Cathode components that improve the recovery efficiency of actinides and electrolytic equipment for recovering actinides from chloride salts.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-11
AI Technical Summary
[0004]目前,回收氯化物盐中残留的锕系元素的技术,尚且存在诸多局限
[0008]本申请的实施例提供的阴极组件通过设置阴极装配件,简化了将阴极材料进入电解槽的操作;通过设置产物辅助分离件,辅助在阴极材料熔融物与熔盐交界面形成的电解产物离开交界面,使其在自重作用下向下沉降,从而使得阴极材料熔融物与熔盐交界面处能够持续形成电解产物,从而有利于提高锕系元素的回收效率。
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Figure CN121610857B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments of this application relate to the field of producing, recycling or refining metals by electrolysis of molten liquid, and specifically to a cathode assembly that is beneficial to improving the recovery efficiency of actinides and an electrolytic device for recovering actinides from chloride salts. Background Technology
[0002] The statements herein are provided merely as background information in connection with this application and do not necessarily constitute prior art.
[0003] In the electrolytic preparation of actinide elements or alloys using chloride salts as electrolytes, some actinides enter the chloride salt used as the electrolyte and remain in the chloride salt after electrolysis. To ensure the utilization rate of actinides, it is necessary to recover the residual metal elements in the chloride salt.
[0004] Currently, there are still many limitations in the technology for recovering residual actinides from chloride salts. Summary of the Invention
[0005] A brief overview of this application is provided below to offer a basic understanding of certain aspects thereof. It should be understood that this overview is not an exhaustive summary of the application. It is not intended to identify key or essential parts of the application, nor is it intended to limit its scope. Its purpose is merely to present certain concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.
[0006] Embodiments of this application provide a cathode assembly that improves the recovery efficiency of actinides and an electrolytic device for recovering actinides from chloride salts.
[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a cathode assembly that improves the recovery efficiency of actinides, suitable for electrolytic equipment recovering actinides from chloride salts. The electrolytic equipment includes an electrolytic vessel forming an electrolytic cell and a cathode mounting interface communicating with the electrolytic cell. The cathode assembly includes cathode material and an insulating container for containing the cathode material. The cathode assembly also includes a cathode assembly fitting and a product auxiliary separator. The cathode assembly fitting is used to be assembled integrally with or separate from the insulating container fitting, so that when assembled integrally with the insulating container fitting, it carries the insulating container fitting through the cathode mounting interface into and out of the electrolytic cell. The product auxiliary separator is configured to assist the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt to leave the interface and settle to the bottom of the insulating container under its own weight.
[0008] The cathode assembly provided in the embodiments of this application simplifies the operation of introducing cathode material into the electrolytic cell by setting cathode assembly accessories; by setting product auxiliary separation components, it helps the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the cathode material melt and molten salt to leave the interface and settle downward under its own weight, thereby enabling the continuous formation of electrolytic products at the interface between the cathode material melt and molten salt, which is beneficial to improving the recovery efficiency of actinides.
[0009] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an electrolytic device for recovering actinides from chloride salts. The electrolytic device includes an electrolytic vessel and a cathode assembly provided in the embodiments of the first aspect of this application. The electrolytic vessel forms an electrolytic cell and a cathode mounting interface communicating with the electrolytic cell. The cathode assembly is used to enter the electrolytic cell through the cathode mounting interface. Attached Figure Description
[0010] Other objects and advantages of this application will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will help to provide a comprehensive understanding of this application.
[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrolysis device provided in one embodiment of this application.
[0012] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrolysis device provided in another embodiment of this application.
[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cathode assembly provided in one embodiment of this application.
[0014] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a cathode assembly provided in another embodiment of this application, in which the insulating accommodating element is omitted.
[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The diagram shows the structural schematic of the assembly and mating parts.
[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shows the main body of the cathode assembly and the auxiliary loading and unloading components.
[0017] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the separation of the insulating containment component and the auxiliary loading and unloading component after they are engaged with each other, according to an embodiment of this application.
[0018] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the auxiliary separation body provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0019] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 The top view shown is an auxiliary view of the separated body.
[0020] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the solid chloride salt feeding device provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0021] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the electrolytic container provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0022] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram showing the fit between the anode conductive connector and the anode body in the container cover of the electrolytic vessel, as provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0023] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of an electrolytic container according to an embodiment of this application, omitting the container cover. The diagram shows the fitting relationship between the molten salt suction pipe and the collection device.
[0024] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an anode storage and transfer device according to an embodiment of this application.
[0025] Figure 15 It shows Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the structure in which the anode assembly is suspended in the suspension section.
[0026] Figure 16 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the connection between the first and second anode conductive sections of the anode body is shown.
