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Plutonium recovery from spent reactor fuel by uranium displacement (open access)

Plutonium recovery from spent reactor fuel by uranium displacement

This report discusses a process for separating uranium values and transuranic values from fission products containing rare earth values when the values which are contained together in a molten chloride salt electrolyte. A molten chloride salt electrolyte with a first ratio of plutonium chloride to uranium chloride is contacted with both a solid cathode and an anode having values of uranium and fission products including plutonium. A voltage is applied across the anode and cathode electrolytically to transfer uranium and plutonium from the anode to the electrolyte while uranium values in the electrolyte electrolytically deposit as uranium metal on the solid cathode in an amount equal to the uranium and plutonium transferred from the anode causing the electrolyte to have a second ratio of plutonium chloride to uranium chloride. Then the solid cathode with the uranium metal deposited thereon is removed and molten cadmium having uranium dissolved therein is brought into contact with the electrolyte resulting in chemical transfer of plutonium values from the electrolyte to the molten cadmium and transfer of uranium values from the molten cadmium to the electrolyte until the first ratio of plutonium chloride to uranium chloride is re-established.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Ackerman, J. P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Magnesium transport extraction of transuranium elements from LWR fuel (open access)

Magnesium transport extraction of transuranium elements from LWR fuel

This report discusses a process of separating transuranium actinide values from uranium values present in spent nuclear oxide fuels which contain rare earth and noble metal fission products. The oxide fuel is reduced with Ca metal in the presence of CaCl{sub 2} and a U-Fe alloy containing not less than about 84% by weight uranium at a temperature in the range of from about 800{degrees}C to about 850{degrees}C to produce additional uranium metal which dissolves in the U-Fe alloy raising the uranium concentration and having transuranium actinide metals and rare earth fission product metals and the noble metal fission products dissolved therein. The CaCl{sub 2} having CaO and fission products of alkali metals and the alkali earth metals and iodine dissolved therein is separated and electrolytically treated with a carbon electrode to reduce the CaO to Ca metal while converting the carbon electrode to CO and CO{sub 2}. The Ca metal and CaCl{sub 2} is recycled to reduce additional oxide fuel. The U-Fe alloy having transuranium actinide metals and rare earth fission product metals and the noble metal fission products dissolved therein is contacted with Mg metal which takes up the actinide and rare earth fission product metals. The U-Fe …
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Ackerman, J. P.; Battles, J. E.; Johnson, T. R.; Miller, W. E. & Pierce, R. D.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Plutonium recovery from spent reactor fuel by uranium displacement (open access)

Plutonium recovery from spent reactor fuel by uranium displacement

This report discusses a process for separating uranium values and transuranic values from fission products containing rare earth values when the values which are contained together in a molten chloride salt electrolyte. A molten chloride salt electrolyte with a first ratio of plutonium chloride to uranium chloride is contacted with both a solid cathode and an anode having values of uranium and fission products including plutonium. A voltage is applied across the anode and cathode electrolytically to transfer uranium and plutonium from the anode to the electrolyte while uranium values in the electrolyte electrolytically deposit as uranium metal on the solid cathode in an amount equal to the uranium and plutonium transferred from the anode causing the electrolyte to have a second ratio of plutonium chloride to uranium chloride. Then the solid cathode with the uranium metal deposited thereon is removed and molten cadmium having uranium dissolved therein is brought into contact with the electrolyte resulting in chemical transfer of plutonium values from the electrolyte to the molten cadmium and transfer of uranium values from the molten cadmium to the electrolyte until the first ratio of plutonium chloride to uranium chloride is re-established.
Date: January 1, 1991
Creator: Ackerman, J.P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions (open access)

Separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions

This invention is comprised of a process and apparatus for quantitatively and selectively separating metal ions from mixtures thereof in aqueous solution. The apparatus includes, in combination, a horizontal electrochemical flowing cell containing flowing bulk electrolyte solution and an aqueous, metal ion-containing solution, the cell containing a metal mesh working electrode, a counter electrode positioned downstream from the working electrode, an independent variable power supply/potentiostat positioned outside of the flowing cell and connected to the electrodes, and optionally a detector such as a chromatographic detector, positioned outside the flowing cell. This apparatus and its operation has significant application where trace amounts of metal ions are to be separated.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Almon, A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Voltametric analysis apparatus and method (open access)

Voltametric analysis apparatus and method

An apparatus and method are disclosed for electrochemical analysis of elements in solution. An auxiliary electrode a reference electrode and five working electrodes are positioned in a container containing a sample solution. The working electrodes are spaced apart evenly from each other and auxiliary electrode to minimize any inter-electrode interference that may occur during analysis. An electric potential is applied between auxiliary electrode and each of the working electrodes. Simultaneous measurements taken of the current flow through each of the working electrodes for each given potential in a potential range are used for identifying chemical elements present in sample solution and their respective concentrations. Multiple working electrodes enable a more positive identification to be made by providing unique data characteristic of chemical elements present in the sample solution.
Date: December 1991
Creator: Almon, A. C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Oil/gas separator for installation at burning wells (open access)

Oil/gas separator for installation at burning wells

An oil/gas separator is disclosed that can be utilized to return the burning wells in Kuwait to production. Advantageously, a crane is used to install the separator at a safe distance from the well. The gas from the well is burned off at the site, and the oil is immediately pumped into Kuwait`s oil gathering system. Diverters inside the separator prevent the oil jet coming out of the well from reaching the top vents where the gas is burned. The oil falls back down, and is pumped from an annular oil catcher at the bottom of the separator, or from the concrete cellar surrounding the well.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Alonso, C. T.; Bender, D. A. & Bowman, B. R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Crystalline titanate catalyst supports (open access)

Crystalline titanate catalyst supports

A series of new crystalline titanates (CT) are shown to have considerable potential as catalyst supports. For Pd supported catalyst, the catalytic activity for pyrene hydrogenation was substantially different depending on the type of CT, and one was substantially more active than Pd on hydrous titanium oxide (HTO). For 1-hexene hydrogenation the activities of the new CTs were approximately the same as for the hydrous metal oxide supports.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Anthony, Rayford G. & Dosch, Robert G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Clay enhancement of methane, low molecular weight hydrocarbon and halocarbon conversion by methanotrophic bacteria (open access)

Clay enhancement of methane, low molecular weight hydrocarbon and halocarbon conversion by methanotrophic bacteria

The invention described in this report relates to a combined system of an apparatus and a method of increasing the rates of oxidation of gases and hazardous vapors by methanotrophic and other bacteria. The gases of interest are methane and trichlorethylene and other hazardous vapors. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation rate of methane is improved by the addition of clays, e.g., kaolin, sometimes called ``China clay.``
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Apel, W. A. & Dugan, P. R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fading channel simulator (open access)

Fading channel simulator

This invention relates to high frequency (HF) radio signal propagation through fading channels and, more particularly, to simulation of fading channels in order to characterize HF radio system performance in transmitting and receiving signals through such fading channels. Fading channel effects on a transmitted communication signal are simulated with both frequency and time variations using a channel scattering function to affect the transmitted signal. A conventional channel scattering function is converted to a series of channel realizations by multiplying the square root of the channel scattering function by a complex number of which the real and imaginary parts are each independent variables. The two-dimensional inverse-FFT of this complex-valued channel realization yields a matrix of channel coefficients that provide a complete frequency-time description of the channel. The transmitted radio signal is segmented to provide a series of transmitted signal and each segment is subject to FFT to generate a series of signal coefficient matrices. The channel coefficient matrices and signal coefficient matrices are then multiplied and subjected to inverse-FFT to output a signal representing the received affected radio signal. A variety of channel scattering functions can be used to characterize the response of a transmitter-receiver system to such atmospheric effects.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Argo, Paul E. & Fitzgerald, T. Joseph
System: The UNT Digital Library
Actinide halide complexes (open access)

