Improved electrorefiner
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for electrochemically refining spent nuclear fuel from a nuclear reactor and recovering purified uranium and a mixture of uranium and plutonium for use as fresh blanket and core fuel in a nuclear reactor. An apparatus, capable of functioning as a solid cathode and for removing crystalline structure from the upper surface of a liquid cathode, includes a metallic support vertically disposed with respect to an electrically insulating container capable of holding a liquid metal cathode. A piston of electrically insulating material is mounted on the drive tube, surrounding the current lead, for vertical and rotational movement with respect thereto including a downwardly extending collar portion surrounding the metallic current lead. At least one portion of the piston remote from the metallic current lead is removed. A mechanism is included for lowering the piston to the surface of the liquid cathode and raising the piston from the surface along with mechanism for rotating the piston around its longitudinal axis.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Assignee:
- US Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- PATENTS-US-A8272376
- Application Number:
- ON: DE97009532; PAN: 8-272,376; TRN: AHC29802%%10
- OSTI ID:
- 555313
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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