System for salt removal from uranium metal
AssigneeEnergy, United States Department of
InventorsMark A. Williamson, James L. Willit, Stanley G. Wiedmeyer, Terry R. Johnson, Javier Figueroa, Terry Alan Cruise
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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.
Claims20
1) 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, the heater heating the uranium for a period of time causing the salt to turn into a salt vapor, the heated uranium releasing the salt vapor;
- a pump, the pump configured to circulate an inert gas whereby the inert gas carries the salt vapor away from the melted uranium;
- and
- (d) a condenser adapted to receive the salt vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.