Actinide halide complexes

A compound of the formula MX{sub n}L{sub m} wherein M = Th, Pu, Np,or Am thorium, X = a halide atom, n = 3 or 4, L is a coordinating ligand selected from the group consisting of aprotic Lewis bases having an oxygen-, nitrogen-, sulfur-, or phosphorus-donor, and m is 3 or 4 for monodentate ligands or is 2 for bidentate ligands, where n + m = 7 or 8 for monodentate ligands or 5 or 6 for bidentate ligands, a compound of the formula MX{sub n} wherein M, X, and n are as previously defined, and a process of preparing such actinide metal compounds including admixing the actinide metal in an aprotic Lewis base as a coordinating solvent in the presence of a halogen-containing oxidant, are provided.
Date: February 7, 1991
Creator: Avens, Larry R.; Zwick, Bill D.; Sattelberger, Alfred P.; Clark, David L. & Watkin, J. G.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Rod examination gauge (open access)

Rod examination gauge

The present invention is directed to a semi-automatic rod examination gauge for performing a large number of exacting measurements on radioactive fuel rods. The rod examination gauge performs various measurements underwater with remote controlled machinery of high reliability. The rod examination gauge includes instruments and a closed circuit television camera for measuring fuel rod length, free hanging bow measurement, diameter measurement, oxide thickness measurement, cladding defect examination, rod ovality measurement, wear mark depth and volume measurement, as well as visual examination. A control system is provided including a programmable logic controller and a computer for providing a programmed sequence of operations for the rod examination and collection of data.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Bacvinskas, W. S.; Bayer, J. E.; Davis, W. W.; Fodor, G.; Kikta, T. J.; Matchett, R. L. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tritium monitor and collection system (open access)

Tritium monitor and collection system

This system measures tritium on-line and collects tritium from a flowing inert gas stream. It separates the tritium from other non-hydrogen isotope contaminating gases, whether radioactive or not. The collecting portion of the system is constructed of various zirconium alloys called getters. These alloys adsorb tritium in any of its forms at one temperature and at a higher temperature release it as a gas. The system consists of four on-line getters and heaters, two ion chamber detectors, two collection getters, and two guard getters. When the incoming gas stream is valved through the on-line getters, 99.9% of it is adsorbed and the remainder continues to the guard getter where traces of tritium not collected earlier are adsorbed. The inert gas stream then exits the system to the decay chamber. Once the on-line getter has collected tritium for a predetermined time, it is valved off and the next online getter is valved on. Simultaneously, the first getter is heated and a pure helium purge is employed to carry the tritium from the getter. The tritium loaded gas stream is then routed through an ion chamber which measures the tritium activity. The ion chamber effluent passes through a collection getter that readsorbs …
Date: March 26, 1991
Creator: Baker, J. D.; Wickham, K. L.; Ely, W. E.; Tuggle, D. G.; Meikrantz, D. H.; Grafwaller, E. G. et al.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Ringlight for use in high radiation (open access)

Ringlight for use in high radiation

The present invention relates generally to ringlight for providing illumination about a central viewing area and more particularly to an improved ringlight design suitable for use in automatic gaging applications conducted in hostile radioactive environments. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ringlight which is relatively simple in construction and with few parts, and which is thus very reliable in operation. The above and other objects are achieved in the present invention by a ringlight providing an annular array of light-emitting elements centered about a viewing passage, wherein the improvement comprises: a first annular body, a second annular body mounted concentrically within the first annular body so as to form an annular void and light-emitting aperture therebetween, and a plurality of optical fibers extending into the void with end portions thereof secured therein so as to form an annular array of optical fiber end surfaces at said light-emitting aperture, the first and second bodies cooperating to angle the end portions of the plurality of optical fibers toward a central axis of the viewing passage.
Date: March 6, 1991
Creator: Baylor, G. A. & Jacket, H. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Compact acoustic refrigerator (open access)

