Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements
- Castro Valley, CA
A method and apparatus for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel is described. Within a containment vessel, a solid plug of tin and nitride precipitates supports a circulating bath of liquid tin therein. Spent nuclear fuel is immersed in the liquid tin under an atmosphere of nitrogen, resulting in the formation of nitride precipitates. The layer of liquid tin and nitride precipitates which interfaces the plug is solidified and integrated with the plug. Part of the plug is melted, removing nitride precipitates from the containment vessel, while a portion of the plug remains solidified to support the liquid tin and nitride precipitates remaining in the containment vessel. The process is practiced numerous times until substantially all of the precipitated nitrides are removed from the containment vessel.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4392995
- OSTI ID:
- 864619
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements. [Patent application; continuous process]
Apparatus and method for reprocessing and separating spent nuclear fuels. [Patent application]
Related Subjects
apparatus
atmosphere
bath
circulating
containment
containment vessel
described
elements
formation
fuel
fuel element
fuel elements
immersed
integrated
interfaces
layer
liquid
melted
method
molten
nitride
nitrides
nitrogen
nuclear
nuclear fuel
numerous
plug
portion
practiced
precipitated
precipitates
process
remaining
remains
remains solid
removed
removing
reprocessing
resulting
solid
solidified
spent
spent nuclear
substantially
support
supports
therein
times
vessel