Lightbridge granted new patent in Canada for nuclear fuel design

Lightbridge (LTBR)has received a Notice of Allowance from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for its nuclear fuel assembly design. The Canadian Patent Application covers 48 claims directed to fuel assemblies comprising helically twisted fuel elements arranged into a mixed grid pattern, as well as nuclear reactors incorporating such fuel assemblies. The allowed claims describe fuel assemblies comprising a plurality of helically twisted fuel elements supported by a frame in a fuel rod bundle and arranged in a mixed grid pattern that includes both rectangular and triangular grid configurations. The patent is relevant to pressurized heavy water reactors, including Canada’s CANDU reactor fleet.