Compact acoustic refrigerator

This invention is comprised of a compact acoustic refrigeration system that actively cools components, e.g., electrical circuits, in a borehole environment. An acoustic engine includes first thermodynamic elements for generating a standing acoustic wave in a selected medium. An acoustic refrigerator includes second thermodynamic elements located in the standing wave for generating a relatively cold temperature at a first end of the second thermodynamic elements and a relatively hot temperature at a second end of the second thermodynamic elements. A resonator volume cooperates with the first and second thermodynamic elements to support the standing wave. To accommodate the high heat fluxes required for heat transfer to/from the first and second thermodynamic elements, first heat pipes transfer heat from the heat load to the second thermodynamic elements and second heat pipes transfer heat from first and second thermodynamic elements to the borehole environment.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Bennett, G. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Method and apparatus for transporting liquid slurries (open access)

Method and apparatus for transporting liquid slurries

An improved method and device to prevent erosion of slurry transport devices is disclosed which uses liquid injection to prevent contact by the slurry composition with the inner surface of the walls of the transport system. A non-abrasive liquid is injected into the slurry transport system and maintains intimate contact with the entire inner surface of the transport system, thereby creating a fluid barrier between the nonabrasive liquid and the inner surface of the transport system which thereby prevents erosion.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Berry, G. F.; Lyczkowski, R. W. & Wang, Chi-Sheng
System: The UNT Digital Library
Method and apparatus for transporting liquid slurries (open access)

Method and apparatus for transporting liquid slurries

An improved method and device to prevent erosion of slurry transport devices is disclosed which uses liquid injection to prevent contact by the slurry composition with the inner surface of the walls of the transport system. A non-abrasive liquid is injected into the slurry transport system and maintains intimate contact with the entire inner surface of the transport system, thereby creating a fluid barrier between the nonabrasive liquid and the inner surface of the transport system which thereby prevents erosion.
Date: January 1, 1991
Creator: Berry, Gregory F.; Lyczkowski, Robert W. & Wang, Chi-Sheng
System: The UNT Digital Library
Robotic dissolution station (open access)

Robotic dissolution station

This invention is comprised of a robotic station for dissolving active metals in acid in an automated fashion. A vessel with cap, containing the active metal is placed onto a shuttle which retracts to a point at which it is directly beneath a cap removing and retaining mechanism. After the cap is removed, a tube carrying an appropriate acid is inserted into the vessel, and the acid is introduced. The structure of the station forms an open hood which is swept of gases generated by the dissolution and the air removed to a remote location for scrubbing. After the reaction is complete, the shuttle extends and the vessel may be removed by a robot arm.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Beugelsdijk, T.J.; Hollen, R.M.; Temer, D.J.; Haggart, R.J. & Erkkila, T.H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Solid-oxide fuel cell electrolyte (open access)

Solid-oxide fuel cell electrolyte

This invention is comprised of a solid-oxide electrolyte operable at between 600{degrees}C and 800{degrees}C and a method of producing the solid-oxide electrolyte. The solid-oxide electrolyte comprises a combination of a compound having a weak metal-oxygen interactions with a compound having stronger metal-oxygen interactions whereby the resulting combination has both strong and weak metal-oxygen interaction properties.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Bloom, I.D.; Hash, M.C. & Krumpelt, M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Duplex sampling apparatus and method (open access)

Duplex sampling apparatus and method

An improved apparatus is provided for sampling a gaseous mixture and for measuring mixture components. The apparatus includes two sampling containers connected in series serving as a independently determine the amounts of condensable and noncondensable gases in admixture from a single sample. More specifically, a first container includes a first port capable of selectively connecting to and disconnecting from a sample source and a second port capable of selectively connecting to and disconnecting from a second container. A second container also includes a first port capable of selectively connecting to and disconnecting from the second port of the first container and a second port capable of either selectively connecting to and disconnecting from a differential pressure source. By cooling a mixture sample in the first container, the condensable vapors form a liquid, leaving noncondensable gases either as free gases or dissolved In the liquid. The condensed liquid is heated to drive out dissolved noncondensable gases, and all the noncondensable gases are transferred to the second container. Then the first and second containers are separated from one another in order to separately determine the amount of noncondensable gases and the amount of condensable gases in the sample.
Date: January 30, 1991
Creator: Brown, P. E. & Lloyd, R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
High voltage feedthrough bushing (open access)

