Published July 12, 1983 | Version v1
Patent

Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements

Creators

Description

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

Availability note (English)

U.S. Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C. 20231, USA, $.50.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Pagination
v p.
IPC:
Int. Cl. G21C 19/48.
IPC
Int. Cl. G21C 19/48.
Patent number
US patent document 4,392,995/A/

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
15008739
Subject category
S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Non-conventional Literature
Descriptors DEI
CLOSURES; LIQUID METALS; MELTING; NITRIDES; PRECIPITATION; REPROCESSING; SOLIDIFICATION; SPENT FUELS; TIN
Descriptors DEC
ELEMENTS; ENERGY SOURCES; FLUIDS; FUELS; LIQUIDS; MATERIALS; METALS; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; NUCLEAR FUELS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; REACTOR MATERIALS; SEPARATION PROCESSES

Optional Information

Notes
PAT-APPL-218242.