Steve Rhyne, a nuclear engineer, attorney, and veteran, and his company NuGen have recently been granted new patents for his innovative NuGen Engine™ nuclear reactor design. By integrating a fission reactor into what is essentially a jet engine, Mr. Rhyne has developed a method to directly produce electricity without the losses associated with typical steam generating nuclear power plants and associated balance of plant systems. Mr. Rhyne was awarded Patent Nos. 6,877,209 B1 and 7,073,319 in the early 2000s, and was also awarded two more patents, 10,685,756 and 10,685,755 in June of 2020. The most recent patents are for a simpler, more efficient, and modular design that can be rapidly deployed in many environments including space. While yet to receive NRC approval, Mr. Rhyne's innovative reactor designs show great potential for the future of the nuclear power industry.
