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Title: Advanced dry head-end reprocessing of light water reactor spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

A method for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel from a light water reactor includes the step of reacting spent nuclear fuel in a voloxidation vessel with an oxidizing gas having nitrogen dioxide and oxygen for a period sufficient to generate a solid oxidation product of the spent nuclear fuel. The reacting step includes the step of reacting, in a first zone of the voloxidation vessel, spent nuclear fuel with the oxidizing gas at a temperature ranging from 200-450.degree. C. to form an oxidized reaction product, and regenerating nitrogen dioxide, in a second zone of the voloxidation vessel, by reacting oxidizing gas comprising nitrogen monoxide and oxygen at a temperature ranging from 0-80.degree. C. The first zone and the second zone can be separate. A voloxidation system is also disclosed.

Inventors:
; ; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1134261
Patent Number(s):
8747790
Application Number:
13/969,088
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01B - NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-000R22725
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2013 Aug 16
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Collins, Emory D., Delcul, Guillermo D., Hunt, Rodney D., Johnson, Jared A., and Spencer, Barry B. Advanced dry head-end reprocessing of light water reactor spent nuclear fuel. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Collins, Emory D., Delcul, Guillermo D., Hunt, Rodney D., Johnson, Jared A., & Spencer, Barry B. Advanced dry head-end reprocessing of light water reactor spent nuclear fuel. United States.
Collins, Emory D., Delcul, Guillermo D., Hunt, Rodney D., Johnson, Jared A., and Spencer, Barry B. Tue . "Advanced dry head-end reprocessing of light water reactor spent nuclear fuel". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1134261.
@article{osti_1134261,
title = {Advanced dry head-end reprocessing of light water reactor spent nuclear fuel},
author = {Collins, Emory D. and Delcul, Guillermo D. and Hunt, Rodney D. and Johnson, Jared A. and Spencer, Barry B.},
abstractNote = {A method for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel from a light water reactor includes the step of reacting spent nuclear fuel in a voloxidation vessel with an oxidizing gas having nitrogen dioxide and oxygen for a period sufficient to generate a solid oxidation product of the spent nuclear fuel. The reacting step includes the step of reacting, in a first zone of the voloxidation vessel, spent nuclear fuel with the oxidizing gas at a temperature ranging from 200-450.degree. C. to form an oxidized reaction product, and regenerating nitrogen dioxide, in a second zone of the voloxidation vessel, by reacting oxidizing gas comprising nitrogen monoxide and oxygen at a temperature ranging from 0-80.degree. C. The first zone and the second zone can be separate. A voloxidation system is also disclosed.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2014},
month = {6}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Method of releasing fission gases from irradiated fuel
patent, July 1981


Method of recovering uranium and transuranic elements from spent nuclear fuel
patent, March 2000


Method of processing spent reactor fuel with magnesium alloy cladding
patent, December 2000