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US 2015/0306524 A1Published application
Systems for isotopic water separation
AssigneeEnergySolutions, LLC
InventorJames H. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems for filtering water according to its isotopic forms. In some embodiments, a stream of water, such as a waste stream of water from a nuclear power plant, comprising at least two distinct isotopic forms of water may be directed into one or more filtration modules comprising a graphene oxide membrane. The graphene oxide membrane(s) may be used to separate the stream into a permeate and a retentate, wherein the permeate comprises an increased concentration of light water relative to the retentate.
Claims20
A nuclear power plant filtration system, comprising:
- an intake coupled to a waste stream of water from a nuclear power plant, wherein the waste stream of water comprises at least two distinct isotopic forms of water, and wherein the waste stream of water comprises a first concentration of at least one of heavy water and super heavy water;
- a plurality of filtration modules,
- wherein at least one of the plurality of filtration modules is coupled with the intake,
- wherein at least one of the plurality of filtration modules comprises at least one graphene oxide membrane,
- wherein at least one of the graphene oxide membranes comprises a plurality of graphene oxide sheets coupled together in a layered, interlocking structure, and
- wherein at least one of the plurality of filtration modules is configured to separate the waste stream into a permeate and a retentate, wherein the permeate comprises an increased concentration of light water relative to the retentate;
- and
- an outlet coupled with at least one of the plurality of filtration modules, wherein the outlet is configured to deliver water comprising a second concentration of at least one of heavy water and super heavy water, and wherein the second concentration is lower than the first concentration.
5 more elements
A filtration system, comprising:
- an intake coupled to a waste stream of water, wherein the waste stream of water comprises at least two distinct isotopic forms of water, and wherein the waste stream of water comprises a first concentration of at least one of heavy water and super heavy water;
- a thermal pretreatment module configured to receive liquid water from the waste stream of water and convert the liquid water into gaseous water;
- a filtration module coupled with the thermal pretreatment module, wherein the filtration module comprises a graphene oxide membrane;
- and
- an outlet coupled with the filtration module, wherein the outlet is configured to deliver water comprising a second concentration of at least one of heavy water and super heavy water, and wherein the second concentration is lower than the first concentration.
2 more elements
A filtration system, comprising:
- an intake coupled to a waste stream of water, wherein the waste stream of water comprises at least two distinct isotopic forms of water, and wherein the waste stream of water comprises a first concentration of at least one of heavy water and super heavy water;
- a filtration module configured to receive water from the waste stream, wherein the filtration module comprises a graphene oxide membrane;
- and
- an outlet coupled with the filtration module, wherein the outlet is configured to deliver water comprising a second concentration of at least one of heavy water and super heavy water, and wherein the second concentration is lower than the first concentration.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.