[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Electrolysis equipment; 1. Cathode assembly; 11. Cathode cover; 12. Cathode assembly; 121. Assembly connection part; 1211. First assembly connector; 1212. Second assembly connector; 122. Assembly mating part; 1221. Limiting support part; 12210. Notch; 12211. Annular support body; 12212. Protrusion; 12213. Enclosure part; 12214. Limiting post; 1222. Stop part; 1220. Assembly space; 12201. Inlet / outlet; 12202. Bottom passage; 13. Cathode conductive assembly; 131. Cathode conductive component; 1311. First cathode conductive section; 1312. Second cathode conductive section; 132. Insulating kit; 133. Conductive lifting component; 1331. Conductive lifting mating part; 14. Cathode moving part; 141. Cathode lifting part; 1411. Lifting connecting part; 1412. Cover connecting part; 14121. Base plate; 14122. Top plate; 14123. Side connecting part; 141231. First plate; 141232. Second plate; 141233. Third plate; 142. Cathode rotating part; 1421. Rotating connecting part; 1422. Rotating mounting part; 1423. Lifting slide rail; 143. Cathode moving mounting part; 15. Product auxiliary separation component; 151. Auxiliary separation body; 1511. Main body; 1512. Claw part; 1513. Connecting part; 152. Auxiliary connecting part; 153. Auxiliary lifting part; 1531. Auxiliary lifting mating part; 16. Stirring assembly; 161. Stirring component; 1611. Stirring shaft; 16111. First stirring section; 16112. Second stirring section; 1612. Stirring blade; 162. Stirring drive component; 17. Insulating housing; 171. Housing body; 172. First mating part; 18. Sealing components; 19. The cathode is assembled with conductive moving parts; 2. Anode assembly; 21. Anode body; 211. First anode conductive section; 212. Second anode conductive section; 22. Anode cover; 23. Anode conductive connector; 231. Conductive clamping component; 2311. Clamping part; 23110. Clamping groove; 232. Clamping drive component; 233. Insulating mounting plate; 2331. First insulating plate; 2332. Second insulating plate; 234. Insulating connector; 24. Lifting component; 3. Electrolytic container; 31. Container body; 310. Electrolytic cell; 32. Container cover; 320. Cathode mounting interface; 33. Protective shell; 34. Heating and insulation component; 341. Heating component; 342. Insulation component; 35. Outer shell; 36. Molten salt suction tube; 37. Temperature measuring component; 38. Measuring component; 4. Anode storage and transfer device; 41. Support platform; 411. Positioning component; 42. Suspension unit; 43. Anode clamping component; 44. Moving component; 441. First horizontal moving component; 442. Vertical moving component; 4421. First horizontal slide rail; 4422. Horizontal support frame; 443. Second horizontal moving component; 4431. Vertical slide rail; 4432. Vertical support frame; 4433. Lifting part; 444. Second horizontal slide rail; 45. Mounting component; 450. Positioning hole; 46. Locking component; 5. Solid chloride salt feeding device; 51. Feeding body; 511. Trapezoidal bottom plate; 512. Cover; 513. Side plate; 5101. Feed inlet; 5102. Discharge outlet; 52. Feeding / discharging moving parts; 521. Feeding base; 5211. Sliding parts; 522. Feeding mounting plate; 5221. Sliding mating parts; 53. Feed / discharge connector; 531. First feed connector; 532. Second feed connector; 54. Unblocking component; 6. Transportation auxiliary device; 61. Auxiliary loading and unloading component; 611. Auxiliary mating part; 6110. Mating groove; 61101. Through hole; 612. Auxiliary support part; 6121. Rod; 6122. First reinforcing plate; 6123. Second reinforcing plate; 62. Lifting auxiliary components; 621. Lifting support unit; 6211. Lifting support ring; 6212. Lifting cylinder; 622. Lifting unit; 63. Transport components; 7. Collection component; 70. Clearance gap; 71. Collection tray; 711. Base plate; 712. Enclosure; 72. Connecting component; 8. Glove box; 81. Glove box body; 811. First side surface; 812. Second side surface; 813. Third side surface; 814. Fourth side surface; 82. First glove box attachment; 83. First transition compartment; 84. Lifting device; 85. Second glove box attachment; 86. Second transition compartment.
[0028] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but are shown only in a schematic manner without affecting the reader's understanding. Detailed Implementation
[0029] Exemplary embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For clarity and brevity, not all features of actual implementations are described in the specification. However, it should be understood that many implementation-specific decisions must be made in the development of any such actual embodiment to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as complying with constraints related to the system and business, and these constraints may vary depending on the implementation. Furthermore, it should be understood that while development work can be very complex and time-consuming, such development work is merely a routine task for those skilled in the art who benefit from the content of this application.
[0030] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring this application with unnecessary details, only the equipment structure and / or processing steps closely related to the solution according to this application are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to this application are omitted.
[0031] In related technologies, cadmium metal is used as the cathode material to recover residual actinides from chloride salts. Since the melting point of cadmium metal is lower than that of chloride salts, the cadmium metal in the electrolytic cell exists in a liquid state within the insulating container. During electrolysis, elemental or alloyed actinides are generated at the interface between cadmium metal and the chloride molten salt. The inventors of this application have discovered that although the density of elemental or alloyed actinides is greater than that of cadmium metal, the elemental or alloyed actinides generated at the interface form a foil-like substance. This foil-like substance remains at the interface between cadmium metal and the chloride molten salt, making it difficult for it to sink under its own weight, thus affecting the continued progress of the electrolysis reaction and resulting in low recovery efficiency of actinides.
[0032] To address the aforementioned issues, embodiments of this application provide a cathode assembly that improves the recovery efficiency of actinides and an electrolytic device for recovering actinides from chloride salts.
[0033] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrolysis device 100 provided in one embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrolysis device 100 provided in another embodiment of this application. The electrolysis device 100 of this application may include an electrolysis container 3 and a cathode assembly 1. The electrolysis container 3 forms an electrolysis cell 310 and a cathode mounting interface 320 communicating with the electrolysis cell 310. The cathode assembly 1 is used to enter the electrolysis cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320.
[0034] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cathode assembly 1 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cathode assembly 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, where the insulating containment 17 is omitted. The cathode assembly 1 of this application may include cathode material and an insulating containment 17 for containing the cathode material. The cathode assembly 1 may also include a cathode assembly 12 and a product auxiliary separator 15. The cathode assembly 12 is used to be assembled with or separated from the insulating containment 17, so that when assembled with the insulating containment 17, it carries the insulating containment 17 through the cathode mounting interface 320 into and out of the electrolytic cell 310; the product auxiliary separator 15 is configured to assist the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt to leave the interface and sink to the bottom of the insulating containment 17 under its own weight.
[0035] The cathode assembly 1 provided in the embodiments of this application simplifies the operation of introducing cathode material into the electrolytic cell 310 by setting cathode assembly 12; by setting product auxiliary separator 15, it assists the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the cathode material melt and molten salt to leave the interface and settle downward under its own weight, thereby enabling the continuous formation of electrolytic products at the interface between the cathode material melt and molten salt, which is beneficial to improving the recovery efficiency of actinides.
