Electro-synthesis of uranium chloride fuel salts
AssigneeTerraPower, LLC
InventorsKen Czerwinski, Bassem S. El-Dasher, William M. Kerlin, Aaron J. Unger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure describes systems and methods for synthesizing UCl3 from UCl4. These systems and methods may also be used to directly synthesize binary and ternary embodiments of uranium salts of chloride usable as nuclear fuel in certain molten salt reactor designs. The systems and methods described herein are capable of synthesizing any desired uranium chloride fuel salt that is a combination of UCl4, UCl3 and one or more non-fissile chloride compounds, such as NaCl. In particular, the systems and methods described herein are capable of synthesizing any UCl3—UCl4—NaCl or UCl3—NaCl fuel salt composition from UCl4—NaCl.
Claims48
A method for synthesizing UCl3 comprising:
- providing a quantity of fuel salt in a molten state, the fuel salt having a first amount of UCl4 and at least one non-fissile chloride compound selected from NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2, BaCl2, KCl, SrCl2, VCl3, CrCl3, TiCl4, ZrCl4, ThCl4, AcCl3, NpCl4, AmCl3, LaCl3, CeCl3, PrCl3 and/or NdCl3;
- and
- applying an electric current to the fuel salt, thereby reducing at least some UCl4 to UCl3.
A method comprising:
- providing a quantity of molten fuel salt, the molten fuel salt having a first amount of UCl4;
- applying an electric current to the molten fuel salt, thereby reducing at least some UCl4 to UCl3;
- and
- collecting Cl2 generated by reducing the UCl4 to UCl3.
A method comprising:
- providing a quantity of molten fuel salt, the fuel salt having a first amount of UCl4;
- and
- applying an electric current to the molten fuel salt, thereby reducing at least some UCl4 to UCl3;
- and
- agitating the molten fuel salt while applying the electric current to the molten fuel salt.
A method for synthesizing UCl3 comprising:
- providing a quantity of molten fuel salt, the fuel salt having a first amount of UCl4;
- and
- applying an electric current to the fuel salt for a first length of time sufficient to reduce all of the UCl4 to UCl3.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.