TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Innovative Uranium-Zirconium Carbonitride Fabrication

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
Innovative Uranium-Zirconium Carbonitride Fabrication
Breakthrough fabrication methods for Uranium-Zirconium Carbonitride (UZr)(CN) fuel, promising superior thermal efficiency and reduced oxygen contamination in advanced reactors.
 

Opportunity:   Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to explore a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this technology for Real-time High-Temperature Fluid Sampling and Analysis. 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.
Overview:        High temperature and gas reactors demand fuel that can withstand intense heat while maintaining exceptional thermal conductivity. The ideal candidate for this is Uranium-Zirconium Carbonitride ((UZr)(CN)), a high temperature phase fuel studied for its potential applications in advanced gas reactors, high temperature gas reactors, and space nuclear propulsion. However, existing methods to synthesize (UZr)(CN) often result in detrimental oxygen contamination. Overcoming this limitation and optimizing the manufacturing process is a crucial step towards enhancing reactor efficiency and profit margins.
Description:    The government laboratory proposes two pioneering methods for the synthesis of (UZr)(CN). The first involves a gas reaction between Uranium-Zirconium (UZr) powder and hydrogen cyanide gas (HCN), while the second utilizes a solid-state diffusion reaction of UN and ZrC. Both approaches offer tightly controlled stoichiometry, resulting in an efficient production of high-quality (UZr)(CN) fuel suitable for the next generation of advanced reactors.
Benefits:          
•    Reduction of oxygen contamination compared to traditional carbothermic reduction methods.
•    Enhanced thermal conductivity of the fuel, optimizing reactor performance.
•    Tightly controlled stoichiometry, resulting in purer (UZr)(CN) synthesis.
•    Greater speed and efficiency in fuel manufacturing process.
•    Potential for licensing the fabrication method to fuel manufacturers.
Applications:    
•    Fuel for advanced gas reactors
•    Fuel for high temperature gas reactors
•    Fuel for space nuclear propulsion systems
•    Large scale fuel manufacturing for powering advanced reactors
Development Status: TRL 2 (Technology Readiness Level 2), with proof-of-concept in need of validation. 
IP Status:        Provisional Patent Application No. 63/503,671, “Methods of Producing Uranium-Zirconium Carbonitride and Related Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1482.  
INL seeks 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.