[0036] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the product auxiliary separation member 15 may include an auxiliary separation body 151, an auxiliary connecting part 152, and an auxiliary lifting part 153. The auxiliary separation body 151 is connected to the auxiliary lifting part 153 through the auxiliary connecting part 152. The auxiliary lifting part 153 is used to drive the auxiliary separation body 151 to reciprocate between the molten salt and the molten cathode material, so as to break the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt, and then allow the electrolytic products to sink to the bottom of the insulating container 17 under the action of gravity. In such an embodiment, the auxiliary lifting part 153 drives the auxiliary separation body 151 to reciprocate between the molten salt and the molten cathode material to form oscillations, so as to break the foil-shaped electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt, and then allow them to sink to the bottom of the insulating container 17 under the action of gravity.
[0037] In some embodiments, during the reciprocating up-and-down movement of the auxiliary separation body 151 between the molten salt and the molten cathode material, the auxiliary separation body 151 moves above the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt when it rises, and moves below the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt when it falls. Since the electrolytic products continuously sink to the bottom of the insulating container 17, raising the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt, the rise of the auxiliary separation body 151 allows it to remain above the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt throughout the entire electrolysis process, thus eliminating the need to adjust the reciprocating up-and-down movement of the auxiliary separation body 151 during electrolysis.
[0038] It is easy to understand that the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt is located within the insulating container 17. During its descent, the auxiliary separation body 151 enters the insulating container 17. In some embodiments, the sum of the volume of the auxiliary separation body 151, the volume of the cathode material, and the volume of the electrolytic products generated from the complete conversion of actinide elements in the molten salt within the electrolytic cell 310 is less than the volume of the insulating container 17. This is to prevent the cathode material or electrolytic products within the insulating container 17 from leaking into the molten salt outside the insulating container 17 when the auxiliary separation body 151 enters the insulating container 17.
[0039] See Figure 8 and Figure 9 , Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the auxiliary separation body 151 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 9 yes Figure 8 The top view of the auxiliary separation body 151 shown may include, in some embodiments, a main body 1511, a plurality of claws 1512 connected to the main body 1511, and a connecting portion 1513 connected to the main body 1511, wherein the connecting portion 1513 is used to connect the auxiliary connecting portion 152.
[0040] In related technologies, the auxiliary separation body 151 is configured as a circular plate with through holes. The inventors of this application have discovered that, with the above-described auxiliary separation body 151 structure, it is easy to carry the electrolytic products from the insulating container 17 out of the insulating container 17 and into the electrolytic cell 310, thereby reducing the collection efficiency of the electrolytic products. The inventors of this application have further discovered that this is because, in order to increase the oscillation area of the auxiliary separation body 151 acting on the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt, the size of the circular plate is usually set to be relatively large, resulting in a small distance between the entire periphery of the circular plate and the peripheral wall of the insulating container 17. When the circular plate moves up and down, the electrolytic products easily move upward from the periphery of the circular plate through this small distance and leave the insulating container 17. The embodiments of this application, by configuring the auxiliary separation body 151 as a multi-claw structure including multiple claws 1512, are beneficial to increasing the distance between the edge of the auxiliary separation body 151 and the peripheral wall of the insulating accommodating member 17. This is beneficial to reduce the amount of electrolytic products carried into the upper part of the auxiliary separation body 151 while keeping the oscillation area of the auxiliary separation body 151 acting on the interface between the cathode material melt and the molten salt basically unchanged.
[0041] See Figure 8 and Figure 9 In some embodiments, there is a smooth transition connection between two adjacent claw portions 1512, and the ends of the claw portions 1512 are smoothly rounded. In such embodiments, the above-mentioned arrangement can reduce the amount of electrolytic products carried by the peripheral portion of the auxiliary separation body 151 into the upper part of the auxiliary separation body 151.
[0042] See Figure 9 In some embodiments, the connecting portion 1513 and the auxiliary separation body 151 are symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical plane A. Since the auxiliary separation body 151 experiences resistance from molten salt and molten cathode material during lifting and lowering, and both the molten salt and molten cathode material are at high temperatures, the embodiments of this application, by symmetrically arranging the connecting portion 1513 and the auxiliary separation body 151 with respect to the vertical plane A, help reduce deformation of the auxiliary separation body 151 in high-temperature environments due to the resistance it experiences.
[0043] See Figure 8 and Figure 9 In some embodiments, the auxiliary separation body 151 is eccentrically positioned, with its center of gravity biased towards the connecting portion 1513; the length of each claw portion 1512 gradually increases from the connecting portion 1513 in a direction away from the connecting portion 1513. Since the auxiliary separation body 151 is driven to rise and fall by the auxiliary lifting portion 153, and the auxiliary separation body 151 is connected to the auxiliary connecting portion 152 through the connecting portion 1513, and then to the auxiliary lifting portion 153, the embodiments of this application, through the above-described configuration, are beneficial in further reducing the deformation of the auxiliary separation body 151 in high-temperature environments due to the resistance it experiences.
[0044] See Figure 9 In some embodiments, except for one claw portion 1512 opposite to the connecting portion 1513, the ends of the other claw portions 1512 are located in the same circumference B. Since the peripheral wall of the insulating accommodator 17 has a circular cross-section in the horizontal plane, the embodiments of this application, except for the claw portion 1512 opposite to the connecting portion 1513, have the ends of the other claw portions 1512 located in the same circumference B. This is beneficial to increase the oscillation area of the interface between the cathode material melt and the molten salt, while reducing the amount of electrolysis products carried into the auxiliary separation body 151.
[0045] See Figure 9 In some embodiments, a space is formed between a claw portion 1512 opposite to the connecting portion 1513 and the circumference B for the passage of the cathode conductive component 13 that supplies power to the cathode material, so as to avoid interference between the auxiliary separation body 151 and the cathode conductive component 13, which would affect the lifting and lowering of the cathode conductive component 13.
