Modular, integrated, automated, compact, and proliferation-hardened method to chemically recycle used nuclear fuel (UNF) originating from nuclear reactors to recover a mixture of transuranic (TRU) elements for advanced reactor fuel to recycle uranium and zirconium
US12260967B2 · kind B2 · utility
0Cited by
2References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2023 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2025 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 6, 2043 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02W30/50
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A single integrated system for recycling used nuclear fuel (UNF) emerging from a reactor has a decladding vessel separating fuel pellets from nuclear fuel rods via oxidation to produce U3O8. A fluorination vessel is coupled to the decladding vessel to remove hexafluorides from the U3O8 produced by the decladding vessel. An electrowinning vessel is coupled to the fluorination vessel removing plutonium and actinides via electrowinning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.