TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Protected High-Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouple (PHITR-TC)

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

Protected High-Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouple (PHITR-TC)

Achieve accurate, high-temperature measurements in extreme environments with the groundbreaking PHITR-TC technology, enhancing performance and cost savings for next-generation nuclear 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 the PHITR-TC technology. 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:        Traditional high-temperature irradiation-resistant thermocouples (HTIR-TC) have limitations in sensing environments, confining their applications. The innovative PHITR-TC, developed at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), overcomes these restrictions by utilizing a double-walled sheath, allowing use in various environments and expanding its market potential.

Description:    PHITR-TC provides accurate, in-pile temperature measurements for fuel centerlines in water, caustic, liquid metal, and molten salt environments. The technology uses refractory metals molybdenum, niobium, and a flexible outer sheath to accommodate diverse sensing environments. PHITR-TC's robust design withstands high temperatures, radiation, and multiple thermal cycles, ensuring longevity and reliability.

Benefits:          
•    Unprecedented measurement locations and sheer quantity
•    Lower costs and a fourfold reduction in measurement uncertainty
•    Adaptability to various environments, including water, caustic, liquid metal, and molten salt.
•    Improved transparency and accuracy in reactor fuel and design validation
•    Enhanced durability in harsh radioactive conditions
•    Cost and schedule savings for nuclear vendors in reactor development and testing 

Applications:    
•    Next Generation Reactor Vendors
•    Reactor Fuel Manufacturers 

Development Status:  TRL 4: laboratory validation.   

IP Status: US Patent Application No. 18/109,193, “Protected High Temperature Irradiation Resistant Thermocouple,” BEA Docket No. BA-1342.

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.