Actinide and rare earth drawdown system for molten salt recycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018010256-A1
Application number	US-201615206914-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 11, 2016
Priority date	Jul 11, 2016
Publication date	Jan 11, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.

First claim

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

1 . A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method comprising:
a) collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath; b) collecting rare earth metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath; c) inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath; and d) chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the chlorinating step utilizes chlorine gas generated during the collecting steps.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the actinides are collected on the first plurality of cathodes at a first temperature and then removed from the electrolyte bath.

4 . The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the rare earth metals collected on the second plurality of cathodes at a second temperature and then removed from the electrolyte bath.

5 . The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.

6 . The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the chlorine gas is injected into the bottom of the electrolyte bath from interior regions of an anode while the first plurality of cathodes is in the bath.

7 . The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the actinides remain on the first plurality of cathodes.

8 . The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the rare earth metals remain on the second plurality of cathodes which are then removed from the electrolyte bath.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first plurality of cathodes remains in the vessel while the second plurality of cathodes is in the salt.

10 . A system for recycling molten salt, the system comprising:
a) a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt; b) a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel; c) a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel; d) an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel; and e) a vehicle for positioning elemental metal within the salt.

11 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the vessel further comprises a lid with regions defining apertures to slidably receive the first plurality and second plurality of cathodes and the anode.

12 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the anode comprises internal passageways to direct fluid to the bottom of the vessel.

13 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the cathodes circumscribe the anode.

14 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the first plurality of cathodes and the second plurality of cathodes are sequentially inserted into the salt.

15 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the first plurality of cathodes is positioned within the vessel but above the salt when the second plurality is inserted in the salt.

16 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the vehicle is a basket adapted to be removably submersed in the salt.

17 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the anode comprises passageways adapted to receive gas, the passageways formed in longitudinally extending regions of the anode.

18 . The system as recited in claim 17 wherein each of said passageways has a proximal end in fluid communication with a gas supply and a distal end positioned beneath the vehicle.

19 . The system as recited in claim 10 wherein the anode is inert.

Assignees

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

Inventors

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

Classifications

• C25C7/06

  Operating or servicing · CPC title

• C25C7/005

  of cells for the electrolysis of melts (C25C7/02 - C25C7/06 take precedence) · CPC title

• C25D3/66

  from melts · CPC title

• C25C3/34 Primary

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

• G21C19/50

  of irradiated fluid fuel {, e.g. regeneration of fuels while the reactor is in operation} · CPC title