[0046] In some embodiments, the cathode assembly 1 may further include a cathode cover 11 for sealing the cathode mounting interface 320, with the cathode assembly 12 connected to the cathode cover 11. The cathode cover 11 seals the cathode mounting interface 320 after the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating accommodating member 17 enter the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320. In such an embodiment, the cathode cover 11 directly seals the cathode mounting interface 320 after the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating accommodating member 17 enter the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320, without requiring separate operation.
[0047] In some embodiments, the cathode cover 11 is connected to the product auxiliary separator 15. In some embodiments, the cathode cover 11 is also formed with an auxiliary through hole for the auxiliary connection portion 152 to pass through.
[0048] As mentioned earlier, since the melting point of metallic cadmium is lower than that of chloride salts, related technologies typically involve placing the cathode material in an insulating container, then placing the insulating container into an electrolytic cell, and finally removing the insulating container from the electrolytic cell after the electrolytic reaction. Currently, the process of placing and removing the insulating container from the electrolytic cell is complex and time-consuming.
[0049] For the above issues, please refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cathode assembly 1 may further include a cathode conductive assembly 13 and a cathode moving member 14. The cathode conductive assembly 13 is disposed on the cathode cover 11 and is used to supply power to the cathode material after the cathode material melts, so that the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 undergoes an electrolytic reaction to form electrolytic products on the surface of the molten cathode material; the cathode moving member 14 is used to drive the cathode cover 11 and the cathode assembly 12 to move, so that the cathode assembly 12 can be assembled with or separated from the insulating containment 17, and when the insulating containment 17 and the cathode assembly 12 are assembled together, the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating containment 17 can be driven to enter and exit the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320.
[0050] In this embodiment, by setting the cathode moving member 14 to drive the cathode cover member 11 and the cathode assembly member 12 to move, the cathode assembly member 12 can be assembled with or separated from the insulating container member 17, thereby simplifying the assembly or separation operation between the cathode assembly member 12 and the insulating container member 17. Furthermore, by driving the cathode assembly member 12 and the insulating container member 17 to enter and exit the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320 when the insulating container member 17 and the cathode assembly member 12 are assembled together, it is beneficial to shorten the time for the cathode material to enter and exit the electrolytic cell 310.
[0051] In some embodiments, the electrolysis products may be elemental or alloyed actinides. The chloride salt may be lithium chloride and potassium chloride.
[0052] In some embodiments, the insulating container 17 may be a silicon nitride crucible.
[0053] See Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cathode assembly 1 provided in another embodiment of this application, in which the insulating accommodating member 17 is omitted. Figure 5 yes Figure 4The schematic diagram of the assembly mating part 122 shown illustrates that, in some embodiments, the cathode assembly 12 may include an assembly connection part 121 and an assembly mating part 122. The assembly connection part 121 is used to connect with the cathode cover 11; the assembly mating part 122 forms an assembly space 1220 for assembling the insulating accommodating member 17, an inlet / outlet 12201 communicating with the side of the assembly space 1220, and a bottom channel 12202 communicating with the bottom surface of the assembly space 1220, so that the insulating accommodating member 17 can enter and exit the assembly space 1220 through the inlet / outlet 12201 to be assembled with the cathode assembly 12 or separated from the cathode assembly 12. In such an embodiment, when the cathode moving member 14 drives the assembly mating part 122 to move toward the insulating container 17 and the inlet and outlet 12201 of the assembly mating part 122 faces the insulating container 17, as the assembly mating part 122 moves, the insulating container 17 can enter and exit the assembly space 1220 through the inlet and outlet 12201 and the bottom channel 12202 to be assembled with the cathode assembly 12 or separated from the cathode assembly 12, which greatly simplifies the assembly or separation operation between the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating container 17.
[0054] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the assembly connection 121 can be a hollow structure to reduce weight and facilitate the flow of molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310.
[0055] In some embodiments, the assembly mating part 122 may be fixedly connected to the assembly connecting part 121.
[0056] See Figure 6 , Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shows the main body of the cathode assembly 1 and the auxiliary loading / unloading component 61. In some embodiments, the electrolysis equipment 100 may include the auxiliary loading / unloading component 61 for cooperating with the insulating container 17 to enable the insulating container 17 to be assembled or disassembled with the assembly mating part 122, thereby simplifying the assembly or disassembly operation between the insulating container 17 and the assembly mating part 122.
[0057] In some embodiments, the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 includes an auxiliary mating part 611 and an auxiliary support part 612 connected to the auxiliary mating part 611. The auxiliary mating part 611 cooperates with the insulating accommodating member 17 to provide support for the insulating accommodating member 17, and the auxiliary support part 612 is used to support the auxiliary mating part 611.
[0058] See Figure 5The cathode assembly 12 also forms a notch 12210 that communicates with the inlet / outlet 12201 and the bottom channel 12202. The width of the notch 12210 is greater than the width of the auxiliary support 612, and the inner diameter of the bottom channel 12202 is greater than the outer diameter of the auxiliary mating part 611, but smaller than the outer diameter of the insulating accommodating member 17. In this embodiment, the width of the notch 12210 is greater than the width of the auxiliary support 612, so that when the cathode moving member 14 drives the assembly mating part 122 to move in the direction of the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61, the auxiliary support 612 can enter the notch 12210, thereby allowing the auxiliary mating part 611 and the insulating accommodating member 17 to enter and exit the assembly space 1220 via the inlet and outlet 12201; at the same time, the inner diameter of the bottom channel 12202 is greater than the outer diameter of the auxiliary mating part 611, so that the auxiliary mating part 611 can enter or leave the cathode assembly 12 from the bottom channel 12202; thereby facilitating the transfer of the insulating accommodating member 17 from the cathode assembly 12 to the auxiliary mating part 611 or from the auxiliary mating part 611 to the cathode assembly 12.
