METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEPARATING A TRITIATED HEAVY WATER STREAM INTO A TRITIUM-LEAN HEAVY WATER STREAM AND A TRITIUM-ENRICHED HEAVY WATER STREAM

    公开(公告)号:US20240350973A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-24

    申请号:US18682688

    申请日:2022-08-08

    发明人: Paul KWON

    摘要: A system, apparatus and process for separating a tritiated heavy water stream into a tritium-lean heavy water stream and a tritium-enriched heavy water stream. Tritiated heavy water (DTO/D2O) is fed to a mid-point of an isotope exchange column. The column contains a hydrophobic solid catalyst to promote exchange of deuterium and tritium. DT/D2 gas flows out of an electrolysis cell and into the first end of the column, concentrating tritium content in the heavy water by counter current flow to produce a tritium-rich heavy water below the feed point and a tritium-lean deuterium gas above. Tritium-rich heavy water flows out the first end of the column and into the electrolysis cell, forming DT/D2 gas and a tritium-enriched heavy water stream. Tritium-lean deuterium gas flows out the second end of the column and into a tritium-lean heavy water unit. Either O2 gas or light water additionally flows into the tritium-lean heavy water unit to form a tritium-lean heavy water.

    CATALYST CHANNELS WITH ANISOTROPIC STRUCTURES BY 3-D PRINTING

    公开(公告)号:US20240309525A1

    公开(公告)日:2024-09-19

    申请号:US18183156

    申请日:2023-03-14

    摘要: A three-dimensional non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysis electrode structure is provided. The electrode structure includes one or more layers of fused and approximately aligned elongated electrocatalyst nanoparticles that include a non-noble metal alloy or non-noble metal compound. Anisotropic nanochannels are positioned between the fused and approximately aligned elongated electrocatalyst nanoparticles that are configured to transfer generated gas bubbles therethrough. The elongated electrocatalyst nanoparticles may be nanorods that may have a diameter of approximately 20 to 50 nanometers and a length of approximately 80 to 300 nanometers. The anisotropic nanochannels may have a channel width of approximately 50-150 nanometers. The non-noble metal may be one or more of iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, molybdenum, or tungsten. The one or more layers of fused and approximately aligned elongated electrocatalyst nanoparticles may be 3-D printed elongated electrocatalyst nanoparticles, and each layer has a thickness of approximately 50 to 200 microns.