TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Uranyl Nitrate Natural Convection Medical Isotope Reactor
This reactor concept is a uranyl nitrate nuclear reactor that will generate medical isotopes as a product of the fission reaction.
Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this uranyl nitrate nuclear reactor concept. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people.
Description: This invention is a uranyl nitrate nuclear reactor that will generate medical isotopes as a product of the fission reaction. The fuel and subsequently the medical isotopes will be in the uranyl nitrate solution and will thus be readily available for extraction on-line, while the reactor continues to operate. A byproduct of the reactor will be the thermal energy produced, which can either generate electricity or thermal energy for district heating. The reactor is extremely safe as it relies on natural convection to circulate the fuel and thus has no pumps or valves. There is a dominant negative temperature coefficient of reactivity, which allows the reactor to shut down automatically during a postulated temperature excursion.
Benefits:
- Significantly improved efficiency.
- No other reactors operating right now can produce medical isotopes.
Applications:
Development Status: TRL 3. This technology is undergoing proof-of-concept.
IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/203,423, “Isotope Production Devices, Associated Components, and Systems,” BEA Docket No. BA-1213.
INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.
Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.
