Advanced electrorefiner design
Abstract
A combination anode and cathode for an electrorefiner which includes a hollow cathode and an anode positioned inside the hollow cathode such that a portion of the anode is near the cathode. A retaining member is positioned at the bottom of the cathode. Mechanism is included for providing relative movement between the anode and the cathode during deposition of metal on the inside surface of the cathode during operation of the electrorefiner to refine spent nuclear fuel. A method is also disclosed which includes electrical power means selectively connectable to the anode and the hollow cathode for providing electrical power to the cell components, electrically transferring uranium values and plutonium values from the anode to the electrolyte, and electrolytically depositing substantially pure uranium on the hollow cathode. Uranium and plutonium are deposited at a liquid cathode together after the PuCl.sub.3 to UCl.sub.3 ratio is greater than 2:1. Slots in the hollow cathode provides close anode access for the liquid pool in the liquid cathode.
- Inventors:
-
- Naperville, IL
- Park Forest, IL
- Lockport, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870491
- Patent Number(s):
- 5531868
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- advanced; electrorefiner; design; combination; anode; cathode; hollow; positioned; inside; portion; near; retaining; bottom; mechanism; included; providing; relative; movement; deposition; metal; surface; operation; refine; spent; nuclear; fuel; method; disclosed; electrical; power; means; selectively; connectable; cell; components; electrically; transferring; uranium; values; plutonium; electrolyte; electrolytically; depositing; substantially; pure; deposited; liquid; pucl; ucl; ratio; slots; provides; close; access; pool; positioned inside; cell component; plutonium values; liquid pool; pure uranium; cell components; hollow cathode; inside surface; substantially pure; electrical power; nuclear fuel; spent nuclear; relative movement; uranium values; providing electrical; liquid cathode; selectively connect; /205/204/976/
Citation Formats
Miller, William E, Gay, Eddie C, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Advanced electrorefiner design. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Miller, William E, Gay, Eddie C, & Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Advanced electrorefiner design. United States.
Miller, William E, Gay, Eddie C, and Tomczuk, Zygmunt. Mon .
"Advanced electrorefiner design". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870491.
@article{osti_870491,
title = {Advanced electrorefiner design},
author = {Miller, William E and Gay, Eddie C and Tomczuk, Zygmunt},
abstractNote = {A combination anode and cathode for an electrorefiner which includes a hollow cathode and an anode positioned inside the hollow cathode such that a portion of the anode is near the cathode. A retaining member is positioned at the bottom of the cathode. Mechanism is included for providing relative movement between the anode and the cathode during deposition of metal on the inside surface of the cathode during operation of the electrorefiner to refine spent nuclear fuel. A method is also disclosed which includes electrical power means selectively connectable to the anode and the hollow cathode for providing electrical power to the cell components, electrically transferring uranium values and plutonium values from the anode to the electrolyte, and electrolytically depositing substantially pure uranium on the hollow cathode. Uranium and plutonium are deposited at a liquid cathode together after the PuCl.sub.3 to UCl.sub.3 ratio is greater than 2:1. Slots in the hollow cathode provides close anode access for the liquid pool in the liquid cathode.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}