[0059] Specifically, when the auxiliary mating part 611 and the insulating container 17 enter the assembly space 1220 together, and the cathode assembly 12 is moved upward, the auxiliary mating part 611 can leave the assembly mating part 122 through the bottom channel 12202. Since the inner diameter of the bottom channel 12202 is smaller than the outer diameter of the insulating container 17, the insulating container 17 can remain in the assembly space 1220 after the auxiliary mating part 611 leaves, thus achieving the assembly of the insulating container 17 with the assembly mating part 122. When the insulating container 17 needs to be separated from the assembly mating part 122, the cathode assembly 12 is moved downward, and the auxiliary mating part 611 can enter the assembly mating part 122 through the bottom channel 12202 to mate with the insulating container 17. When the cathode assembly 12 is moved horizontally, the auxiliary mating part 611 and the insulating container 17 can leave the assembly space 1220 through the inlet and outlet 12201, thus achieving the separation of the insulating container 17 from the assembly mating part 122.
[0060] See Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5In some embodiments, the assembly mating part 122 may include a limiting support part 1221 and a plurality of spaced-apart stops 1222. The plurality of stops 1222 are connected to the limiting support part 1221 to jointly form an assembly space 1220. The limiting support part 1221 is used to cooperate with the insulating accommodating member 17 entering the assembly space 1220 to provide limiting and support for the insulating accommodating member 17. The limiting support part 1221 forms a notch 12210 communicating with the inlet and outlet 12201 and a bottom channel 12202. The plurality of stops 1222 are used to block the horizontal movement of the insulating accommodating member 17. The two adjacent stops 1222 with the largest spacing among the plurality of stops 1222 together with the limiting support part 1221 form the inlet and outlet 12201. In this embodiment, multiple stop portions 1222 block the horizontal movement of the insulating container 17, preventing the insulating container 17 from tipping over when entering and exiting the electrolytic cell 310, thus preventing the cathode material inside the insulating container 17 from leaking into the molten salt. At the same time, the multiple stop portions 1222 are connected with the limiting support portion 1221 to form an assembly space 1220, which also facilitates the smooth entry of the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 into the assembly space 1220 and thus into the insulating container 17.
[0061] In some embodiments, after the insulating accommodator 17 enters the assembly space 1220 through the inlet and outlet 12201, it can be supported by the limiting support 1221 and limited in the horizontal direction by a plurality of stops 1222.
[0062] See Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram showing the insulating accommodating member 17 after it mates with the auxiliary loading / unloading member 61 and separates from the lifting auxiliary member, according to an embodiment of this application. In some embodiments, the insulating accommodating member 17 may include an accommodating body 171 and a first mating portion 172 and a second mating portion disposed at the bottom of the accommodating body 171. The first mating portion 172 is located radially inside the second mating portion. The first mating portion 172 is used to mate with the auxiliary mating portion 611, and the second mating portion is used to mate with the limiting support portion 1221. See also Figure 5 The limiting support portion 1221 may include an annular support body 12211 and a plurality of protrusions 12212 disposed on the annular support body 12211. The plurality of protrusions 12212 are used to contact the second mating portion of the insulating accommodating member 17 to support the insulating accommodating member 17.
[0063] The inventors of this application discovered that, due to the corrosive effect of molten salt on the limiting support portion 1221, the insulating container 17 is not easily separated from the limiting support portion 1221 after the electrolytic reaction. The embodiments of this application, by providing multiple protrusions 12212 on the annular support body 12211, allow these protrusions 12212 to contact the second mating portion of the insulating container 17 to support the insulating container 17. This reduces the contact area between the second mating portion of the insulating container 17 and the limiting support portion 1221, facilitating the separation of the insulating container 17 from the limiting support portion 1221 after the electrolytic reaction.
[0064] See Figure 6 In some embodiments, the first mating portion 172 of the insulating receiver 17 can be a downwardly protruding protrusion, and the auxiliary mating portion 611 forms a mating groove 6110 that matches the shape of the protrusion. In such embodiments, the first mating portion 172 and the auxiliary mating portion 611 are mated by the protrusion engaging with the mating groove 6110, and the auxiliary mating portion 611 provides support and horizontal restraint for the insulating receiver 17. Simultaneously, the first mating portion 172 and the auxiliary mating portion 611 can be separated by moving the insulating receiver 17 upwards.
[0065] See Figure 6 In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the mating groove 6110 is formed with a plurality of through holes 61101 to prevent the surface of the first mating part 172 from being too tightly fitted to the surface of the auxiliary mating part 611, making it difficult to separate.
[0066] See Figure 7 In some embodiments, the auxiliary support 612 may include a rod 6121, two first reinforcing plates 6122 disposed opposite to both sides of the rod 6121, and two second reinforcing plates 6123 disposed opposite to the other two sides of the rod 6121. The first reinforcing plates 6122 are at the same height as the rod 6121, and the second reinforcing plates 6123 are triangular plates with a height less than that of the rod 6121. In such embodiments, the arrangement of the first reinforcing plates 6122 and the second reinforcing plates 6123 can improve the strength of the auxiliary support 612 and prevent deformation of the auxiliary support 612.
[0067] See Figure 5In some embodiments, the limiting support portion 1221 may further include a retaining portion 12213 extending upward from the annular support body 12211 and a plurality of limiting posts 12214 disposed on the radially inner side of the retaining portion 12213 on the annular support body 12211. The plurality of limiting posts 12214 are distributed along the same circumference, and the inner diameter of the circumference is larger than the outer diameter of the insulating accommodating member 17, so that the insulating accommodating member 17 can be located on the radially inner side of the circumference formed by the plurality of limiting posts 12214, thereby restricting the radial movement of the insulating accommodating member 17. In such an embodiment, since the insulating accommodating member 17 is located on the radially inner side of the circumference formed by the plurality of limiting posts 12214, it is possible to avoid the side of the insulating accommodating member 17 from contacting the retaining portion 12213, which helps to reduce the area of contact between the insulating accommodating member 17 and the limiting support portion 1221 in the radial direction, making it easier to separate the insulating accommodating member 17 from the limiting support portion 1221 after the electrolysis reaction is completed.
[0068] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the assembly connection portion 121 may include a plurality of first assembly connectors 1211 spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the limiting support portion 1221 and a plurality of second assembly connectors 1212 spaced apart along the vertical direction. Each first assembly connector 1211 is connected to the limiting support portion 1221 and each second assembly connector 1212. The uppermost second assembly connector 1212 is also connected to the cathode cover 11, and the lowermost second assembly connector 1212 is also connected to the stop portion 1222. The distance between the lowermost second assembly connector 1212 and the limiting support portion 1221 is greater than the height of the insulating container 17. In such embodiments, the above-described arrangement of the assembly connection portion 121 allows the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 to smoothly enter the insulating container 17 while also ensuring a secure connection with the assembly mating portion 122.
[0069] In some embodiments, the second assembly connector 1212 may be a ring, and each of the first assembly connectors 1211 is connected to the inner wall of the ring.
[0070] See Figure 4 In some embodiments, the cathode conductive assembly 13 may include a cathode conductive element 131 and an insulating sleeve 132 fitted over the cathode conductive element 131. The lower end of the cathode conductive element 131 protrudes downward from the insulating sleeve 132. The lower end of the cathode conductive element 131 is used to insert into the molten cathode material to supply power to the molten cathode material. The insulating sleeve 132 is used to prevent the portion of the cathode conductive element 131 above the surface of the molten cathode material from making conductive contact with the molten salt. In such embodiments, the above arrangement can prevent the formation of elemental or alloyed actinides on the cathode conductive element 131, which is detrimental to the collection of elemental or alloyed actinides.
[0071] In some embodiments, the cathode cover 11 forms a conductive through-hole for the cathode conductor 131 to pass through.
[0072] See Figure 9 In some embodiments, a claw portion 1512 opposite to the connecting portion 1513 forms a space between it and the circumference B for the passage of the cathode conductive element 131.
[0073] In some embodiments, the cathode conductive component 13 may further include a conductive lifting drive, disposed on the cathode cover 11, for driving the cathode conductive component 131 to move up and down. The conductive lifting drive is provided with a force sensor. When the insulating containment 17 is located in the electrolytic cell 310, during the process of the conductive lifting drive driving the cathode conductive component 131 toward the insulating containment 17, the force sensor detects the torque or stress on the cathode conductive component 131 to determine the melting state of the cathode material.
[0074] It is easy to understand that when the insulating container 17 containing metallic cadmium first enters the electrolytic cell 310, the metallic cadmium is in a solid state. Since the melting point of metallic cadmium is lower than that of molten salt, the heat conducted by the molten salt can melt the metallic cadmium. Because the cathode cover 11 seals the cathode mounting interface 320, the molten state of the metallic cadmium cannot be directly observed. The embodiments of this application utilize the different forces exerted on the cathode conductive element 131 by metallic cadmium in a molten state and metallic cadmium in a solid state. The cathode conductive element 131 is lowered by a conductive lifting drive, and the torque or stress from metallic cadmium on the cathode conductive element 131 is detected by a force sensor installed on the conductive lifting drive. The molten state of the metallic cadmium is then determined by the change or magnitude of this torque or stress.
[0075] In some embodiments, the conductive lifting drive can be a motor or a cylinder. In some embodiments, when the conductive lifting drive is a motor, the sensor can be a torque sensor to detect the torque applied to the cathode conductor 131. In other embodiments, when the conductive lifting drive is a cylinder, the sensor can be a stress sensor to detect the stress applied to the cathode conductor 131.
[0076] See Figure 4In some embodiments, the cathode conductive element 131 may include a first cathode conductive segment 1311 and a second cathode conductive segment 1312 detachably connected to the first cathode conductive segment 1311. The first cathode conductive segment 1311 passes through the cathode cover 11 and is connected to the conductive lifting drive element. An insulating sleeve 132 is fitted onto the second cathode conductive segment 1312. The inventors of this application have discovered that the portion of the cathode conductive element 131 located in molten salt is easily damaged by corrosion from the molten salt. Embodiments of this application, by configuring the cathode conductive element 131 to include a detachably connected first cathode conductive segment 1311 and second cathode conductive segment 1312, facilitate the replacement of the easily damaged second cathode conductive segment 1312.
[0077] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cathode moving member 14 may include a cathode lifting part 141, a cathode rotating part 142, and a cathode moving mounting part 143. The cathode lifting part 141 is used to drive the cathode cover 11 to move up and down; the cathode rotating part 142 is rotatably mounted on the cathode moving mounting part 143 and is used to drive the cathode lifting part 141 to rotate relative to the cathode moving mounting part 143. In such embodiments, by driving the cathode lifting part 141 to rotate relative to the cathode moving mounting part 143 through the cathode rotating part 142, the cathode assembly 12 can be driven to rotate, so that the cathode assembly 12 can be rotated to a position where the insulating accommodating member 17 can enter and exit the assembly space 1220. By driving the cathode cover 11 to move up and down through the cathode lifting part 141, the cathode assembly 12 can be driven to move up and down. Thus, through the rotation and lifting movements of the cathode assembly 12, the cathode assembly 12 can be assembled with the insulating accommodating member 17 or separated from the cathode assembly 12.
[0078] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cathode rotating part 142 may include a rotating connector 1421, a rotating mounting part 1422, and a lifting slide rail 1423.
[0079] The rotating connector 1421 is used to connect with the cathode movable mounting part 143 and can rotate relative to the cathode movable mounting part 143 about a vertical axis. The rotating mounting part 1422 is fixedly connected to the rotating connector 1421, and the lifting slide rail 1423 is arranged vertically on the rotating mounting part 1422, and the cathode lifting part 141 can move up and down along the lifting slide rail 1423.
