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Title: Electrorefiner system for recovering purified metal from impure nuclear feed material

Abstract

An electrorefiner system according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include a vessel configured to maintain a molten salt electrolyte and configured to receive a plurality of alternately arranged cathode and anode assemblies. The anode assemblies are configured to hold an impure nuclear feed material. Upon application of the power system, the impure nuclear feed material is anodically dissolved and a purified metal is deposited on the cathode rods of the cathode assemblies. A scraper is configured to dislodge the purified metal deposited on the cathode rods. A conveyor system is disposed at a bottom of the vessel and configured to remove the dislodged purified metal from the vessel.

Inventors:
; ; ; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1222636
Patent Number(s):
9150975
Application Number:
13/335,082
Assignee:
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (Wilmington, NC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C25 - ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES C25C - PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Dec 22
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Berger, John F., Williamson, Mark A., Wiedmeyer, Stanley G., Willit, James L., Barnes, Laurel A., and Blaskovitz, Robert J. Electrorefiner system for recovering purified metal from impure nuclear feed material. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
Berger, John F., Williamson, Mark A., Wiedmeyer, Stanley G., Willit, James L., Barnes, Laurel A., & Blaskovitz, Robert J. Electrorefiner system for recovering purified metal from impure nuclear feed material. United States.
Berger, John F., Williamson, Mark A., Wiedmeyer, Stanley G., Willit, James L., Barnes, Laurel A., and Blaskovitz, Robert J. Tue . "Electrorefiner system for recovering purified metal from impure nuclear feed material". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1222636.
@article{osti_1222636,
title = {Electrorefiner system for recovering purified metal from impure nuclear feed material},
author = {Berger, John F. and Williamson, Mark A. and Wiedmeyer, Stanley G. and Willit, James L. and Barnes, Laurel A. and Blaskovitz, Robert J.},
abstractNote = {An electrorefiner system according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include a vessel configured to maintain a molten salt electrolyte and configured to receive a plurality of alternately arranged cathode and anode assemblies. The anode assemblies are configured to hold an impure nuclear feed material. Upon application of the power system, the impure nuclear feed material is anodically dissolved and a purified metal is deposited on the cathode rods of the cathode assemblies. A scraper is configured to dislodge the purified metal deposited on the cathode rods. A conveyor system is disposed at a bottom of the vessel and configured to remove the dislodged purified metal from the vessel.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {10}
}

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