Apparatus and method for stripping tritium from molten salt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9564251-B2
Application number	US-201414333627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Feb 7, 2017
Grant date	Feb 7, 2017

Abstract

A method of stripping tritium from flowing stream of molten salt includes providing a tritium-separating membrane structure having a porous support, a nanoporous structural metal-ion diffusion barrier layer, and a gas-tight, nonporous palladium-bearing separative layer, directing the flowing stream of molten salt into contact with the palladium-bearing layer so that tritium contained within the molten salt is transported through the tritium-separating membrane structure, and contacting a sweep gas with the porous support for collecting the tritium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of stripping tritium from flowing stream of molten salt comprising the steps of:
a. providing a tritium-separating membrane structure having a porous support selected from a group consisting of stainless steel and nickel-based alloy, a nanoporous structural metal-ion diffusion barrier layer supported by and in contact with said porous support, and a gas-tight, nonporous palladium-bearing separative layer supported by and in contact with said nanoporous structural metal-ion diffusion barrier layer;
b. directing the flowing stream of molten salt into contact with said palladium-bearing layer so that tritium contained within the molten salt is absorbed by said nonporous palladium-bearing separative layer, transported through said tritium-separating membrane structure; and
c. contacting a sweep gas with said porous support for collecting the tritium.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said porous support comprises 316 stainless steel.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said structural metal-ion diffusion barrier layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of yttrium-stabilized zirconia, scandia stabilized zirconia, alumina, titania, chromia, and chromium nitride.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas-tight, nonporous palladium-bearing separative layer comprises a palladium alloy.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said palladium alloy comprises a palladium-silver alloy.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tritium-separating membrane structure comprises at least one structure disposed within an outer containment structure.

Assignees

• Ut Battelle Llc

Inventors

• Holcomb David E
• Wilson Dane F

Classifications

• G21G2001/0094

  Other isotopes not provided for in the groups listed above · CPC title

• G21G1/001 Primary

  Recovery of specific isotopes from irradiated targets · CPC title

• G21F9/06

  Processing (separating different isotopes of the same chemical element B01D59/00) · CPC title

• G21C19/307 Primary

  specially adapted for liquids (decontamination of liquids G21F9/04) · CPC title

• G21C3/54

  Fused salt, oxide or hydroxide compositions · CPC title