[0080] See Figure 3In some embodiments, the cathode lifting part 141 may include a lifting connector 1411 and a cover connector 1412. The lifting connector 1411 is disposed on the lifting slide rail 1423 and configured to move up and down along the lifting slide rail 1423; the cover connector 1412 is used to connect the lifting connector 1411 to the cathode cover 11, so that the lifting connector 1411 can drive the cathode cover 11 to move up and down.
[0081] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cover connector 1412 may include a base plate 14121 connected to the cathode cover 11, a top plate 14122 disposed above the base plate 14121 and opposite to it, and two side connectors 14123 connecting the top plate 14122 and the base plate 14121. One side connector 14123 is connected to the lifting connector 1411. An installation space is formed between the base plate 14121, the top plate 14122, and the two side connectors 14123 for mounting conductive lifting drive components, etc.
[0082] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cathode conductive component 13 may further include a conductive lifting member 133 and a conductive lifting mating part 1331, wherein the conductive lifting member 133 is capable of slidingly engaging with the conductive lifting mating part 1331 in the vertical direction.
[0083] The cathode conductive element 131 is connected to the conductive lifting element 133. The conductive lifting drive can drive the conductive lifting element 133 to move up and down relative to the conductive lifting mating part 1331, thereby driving the cathode conductive element 131 to move up and down. The conductive lifting mating part 1331 can be a vertically extending slide rail.
[0084] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the conductive lifting member 133 may be connected to the first cathode conductive segment 1311 of the cathode conductive member 131.
[0085] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the product auxiliary separation member 15 may further include an auxiliary lifting engagement portion 1531, which is capable of slidingly engaging with the auxiliary lifting engagement portion 1531 in a vertical direction. The auxiliary lifting engagement portion 1531 may be a vertically extending slide rail.
[0086] In some embodiments, the auxiliary lifting mating part 1531 and the conductive lifting mating part 1331 are symmetrically arranged on the two side connectors 14123, respectively. The structures of the auxiliary lifting part 153 and the conductive lifting part 133 are symmetrical. The center line of the auxiliary connecting part 152 and the center line of the cathode conductive part 131 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis of the cathode cover 11, which helps to make the cathode lifting part 141 more symmetrical as a whole and helps to avoid significant eccentricity, which would cause the assembly mating part 122 to tilt.
[0087] In some embodiments, each side connector 14123 may include a first plate 141231 connected to the top plate 14122, a second plate 141232 connected to the bottom plate 14121, and a third plate 141233 connecting the first plate 141231 and the second plate 141232; wherein the first plate 141231 and the second plate 141232 extend vertically, the second plate 141232 extends horizontally, and the first plate 141231 is located radially outside the second plate 141232 along the radial direction of the cathode cover 11.
[0088] In some embodiments, the auxiliary lifting mating part 1531 and the conductive lifting mating part 1331 may be respectively disposed on the first plate 141231 and the third plate 141233 on one side to improve the installation stability of the auxiliary lifting mating part 1531 and the conductive lifting mating part 1331.
[0089] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cathode conductive assembly 13 and the product auxiliary separation component 15 further include sealing components 18, which are respectively disposed on the first cathode conductive section 1311 and the auxiliary connection portion 152. The two sealing components 18 are used to seal the first cathode conductive section 1311 with the cathode cover 11 and the auxiliary connection portion 152 with the cathode cover 11, respectively, to prevent the leakage of tail gas generated during the electrolysis process.
[0090] In some embodiments, both seals 18 can be bellows. Since bellows have a certain degree of elasticity, in such embodiments, the above arrangement can prevent the seals 18 from affecting the raising and lowering of the cathode conductor 131 and the auxiliary connection 152.
[0091] As mentioned earlier, the metallic cadmium in the electrolytic cell 310 exists in liquid form within the insulating container 17. Because the metallic cadmium is within the insulating container 17, the insulating container 17 isolates the contact between the chloride molten salt and the metallic cadmium. Only the chloride molten salt above the surface of the metallic cadmium can come into contact with the metallic cadmium to undergo an electrolytic reaction, resulting in low recovery efficiency of actinides.
[0092] For the above issues, please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4In some embodiments, the cathode assembly 1 may further include a stirring assembly 16 connected to the cathode cover 11 to enter and exit the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320. The stirring assembly 16 is used to stir the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310. In such embodiments, the stirring assembly 16 stirs the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 so that the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 flows to the insulating container 17 and contacts the molten cathode material, thereby ensuring the recovery efficiency of actinides. Since the stirring assembly 16 is connected to the cathode cover 11, rather than to the container cover 32 of the electrolytic vessel 3, the stirring assembly 16 can enter and exit the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320. This eliminates the need to leave installation space for the stirring assembly 16 on the container cover 32, thus allowing for a larger cathode mounting interface 320, which in turn allows for a larger insulating container 17, facilitating an increase in the contact area between the cathode material and the molten salt, and accelerating the electrolysis reaction rate. Furthermore, since the stirring assembly 16 is connected to the cathode cover 11, it is located outside the electrolysis vessel 3 together with the cathode cover 11 when not in use, which facilitates the maintenance of the stirring assembly 16.
[0093] See Figure 3 In some embodiments, the stirring assembly 16 may include a stirring element 161 and a stirring drive element 162. The stirring element 161 is rotatably disposed relative to the cathode cover 11 for stirring the molten salt; the stirring drive element 162 is used to drive the stirring element 161 to rotate relative to the cathode cover 11. In such an embodiment, the stirring element 161 is driven to rotate by the stirring drive element 162 to stir the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310, thereby causing the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 to flow to the insulating containment 17 and contact the molten cathode material, ensuring the recovery efficiency of actinide elements.
[0094] See Figure 6 In some embodiments, the stirring element 161 may include a stirring shaft 1611 and a plurality of stirring blades 1612 disposed at the bottom end of the stirring shaft 1611. In such embodiments, the stirring shaft 1611 can be driven to rotate by the stirring drive element 162, thereby driving the stirring blades 1612 to rotate, so as to stir the molten salt; the plurality of stirring blades 1612 disposed at the bottom end of the stirring shaft 1611 is conducive to the stirring blades 1612 entering the molten salt to stir the molten salt.
