US 2022/0244200 A1 · SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING MATERIALS WITH COMPLEX ISOTOPE VECTORS FOR USE AS A NUCLEAR FUEL

Abstract

A method of processing a nuclear material for use as a nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor is disclosed herein. The nuclear material includes a complex isotope vector including a plurality of isotopes including a targeted isotope and a non-targeted isotope. The method can include: determining a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation based, at least in part, on the targeted isotope; emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation including the determined wavelength towards the nuclear material; separating, via the emitted beam of electromagnetic radiation, the nuclear material into a first stream and a second stream; enriching, via the emitted beam of electromagnetic radiation, a concentration of the targeted isotope to a predetermined concentration; and dispositioning, via a sensitivity to the determined wavelength, the enriched concentration of the targeted isotope to the first stream of the nuclear material; and dispositioning, via a lack of sensitivity to the determined wavelength, the non-targeted isotope to the second stream of the nuclear material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of processing a nuclear material for use as a nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor, wherein the nuclear material comprises a complex isotope vector comprising a plurality of isotopes, wherein the plurality of isotopes comprises a targeted isotope and a non-targeted isotope, the method comprising:

determining a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation based, at least in part, on the targeted isotope;
emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation comprising the determined wavelength towards the nuclear material;
separating, via the emitted beam of electromagnetic radiation, the nuclear material into a first stream and a second stream;
enriching, via the emitted beam of electromagnetic radiation, a concentration of the targeted isotope to a predetermined concentration;
dispositioning, via a sensitivity to the determined wavelength, the enriched concentration of the targeted isotope to the first stream of the nuclear material;
and
dispositioning, via a lack of sensitivity to the determined wavelength, the non-targeted isotope to the second stream of the nuclear material.

4 more elements

A system configured to process a nuclear material for use as a nuclear fuel in a nuclear reactor, wherein the nuclear material comprises a complex isotope vector comprising a targeted isotope and a non-targeted isotope, the system comprising:

an emitter configured to emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation at the nuclear material;
and
a control circuit configured in signal communication with the emitter, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive an input comprising a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, wherein the wavelength is determined based, at least in part, on the targeted isotope;
and
cause the emitter to emit a beam comprising the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation towards the nuclear material;
wherein the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, upon interacting with the nuclear material, is configured to:
separate the nuclear material into a first stream and a second stream;
enrich a concentration of the targeted isotope to a predetermined concentration;
disposition, via a sensitivity to the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, the enriched concentration of the targeted isotope to the first stream of the nuclear material;
and
disposition, via a lack of sensitivity to the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, the non-targeted isotope to the second stream of the nuclear material.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for processing materials with complex isotope vectors for use as a nuclear fuel

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for processing materials with complex isotope vectors for use as a nuclear fuel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20