System for salt removal from uranium metal
AssigneeU.S. Department of Energy
InventorsMark A. Williamson, James L. Willit, Stanley G. Wiedmeyer, Terry R. Johnson, Javier Figueroa, Terry Alan Cruse
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Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, a system to separate salt from uranium. The system has a vessel, a heater, a pump, and a condenser. The vessel is adapted to receive a uranium that has a salt concentration. The heater heats the uranium for a period of time, causing the salt to turn into a salt vapor and the uranium to melt. The melted uranium releases the salt vapor. The pump circulates an inert gas that carries the salt vapor away from the melted uranium. The condenser is adapted to receive the salt vapor.
Claims9
A system to separate salt from uranium, the system comprising:
- (a) a vessel adapted to receive uranium, the uranium having a salt concentration;
- (b) a heater placed within the vessel, the heater adapted to heat uranium to approximately 1200° C., the heater heating the uranium to about 1200° C. for a period of time causing the salt to turn into a salt vapor, the heated uranium releasing the salt vapor;
- (c) a pump in fluid communication with an interior of the vessel, the pump configured to circulate an inert gas within at least the interior whereby the inert gas carries the salt vapor away from the melted uranium;
- (d) a condenser placed within the vessel and in fluid communication with at least the heater and adapted to receive the salt vapor;
- and
- (e) a molybdenum alloy heat shield located between the condenser and the heated uranium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.