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TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Control Drum System for General Rotation Systems A control drum system designed to control the rotational position of a control drum that efficiently accommodates ther... TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Control Drum System for General Rotation Systems A control drum system designed to control the rotational position of a control drum that efficiently accommodates thermal, flux, structural, controls and mechanical considerations. 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 the control drum system. 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: Nuclear reactors are generally large and thus the size of their flux control mechanisms (e.g., shutdown rods, control drums) have extensive volume which to occupy. The volume allows these mechanisms to be long, thus allowing component accessibility and displacing sensitive parts from the reactor environment (flux and thermal). However, microreactors do not supply this luxury of larger volumes or associated weight allowances and thus these mechanisms require a more compact, yet still accessible and environment tolerant, solution. Microreactors have a large breath of applications (electric power generation, hydrogen production, etc.) particularly in isolated environments. A multitude of technologies are being devised and each present their own system requirements including the mechanical control system’s abilities to effectively function in a restricted volume while also accommodating a wide range of conditions. Many of these control systems are devised specifically to the system in question and lack the flexibility to tune the various required performance features to complement the system needs (e.g., motion response times, torque requirements, shielding etc.). Description: Researchers at INL have developed a new control drum system design that employs a cage-like structure to efficiently use its components to achieve un-obvious, dual purpose functions. These functions allow it to be compact (volume/weight constraints), accessible (maintenance and control communication), thermally compatible (rails also act as thermal dissipaters), and flux compatible (intermediate platforms also act as shield agents). Benefits: Compact solution Efficiently utilizes its components to accommodate thermal, flux, structural, controls, and mechanical considerations. Flexibility allows one to readily adjust configuration. Provides additional distance between the hazard source (e.g. reactor flux, heat, ect.) and sensitive electronics. Allows for additional platforms that can improve shielding or employ additional components to influence mechanical performance. Operates as a readily implementable and replaceable unit and does not require intricate disassembly although individual capacity components are still readily accessible for performance optimization tuning and maintenance. Simple features allow for rapid manual or simple remote attachment/detachment methods. Allows separation between safety related (SR) and non-safety related (NSR) components, which enables efficient development of a robust control solution. Applications: Microreactors, particularly in isolated environments. General rotation motion systems with integrated tunable clutching, limits, continuous output position indication, damping, torque energy capture, and rapid passive homing. Development Status: TRL 4. Component is being validated in a laboratory environment. IP Status: US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/066,977, “Control Drum System for Reactor Applications,” BEA Docket No. BA-1230. 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.