公开(公告)号：US12230411B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-18

申请号：US18608909

申请日：2024-03-18

Applicant: Xi'an Jiaotong University

Inventor： Di Yun ,  Yiwei Zhao ,  Jie Qiu ,  Yi Le ,  Haibin Mu ,  Yijia Luo ,  Xinlu Gu ,  Shuang Xiang ,  Wenbo Liu

IPC: G21F9/00

Abstract: Nuclear reactors produce large amounts of spent fuel during operation. In addition to recyclable materials such as uranium and plutonium, spent fuel also contains significant amounts of fission products and highly radioactive transuranic (TRU) elements. Homogenization of nuclides in traditional post-processing technology hinders efficient fuel recycling. In order to improve the efficiency of spent fuel recycling, and to reduce the inevitable “highly radioactive waste” produced in existing spent fuel recycling processes, a novel method for pre-separating nuclides in spent fuel is disclosed. Specifically, we have developed a physical method, wherein an artificially created large temperature gradient drives the migration of fission gas bubbles in spent metallic nuclear reactor fuel. The fission gas bubbles preferentially carry fission products and transuranic elements to achieve effective pre-separation of these elements from spent fuel, lowering cost and improving efficiency of spent fuel recycling.

公开(公告)号：US12214363B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-04

申请号：US17277630

申请日：2019-09-18

Applicant: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Inventor： Il Gook Kim ,  Chan Woo Park ,  Hee Man Yang ,  Kune Woo Lee ,  In Ho Yoon ,  Bum Kyoung Seo

IPC: B03C1/30 ,  B03C1/033 ,  B03C1/28 ,  B03C7/02 ,  B09C1/00 ,  C08K3/22 ,  C08K9/10 ,  C08L79/02 ,  G21F9/00 ,  H01F1/34 ,  B82Y25/00 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  B82Y40/00

Abstract: A method of separating fine particles (clay, silt, etc.) that have adsorbed contaminants such as heavy metals or radioactive nuclides in soil using cationic magnetic nanoparticles. According to the method, contaminants such as heavy metals or radioactive nuclides selectively or irreversibly adsorbed to fine particles (clay, silt, etc.) in soil may be economically and efficiently separated. Therefore, the method may be effectively used to restore soil in residential areas that are contaminated with radioactive nuclides in serious accidents such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster as well as facility sites contaminated with heavy metals or radioactive nuclides.

公开(公告)号：US20240408548A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-12

申请号：US18735908

申请日：2024-06-06

Applicant: X-energy, LLC

Inventor： Alex TILTON

IPC: B01D61/28 ,  B01D61/24 ,  G21C19/50 ,  G21F9/00

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing acid deficient uranyl nitrate from a dilute uranyl nitrate solution are disclosed. In one form, the present disclosure provides a system comprising a feed evaporation system and a diffusion dialysis system. The feed evaporation system is configured to receive a feed stream and to boil off water, under vacuum, from the feed stream to produce a concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and a distilled water product. The diffusion dialysis system is configured to counter flow the concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and the distilled water product across a plurality of membrane vessels to promote nitrate migration from the concentrated uranyl nitrate solution to the distilled water, and to produce a dialysate stream and a recycle acid stream. The feed stream may include a product of a solvent extraction process used to recycle spent nuclear fuel and/or a recovery stream from other fuel fabrication activities.

公开(公告)号：US20240307844A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-19

申请号：US18279636

申请日：2022-02-24

Applicant: COMMISSARIAT À L'ÉNERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ÉNERGIES ALTERNATIVES

Inventor： Alban Gossard ,  Fabien Frances ,  Hubert-Alexandre Turc

IPC: B01J20/02 ,  B01J20/28 ,  G21F9/00 ,  G21F9/02

CPC classification number: B01J20/0296 ,  B01J20/28009 ,  B01J20/28047 ,  G21F9/002 ,  G21F9/02

Abstract: Disclosed a method for decontaminating a surface of a substrate or a method for decontaminating a gaseous medium using an inorganic ferromagnetic gel consisting of a colloidal solution comprising an inorganic thickening agent, a ferromagnetic compound and a solvent.

公开(公告)号：US11996593B1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-28

申请号：US17334006

申请日：2021-05-28

Applicant: Triad National Security, LLC

Inventor： Benjamin Karmiol ,  Sean Peter Walsh ,  David Anthony Tyler Rodriguez ,  Jared Tyler Stritzinger ,  Steven Douglas McKee ,  Kirk Weisbrod ,  Jeremy Jacob Monroe ,  Gabriel Andrade ,  Quinn McCulloch ,  Janelle Droessler ,  Alp Tugrul Findikoglu ,  Taeho Ju

IPC: H01M8/04 ,  G21F9/00 ,  H01M8/04186

CPC classification number: H01M8/04186 ,  G21F9/004

Abstract: An electrochemical cell that oxidizes a solution provides a continuous and stable supply of an oxidizing ion solution to a fixture or vessel used for the purposes of decontaminating metal and metal alloys. The electrochemical cell includes an anode compartment that oxidizes the solution in nitric acid or methane sulfonic acid at a rate equal to or greater than a rate of reduction, or generates the oxidizing ions prior to use in a batch. The electrochemical cell is part of a larger system that facilitates online measurement system which measures the oxidizing ion solution and the dissolved PuO2, UO2, AmO2, other radionuclides, or other contaminates in real-time. Solution decontamination system removes the dissolved PuO2/UO2/AmO2, other radionuclides, or other contaminates from the oxidizing ion solution, real time acoustic monitoring of the thickness of the surface being contaminated, and automation of a delivery system facilitates flow between surface and electrochemical cell.

