Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
-
- Castro Valley, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 864619
- Patent Number(s):
- 4392995
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- molten; reprocessing; spent; nuclear; fuel; elements; method; apparatus; described; containment; vessel; solid; plug; nitride; precipitates; supports; circulating; bath; liquid; therein; immersed; atmosphere; nitrogen; resulting; formation; layer; interfaces; solidified; integrated; melted; removing; portion; remains; support; remaining; process; practiced; numerous; times; substantially; precipitated; nitrides; removed; containment vessel; fuel elements; fuel element; nuclear fuel; spent nuclear; remains solid; /252/423/976/
Citation Formats
Heckman, Richard A. Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements. United States: N. p., 1983.
Web.
Heckman, Richard A. Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements. United States.
Heckman, Richard A. Sat .
"Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864619.
@article{osti_864619,
title = {Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements},
author = {Heckman, Richard A},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1983}
}