IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (TSX-V: IB) (“IBC” or the “Company”) announces that Purdue University has filed provisional patents covering IBC-funded current nuclear fuel research and new discoveries, underway at Purdue and Texas A&M universities.
The research work is being conducted under a collaborative research agreement signed with IBC in August 2008 under which IBC has the option for an exclusive license to the intellectual property being developed under the research agreement.
Nuclear Power
The fields of invention and technical fields being patented under the provisional filings are the design of enhanced high thermal conductivity nuclear fuel made of uranium oxide with addition of a compatible high thermal conductivity material such as beryllium oxide using controlled microstructures in the product.
Current work by Purdue and Texas A&M nuclear engineers has shown that an advanced BeO nuclear fuel could potentially result in significant cost savings and greater operating efficiencies over conventional nuclear fuels. Additionally, an advanced UO2-BeO nuclear fuel could also enhance the operational safety of both current and future nuclear reactors due to its superior thermal conductivity. Other benefits include a theoretical reduction in fission gas release allowing higher fuel burn up and less stored energy in the fuel pins.
“IBC is pleased to be a part of the provisional patent filings covering these important advances and technological improvements realized over the last two years of work with Purdue and Texas A&M universities,” said Jim Malone, IBC’s Vice President of Nuclear Fuels. “We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Purdue and Texas A&M, as well as to establishing a working relationship with an industry partner to continue this exciting and promising research. The field of high thermal conductivity nuclear fuels is gaining increasing positive recognition from utilities, regulators and fuel fabricators,” continued Malone, “and IBC is proud to be a part of this exciting new opportunity and market.”