High voltage feedthrough bushing

A feedthrough bushing for a high voltage diode provides for using compression sealing for all sealing surfaces. A diode assembly includes a central conductor extending through the bushing and a grading ring assembly circumferentially surrounding and coaxial with the central conductor. A flexible conductive plate extends between and compressively seals against the central conductor and the grading ring assembly, wherein the flexibility of the plate allows inner and outer portions of the plate to axially translate for compression sealing against the central conductor and the grading ring assembly, respectively. The inner portion of the plate is bolted to the central conductor for affecting sealing. A compression beam is also bolted to the central conductor and engages the outer portion of the plate to urge the outer portion toward the grading ring assembly to obtain compression sealing therebetween.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Brucker, J.P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Method of producing amorphous thin films (open access)

Method of producing amorphous thin films

This invention dicloses a method for sintering particulate material (such as silica) with a laser beam to produce amorphous optical thin films on substrates.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Brusasco, R. M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fiber optic hydrogen sensor (open access)

Fiber optic hydrogen sensor

Apparatus and method for detecting a chemical substance by exposing an optic fiber having a core and a cladding to the chemical substance so that the chemical substance can be adsorbed onto the surface of the cladding. The optic fiber is coiled inside a container having a pair of valves for controlling the entrance and exit of the substance. Light from a light source is received by one end of the optic fiber, preferably external to the container, and carried by the core of the fiber. Adsorbed substance changes the transmissivity of the fiber as measured by a spectrophotometer at the other end, also preferably external to the container. Hydrogen is detected by the absorption of infrared light carried by an optic fiber with a silica cladding. Since the adsorption is reversible, a sensor according to the present invention can be used repeatedly. Multiple positions in a process system can be monitored using a single container that can be connected to each location to be monitored so that a sample can be obtained for measurement, or, alternatively, containers can be placed near each position and the optic fibers carrying the partially-absorbed light can be multiplexed for rapid sequential reading, by …
Date: January 1, 1991
Creator: Buchanan, B. R. & Prather, W. S.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Minefield reconnaissance and detector system (open access)

Minefield reconnaissance and detector system

This invention is comprised of a multi-sensor system for detecting the presence of objects on the surface of the ground or buried just under the surface, such as anti-personnel or anti-tank mines or the like, is disclosed. A remote sensor platform has a plurality of metal detector sensors and a plurality of short pulse radar sensors. The remote sensor platform is remotely controlled from a processing and control unit and signals from the remote sensor platform are sent to the processing and control unit where they are individually evaluated in separate data analysis subprocess steps to obtain a probability ``score`` for each of the pluralities of sensors. These probability scores are combined in a fusion subprocess step by comparing score sets to a probability table which is derived based upon the historical incidence of object present conditions given that score set. A decision making rule is applied to provide an output which is optionally provided to a marker subprocess for controlling a marker device to mark the location of found objects.
Date: December 31, 1991
Creator: Butler, M. T.; Cave, S. P.; Creager, J. D.; Johnson, C. M.; Mathes, J. B. & Smith, K. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Material containment enclosure (open access)

Material containment enclosure

An isolation enclosure and a group of isolation enclosures was designed which is useful when a relatively large containment area is required. The enclosure is in the form of a ring having a section removed so that a technician may enter the center area of the ring. in a preferred embodiment, an access zone is located in the transparent wall of the enclosure and extends around the inner perimeter of the ring so that a technician can insert his hands into the enclosure to reach any point within. The inventive enclosures provide more containment area per unit area of floor space than conventional material isolation enclosures.
Date: April 1, 1991
Creator: Carlson, D. O.
System: The UNT Digital Library