公开(公告)号：US11984233B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-14

申请号：US17259691

申请日：2019-07-03

Applicant: KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.

Inventor： Seok-Ju Hwang ,  Young Hwan Hwang ,  Hang-Rae Cho ,  Cheon-Woo Kim

IPC: G21D1/00 ,  G21F9/00

CPC classification number: G21D1/003 ,  G21F9/008

Abstract: A method for decommissioning a heavy water reactor facility includes: removing the plurality of guide tubes from a plurality of through-holes; installing a plurality of shielding stoppers in the plurality of through-holes; removing the shielding stopper installed in one through-hole of the plurality of through-holes, and inserting a cutting device into a lower portion of the reactivity mechanism deck through the one through-hole to cut a connection portion between the reactivity mechanism deck and the calandria vault by using the cutting device; and separating the reactivity mechanism deck from the calandria vault.

公开(公告)号：US20230360813A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-09

申请号：US18218875

申请日：2023-07-06

Applicant: CURIO SOLUTIONS LLC

Inventor： YECHEZKEL MOSKOWITZ ,  YEHUDAH MOSKOWITZ ,  VIK SINGH

IPC: G21C19/46 ,  G21F9/30 ,  G21F9/00

CPC classification number: G21C19/46 ,  G21F9/308 ,  G21F9/007

Abstract: A single integrated system for recycling used nuclear fuel (UNF) emerging from a reactor has a decladding vessel separating fuel pellets from nuclear fuel rods via oxidation to produce U3O8. A fluorination vessel is coupled to the decladding vessel to remove hexafluorides from the U3O8 produced by the decladding vessel. An electrowinning vessel is coupled to the fluorination vessel removing plutonium and actinides via electrowinning.

公开(公告)号：US11646123B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-09

申请号：US16221797

申请日：2018-12-17

Applicant: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Inventor： Sung Il Kim ,  Kwang Soon Ha ,  Jin-Ho Song ,  Yong Mann Song ,  Byeonghee Lee

IPC: G21C9/00 ,  G21D3/06 ,  G21D1/02 ,  G21F9/00 ,  G21C17/00 ,  G21C9/012 ,  G21C19/30

CPC classification number: G21C9/00 ,  G21D1/02 ,  G21D3/06 ,  G21F9/001 ,  G21C9/012 ,  G21C17/002 ,  G21C19/30

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nuclear power plant main steam system that reduces the atmospheric discharge of radioactive materials generated in an accident. The system includes: a decontamination water tank containing decontamination water; and a connection pipe for connecting the decontamination water tank to a main steam pipe which connects a steam generator and a turbine. A main steam safety valve or a connection valve is provided as a three-way valve configured to discharge the generated steam to the atmosphere when an accident occurs within a design basis and to transfer the generated steam to the decontamination water tank when an accident involving damage to nuclear fuel occurs. The main steam system reduces discharge of radioactive materials to the atmosphere when a containment bypass accident (e.g., a steam generator tube rupture caused by high-temperature steam) occurs.

公开(公告)号：US20220181040A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-09

申请号：US17440492

申请日：2020-04-15

Applicant: Lead Technologies Limited

Inventor： Ian Crabbe

IPC: G21F9/00 ,  G21F9/30

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is described for removing radioactive contamination, at least in part, from a first article (A1) comprising a metal, preferably wherein the metal comprises and/or is a low melting point metal for example lead and/or an alloy thereof. The apparatus (10) comprises a heated first vessel (100A) for melting the metal, at least in part, therein, thereby providing a melt (M) therefrom. The apparatus (10) comprises casting means (200) for forming a second article (A2), particularly a sheet, having a predetermined thickness (T), from the melt, preferably wherein the casting means (200) comprises and/or is a rotatable roller (210) arrangeable to contact the melt (M) to thereby form thereon the second article (A2) and a guide (220) arranged to remove the second article (A2) from the roller (210). The apparatus (10) comprises a set of radiation detectors (300), including a first radiation detector (300A), arranged to detect a first fraction of the radioactive contamination, if present, in a first part (P1) of a set of parts of the second article (A2), preferably wherein the set of radiation detectors (300) comprises opposed first and second radiation detectors (300A, 300B) arranged to receive the second article (A2) traversing therebetween. The apparatus (10) comprises a cutter (400) arrangeable to excise the first part (P1) of the second article (A2) therefrom.

公开(公告)号：US11289232B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-29

申请号：US16102797

申请日：2018-08-14

Applicant: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE ,  KOREA HYDRO AND NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.

Inventor： Hui-Jun Won ,  Chong-Hun Jung ,  Sang Yoon Park ,  Wangkyu Choi ,  Jung-Sun Park ,  Jeikwon Moon ,  In-Ho Yoon ,  Byung-Seon Choi

IPC: G21F9/00 ,  C23G1/02 ,  C23G1/08 ,  C23G1/10

Abstract: A chemical decontamination reagent containing a reducing agent, a reductive metal ion, and an inorganic acid is provided to remove a radioactive oxide layer on a metal surface. The reagent can dissolve the radioactive oxide layer on the metal surface effectively at a relatively low temperature and enables a simple process of contacting the reagent to the radioactive oxide, thus economically effective in terms of cost and time required for the process. Since the decontamination does not use a conventional organic chelating agent such as oxalic acid, but the reducing agent as a main substance, the residuals of the reducing agent remained after decontamination can be decomposed and removed with an oxidizing agent. Due to the easy decomposition with the chemical decontamination reagent, secondary wastes can be minimized and the radionuclides remained in the decontamination reagent solution can be removed effectively.