and related methods",
  "summary": "This patent describes a method for making a new type of nuclear fuel called Dispersion Ceramic Micro-Encapsulated (DCM) fuel, which uses tiny, specially coated uranium particles embedded in a super-strong silicon carbide material to prevent meltdowns in nuclear reactors.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent outlines a method (Claim 1) for manufacturing Dispersion Ceramic Micro-Encapsulated (DCM) nuclear fuel. This process involves creating at least two different sizes of 'tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles.' Each TRISO particle contains a fuel kernel surrounded by four protective layers: a porous carbon buffer, an inner pyrolytic carbon layer, a ceramic layer, and an outer pyrolytic carbon layer. These TRISO particles are then mixed with a silicon carbide powder and sintered (heated and pressed) using a specific 'nano infiltration transient eutectic phase' to embed them within a dense silicon carbide matrix. This forms a solid fuel compact, or pellet, designed for enhanced safety. For example, Claim 6 details forming the fuel kernel by dissolving material in nitric acid, creating droplets, gelling, calcining, and then coating them in a chemical vapor deposition furnace (Claim 7).",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover nuclear fuel that uses only a single size of TRISO fuel particles, as Claim 1 specifies \"two or more different sizes.\"",
    "Does not cover fuel compacts where TRISO particles are not dispersed and embedded inside a silicon carbide matrix, as required by Claim 1.",
    "Does not cover manufacturing methods that do not utilize a \"nano infiltration transient eutectic phase\" for sintering, as specified in Claim 1.",
    "Does not cover TRISO fuel particles that lack any of the four specified layers: porous carbon buffer, inner pyrolytic carbon, ceramic, and outer pyrolytic carbon (Claim 1).",
    "Does not cover fuel compacts formed without pressing in a mold at a predetermined sintering pressure and temperature (Claim 1)."
  ],
  "filed": "2017-01-31",
  "granted": "2019-11-12",
  "expires": "2037-01-31",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Ultra Safe Nuclear",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/ultra-safe-nuclear",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Francesco Venneri",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/francesco-venneri"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 12,
  "tags": [
    "nuclear_energy",
    "materials"
  ],
  "abstract": "The invention relates to the use of Dispersion Ceramic Micro-Encapsulated (DCM) nuclear fuel as a meltdown-proof, accident-tolerant fuel to replace uranium dioxide fuel in existing light water reactors (LWRs). The safety qualities of the DCM fuel are obtained by the combination of three strong barriers to fission product release (ceramic coatings around the fuel kernels), highly dense inert ceramic matrix around the coated fuel particles and metallic or ceramic cladding around the fuel pellets.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10475543/dispersion-ceramic-micro-encapsulated-dcm-nuclear-fuel-and-related-methods",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10475543/dispersion-ceramic-micro-encapsulated-dcm-nuclear-fuel-and-related-methods/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10475543",
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}