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

IPC subclass G21D recorded 7,179 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 570 in 2013 to 862 in 2023 (+51%). The most active applicants in class G21 are CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION (2,364 applications), CGN POWER COMPANY (1,899 applications) and CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING COMPANY (1,870 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element Control of nuclear reaction Emergency protection arrangements structurally associated with a reactor; for rapid reduction of reactivity under fault conditions; for suppressing fires , , Pumping arrangements for the coolant by means within the reactor pressure vessel Obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources