IP Library Granted Patent US 11,053,589
Granted Patent B2
US 11,053,589 · App. 16/017,291 · Granted Jul 6, 2021

Multi-inlet gas distributor for chemical vapor deposition coating of TRISO particles

Inventors: Howard Kim (Knoxville, TN); Peter J. Pappano (Poolesville, MD)
Assignee: X-Energy, LLC
C23C16/45563C04B35/16C04B35/62645C04B35/62675C04B35/653C23C16/442C23C16/4417C23C16/45506C04B2235/3224C04B2235/3227C04B2235/3229C04B2235/3298C04B2235/3418C04B2235/36C04B2235/442G21C3/626
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,053,589
App. No.
16/017,291
Granted
Jul 6, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-inlet gas distributor for a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor that may include a distributor body having an inlet surface, an exit surface opposed to the inlet surface, and a side perimeter surface. The distributor body may also include multiple-inlets evenly spaced from each other, wherein the multiple-inlets penetrate the distributor body from the inlet surface to a first depth. The distributor body may additionally include cone-shaped apertures connecting to corresponding ones of the multiple-inlets at the first depth and extend from the first depth toward the exit surface. An apex may be formed on the exit surface at the intersection of the cone-shaped apertures.

Claims (28)

1. A multi-inlet gas distributor for a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition chamber, comprising:

a distributor body having an inlet surface, an exit surface opposed to the inlet surface, and a side perimeter surface extending between and connecting the inlet surface to the exit surface;

multiple-inlets evenly spaced from each other, wherein the multiple-inlets penetrate the distributor body from the inlet surface to a first depth; and

cone-shaped apertures connecting to corresponding ones of the multiple-inlets at the first depth and extend from the first depth toward the exit surface, wherein an apex is formed on the exit surface at an intersection of the cone-shaped apertures, and a saddle is formed with an arch-shaped edge along the exit surface at an intersection of at least one of the cone-shaped apertures with the side perimeter surface.

2. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein an apex ridge is formed between the intersection of each of adjacent ones of the cone-shaped apertures.

3. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 2 , where the apex ridge extends between the side perimeter surface and the apex.

4. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein the multiple-inlets are evenly spaced from a center of the exit surface.

5. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein shoulders are formed on the exit surface where two adjoining cone-shaped apertures intersect, but do not also intersect with the side perimeter surface.

6. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein a peak is formed at an intersection of two adjoining ones of the cone-shaped apertures with the side perimeter surface.

7. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein an overall thickness of the distributor body is between 1.25 and 2.30 inches.

8. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein the first depth of the multiple-inlets is about 0.25 inches.

9. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein an outside diameter of the multiple-inlets is about 7/64th inch.

10. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein a radius of the distributor body between a center thereof and the side perimeter surface is about 0.5 inches.

11. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein an outside diameter of the distributor body is between 2.0 inches and 6.0 inches.

12. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein an outside diameter of the distributor body is about 2.0 inches.

13. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein the cone-shaped apertures are right circular cones.

14. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 13 , wherein the right circular cones have an interior angle of between 45° and 55°.

15. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the multi-inlet gas distributor has a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, or an octagon.

16. The multi-inlet gas distributor of claim 1 , wherein the distributor body is formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of graphite, aluminum, steel, titanium, alloy-steel, plastic, or polymer.

17. A fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor, comprising:

a fluidized bed chamber configured to hold fluidizing gas/vapor; and

a multi-inlet gas distributor coupled to the fluidized bed chamber, wherein the multi-inlet gas distributor includes:

a distributor body having an inlet surface, an exit surface opposed to the inlet surface, and a side perimeter surface extending between and connecting the inlet surface to the exit surface;

multiple-inlets evenly spaced from each other, wherein the multiple-inlets penetrate the distributor body from the inlet surface to a first depth; and

cone-shaped apertures connecting to corresponding ones of the multiple-inlets at the first depth and extend from the first depth toward the exit surface, wherein an apex is formed on the exit surface at an intersection of the cone-shaped apertures, and a saddle is formed with an arch-shaped edge along the exit surface at an intersection of at least one of the cone-shaped apertures with the side perimeter surface,

wherein the multi-inlet gas distributor is configured to receive the fluidizing gas/vapor through the multiple-inlets and inject the fluidizing gas/vapor through the cone-shaped apertures and into the fluidized bed chamber.

18. The fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor of claim 17 , wherein shoulders are formed on the exit surface where two adjoining cone-shaped apertures intersect, but do not also intersect with the side perimeter surface.

19. The fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor of claim 17 , wherein a peak is formed at an intersection of two adjoining ones of the cone-shaped apertures with the side perimeter surface.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: LIVE OAK BANKING COMPANY
To: X-ENERGY
Reel/Frame 073783/0139 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2025
From: X-ENERGY, LLC
To: LIVE OAK BANKING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 071081/0865 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2025
From: ARES ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LP
To: X-ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 070107/0678 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2024
From: ARES ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LP
To: X-ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 068884/0531 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST, RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 068722/0427 Recorded Oct 11, 2024
From: AMAZON.COM NV INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: X-ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 069717/0581 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2024
From: X-ENERGY, LLC
To: AMAZON.COM NV INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 068722/0427 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: X-ENERGY, LLC
To: ARES ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LP
Reel/Frame 065174/0313 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2018
From: KIM, HOWARD; PAPPANO, PETER
To: X-ENERGY, LLC.
Reel/Frame 046323/0188 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62526014 · Jun 28, 2017
Related Publication 20190003051A1 · Jan 3, 2019