Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of operating a propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, the method comprising:initiating a nuclear fission deflagration wave with a first nuclear igniter;propagating a propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave through a first region of a nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor to a second region of the nuclear fission deflagration wave reactor, the first region being contiguous with the second region, each one of the first and second regions configured to be critical independent of the other of the first and second regions;propagating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave through the second region; and after propagating the nuclear fission deflagration wave through the second region, re-propagating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave through the first region. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein re-propagating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave includes re-initiating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave with a second igniter. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein re-propagating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave includes at least one of decaying and removing fission products from the first region. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein re-propagating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave includes providing at least one of neutrons and fissile material to the first region. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein re-propagating the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave includes controlling neutron modifying structures. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein:the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave remains substantially spatially fixed; andthe first and second regions are moved relative to the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein:the first and second regions are stationary; and the propagating nuclear fission deflagration wave propagates through the first and second regions.