Integral u/tru recovery cathode system for electrorefining used nuclear fuel, method for electrorefining and harvesting metal from used nuclear fuel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017314151-A1
Application number	US-201615143173-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 2, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides a system for collecting metal in an electrorefining process, the system having a hollow cathode; and a container defining an upwardly extending surface adapted to be received by the hollow cathode. An embodiment of the invention provides for metal reduction to occur on laterally facing and medially facing surfaces of the cathode such that electrolyte resides between surfaces of the cathode. Also provided is a metal electrorefining process having the steps of subjecting molten salt containing metal moieties to electrolysis wherein reduced metal accumulates in a cathode-cup construct in a first position; raising the construct to a second position above the molten salt while subjecting the construct to heat from the molten salt; withdrawing the cathode from the construct into a vestibule to the electrorefiner to a third position; and removing the cathode and cup from the electrorefiner to a fourth position.

First claim

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1 . A system for collecting metal in an electrorefining process, the system comprising:
a. a hollow cathode; and b. a container defining an upwardly extending surface adapted to be received by the hollow cathode.

2 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the container encircles the bottom and laterally facing surfaces of the cathode.

3 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the container encircles the bottom and medially facing surfaces of the cathode.

4 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the extending surface is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the container and of the cathode.

5 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the cathode does not contact the container.

6 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the cathode is not in electrical communication with the container.

7 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein metal forms in two annular spaces between the cathode and the container.

8 . The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the cathode and the container are imbedded in molten salt in a first position.

9 . The system as recited in claim 8 wherein the container is imbedded in molten salt in a second position.

10 . A metal electrorefining process comprising:
a) subjecting molten salt containing metal moieties to electrolysis wherein reduced metal accumulates in a cathode-cup construct; b) raising the construct to a second position above the molten salt while subjecting the construct to heat from the molten salt; c) withdrawing the cathode from the construct while subjecting the cathode and the cup to the heat from the molten salt; and d) removing the cathode and cup from the electrorefiner.

11 . The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the cathode is slidably received by the cup.

12 . The method as recited in claim 10 wherein reduced metal forms in two annular spaces between the cathode and the cup.

13 . The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the cup defines an annular region and a central protuberance coaxial with the annular region.

14 . The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the cathode is a tube adapted to receive the central protuberance of the cup.

15 . The method as recited in claim 10 wherein the third position is insulated from the heat of the molten salt so as to facilitate replacing the cup, now filled with metal, with an empty cup.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the third position is insulated from the ambient environment so as to prevent solidification of metal within the filled cup.

Assignees

• Willit James L
• Williamson Mark A
• Wiedmeyer Stanley G
• Tylka Magdalena M
• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Willit James L
• Williamson Mark A
• Wiedmeyer Stanley G
• Tylka Magdalena M

Classifications

• G21C19/42

  Reprocessing of irradiated fuel · CPC title

• C25C7/025 Primary

  used in cells for the electrolysis of melts · CPC title

• C25C3/34

  of metals not provided for in groups C25C3/02 - C25C3/32 · CPC title

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title

• Y02W30/50

  Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies · CPC title