G21D NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Description
G21D covers the overall design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants as integrated systems for generating electrical power through nuclear fission. This includes plant layout, control systems, safety mechanisms, heat transfer arrangements, and the interconnection of reactor vessels with steam generators, turbines, and auxiliary systems. The classification encompasses both pressurized water reactors (PWR) and boiling water reactors (BWR) configurations, as well as related plant engineering aspects. Excluded are detailed aspects of reactor cores themselves (G21C), radioactive waste handling (G21F), and non-power nuclear installations.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass G21D recorded 7,355 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 666 in 2013 to 782 in 2023 (+17%), peaking at 866 applications in 2021. The most active applicants in class G21 are CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION (1,383 applications), WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION (1,347 applications) and KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (1,303 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
5 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- G21D 1/00 Details of nuclear power plant (control G21D3/00)
- G21D 3/00 Control of nuclear power plant (control of nuclear reaction in general G21C7/00)
- G21D 5/00 Arrangements of reactor and engine in which reactor-produced heat is converted into mechanical energy
- G21D 7/00 Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions (obtaining electric energy from radioactive sources G21H1/00)
- G21D 9/00 Arrangements to provide heat for purposes other than conversion into power, e.g. for heating buildings
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G21, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION 1,383
- WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION US 1,347
- KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE KR 1,303
- CGN POWER COMPANY 1,156
- CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING COMPANY 1,149
- KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER COMPANY KR 1,146
- NUCLEAR POWER INSTITUTE OF CHINA 1,086
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 765
- CEA (COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE) FR 763
- CHINA INSTITUTE OF ATOMIC ENERGY 659