Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A vented nuclear fission fuel module, comprising:a nuclear fission fuel element arranged to generate a gaseous fission product;a valve body associated with said nuclear fission fuel element, said valve body defining a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product; anda valve in operative communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum. 2. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, wherein said valve body comprises a flexible diaphragm coupled to said valve for moving said valve to a closed position. 3. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising:a cap mounted on said valve; anda manipulator arranged to extend to said cap for manipulating said cap. 4. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising a manipulator arranged to extend to said valve for manipulating said valve. 5. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising:an articulated manipulator arm arranged to extend to the plenum; anda receptacle carried by said articulated manipulator arm and arranged to engage with the plenum for receiving the gaseous fission product controllably vented from the plenum. 6. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, wherein said valve is responsive to a parameter chosen from pressure in the plenum and a type of gaseous fission product in the plenum. 7. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in operative communication with the plenum. 8. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 7, wherein said sensor senses a parameter chosen from pressure in the plenum and a type of gaseous fission product in the plenum. 9. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 7, wherein said sensor comprises a sensor chosen from a radiation sensor, from a chemical sensor, and an optical sensor. 10. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 7, wherein said sensor comprises a transmitter. 11. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 10, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit an identification signal identifying said valve body. 12. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising a canister surrounding said fuel element. 13. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 12,wherein said canister has a bottom portion defining a first opening; andwherein said canister has a side portion defining a second opening. 14. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 13, wherein said canister comprises a tube sheet therein having a contour shaped for guiding a coolant along a coolant flow path extending from the first opening and through the second opening. 15. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 13, wherein said canister comprises a ceramic tube sheet therein for dissipating heat and having a contour shaped for guiding a coolant along a coolant flow path extending from the first opening and through the second opening. 16. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir coupled to said valve for receiving the gaseous fission product vented by said valve. 17. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 16, wherein said reservoir comprises a filter for separating a condensed phase fission product from the gaseous fission product. 18. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 17, wherein said filter comprises a filter chosen from a HEPA filter, a semi-permeable membrane, an electrostatic collector, and a cold trap. 19. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to said valve for controlling operation of said valve. 20. A vented nuclear fission fuel module, comprising:a plurality of nuclear fission fuel element bundles arranged to generate a gaseous fission product;a plurality of valve bodies associated with respective ones of said plurality of nuclear fission fuel element bundles, at least one of said plurality of valve bodies defining a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product;a valve disposed in the at least one of said plurality of valve bodies and in communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum;a flexible diaphragm coupled to said valve for moving said valve; anda removable cap threadably mounted on said valve. 21. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, wherein said flexible diaphragm is arranged to move said valve to a closed position. 22. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, further comprising an articulated manipulator arm arranged to extend to said cap for threadably dismounting said cap from said valve. 23. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, further comprising an articulated manipulator arm arranged to extend to said valve for operating said valve. 24. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, further comprising:an articulated manipulator arm arranged to extend to the plenum; anda receptacle carried by said articulated manipulator arm and arranged to engage with the plenum for receiving the gaseous fission product vented from the plenum. 25. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, wherein said valve is responsive to a parameter chosen from pressure in the plenum and a type of gaseous fission product in the plenum. 26. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, further comprising a sensor in operative communication with the plenum. 27. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 26, wherein said sensor senses a parameter chosen from pressure in the plenum, a type of gaseous fission product in the plenum, and a radioactive fission product in the plenum. 28. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 26, wherein said sensor comprises a sensor chosen from a radiation sensor, a chemical sensor, and an optical sensor. 29. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 26, wherein said sensor comprises a transmitter. 30. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 29, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit an identification signal identifying said valve body. 31. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 26, further comprising a canister surrounding at least one of said plurality of nuclear fission fuel element bundles. 32. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 31,wherein said canister has a bottom portion defining a flow opening; andwherein said canister has a side portion defining a flow port. 33. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 32, wherein said canister comprises a tube sheet therein having a contour on an underside surface thereof shaped for guiding a coolant along a curved coolant flow path extending from the flow opening and through the flow port. 34. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 32, wherein said canister comprises a ceramic tube sheet therein for dissipating heat and having a contour on an underside surface thereof shaped for guiding a coolant along a curved coolant flow path extending from the flow opening and through the flow port. 35. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, further comprising a reservoir coupled to said valve for receiving the gaseous fission product vented by said valve. 36. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 35, wherein said reservoir comprises a removable filter for separating and capturing a condensed phase fission product from the gaseous fission product. 37. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 36, wherein said filter comprises a filter chosen from a HEPA filter, a semi-permeable membrane, an electrostatic collector, and a cold trap. 38. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, wherein said valve is operable to controllably vent the gaseous fission product according to a predetermined release rate for minimizing size of an associated gaseous fission product clean-up system. 39. The vented nuclear fission fuel module of claim 20, further comprising a controller coupled to said valve for controlling operation of said valve.