[0095] In some embodiments, the axis of the stirring shaft 1611 is collinear with the axis of the cathode cover 11 to help ensure the stability of the cathode cover 11.
[0096] Since the cathode cover 11 also has sealing elements 18 for the cathode conductive component 13 and the product auxiliary separation component 15, there is not enough space to install the stirring drive component 162. The stirring drive component 162 can be installed in the cover connector 1412, specifically in the middle of the top plate 14122. The stirring shaft 1611 passes through the cathode cover 11 and the bottom plate 14121 from bottom to top and connects to the stirring drive component 162, thereby making more reasonable use of the space in the cover connector 1412.
[0097] See Figure 6 In some embodiments, the stirring blades 1612 are positioned above the insulating container 17 to prevent the molten cathode material and electrolytic products from being stirred outside the insulating container 17, thus increasing the difficulty of collecting the electrolytic products.
[0098] In some embodiments, the stirring blade 1612 can be a rectangular plate with the surface of the rectangular plate parallel to the axis of the stirring shaft 1611, so as to avoid causing large disturbance to the cathode material melt, which would cause the cathode material melt and electrolysis products to flow outside the insulating container 17.
[0099] See Figure 4 In some embodiments, the stirring shaft 1611 may include a first stirring section 16111 and a second stirring section 16112 detachably connected to the first stirring section 16111. The first stirring section 16111 passes through the cathode cover 11 and is connected to the stirring drive 162. When stirring molten salt, the stirring blades 1612 are easily damaged by corrosion from the molten salt. In the embodiments of this application, by configuring the stirring shaft 1611 to include a detachably connected first stirring section 16111 and second stirring section 16112, with the stirring blades 1612 and the second stirring section 16112 extending below the molten salt, when the stirring blades 1612 are damaged, both the stirring blades 1612 and the second stirring section 16112 can be replaced as a whole, making the operation convenient.
[0100] In some embodiments, when the assembly connection 121 is a hollow structure, the stirring element 161 is disposed inside the hollow structure so that the state of the stirring element 161 can be observed through the hollow structure, thereby facilitating timely replacement of the damaged second stirring section 16112.
[0101] In some embodiments, the stirring element 161 is positioned above the auxiliary separation body 151 to avoid interference between the two when the auxiliary separation body 151 reciprocates up and down.
[0102] In some embodiments, the agitator 161 is disposed inside a plurality of first assembly connectors 1211 and a plurality of second assembly connectors 1212. In such an embodiment, the above arrangement facilitates the replacement of a damaged second agitator section 16112 through the gap between the first assembly connectors 1211 and the second assembly connectors 1212.
[0103] For ease of description, the parts of the cathode assembly 1 other than the insulating housing 17 and the cathode material can be collectively referred to as the cathode assembly conductive moving parts 19.
[0104] That is, the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 includes a cathode cover 11, a cathode assembly part 12, a cathode conductive component 13, and a cathode moving part 14. Among them, the cathode cover 11, the cathode assembly part 12, and the cathode moving part 14 can be referred to as the cathode assembly moving part.
[0105] The cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 is used to move the insulating container 17 into the electrolytic cell 310, thereby moving the cathode material into the electrolytic container 3 and supplying power to the cathode material.
[0106] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the electrolysis equipment 100 may further include a glove box 8, in which the cathode assembly conductive moving parts 19 are all disposed. The cathode mounting interface 320 of the electrolysis container 3 is located inside the glove box 8.
[0107] The electrolysis equipment 100 may also include a hoisting device 84 disposed within the glove box 8. See also Figure 2 In some embodiments, the glove box 8 may include a glove box body 81, a plurality of glove box attachments communicating with the glove box body 81, and a plurality of transition chambers respectively controlled to communicate with each glove box attachment. The hoisting device 84 and the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 are both disposed on the glove box body 81. After the glove box 8 is put into use, materials enter and exit the glove box body 81 through each glove box attachment and each transition chamber.
[0108] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the electrolysis apparatus 100 may also include a transport auxiliary device 6 for transporting the insulating container 17 containing the cathode material to the glove box body 81 and assisting in the transfer of the insulating container 17 to the auxiliary loading and unloading device 61, thereby enabling the insulating container 17 to engage with the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 using the auxiliary loading and unloading device 61.
[0109] See Figure 2 and Figure 7 The transport auxiliary device 6 may include a hoisting auxiliary component 62 and a transport component 63. The hoisting auxiliary component 62 is configured to carry the insulating container 17 during hoisting; the transport component 63 is used to transport the hoisting auxiliary component 62 carrying the insulating container 17 into the glove box body 81, so that the hoisting auxiliary component 62 carrying the insulating container 17 can be hoisted by the hoisting device 84 within the glove box body 81 to the auxiliary loading and unloading component 61. The auxiliary loading and unloading component 61 is also used to cooperate with the insulating container 17 so that the insulating container 17 can be assembled or detached from the hoisting auxiliary component 62.
[0110] Since the insulating container 17 is a silicon nitride ceramic crucible and contains cathode material, resulting in a relatively heavy weight, it is difficult to directly lift and transfer the insulating container 17 using a lifting device. Therefore, in the embodiments of this application, a lifting auxiliary component 62 is provided, which carries the insulating container 17, and the insulating container 17 is transferred by lifting the lifting auxiliary component 62.
[0111] The transport component 63 can be installed in the glove box body 81, the glove box appendage, and the transition compartment controlled to communicate with the glove box appendage. The transport component 63 transports the hoisting auxiliary component 62 carrying the insulating container 17 from the transition compartment to the glove box body 81, so that the insulating container 17 can be hoisted by the hoisting device 84 to the position of the auxiliary loading and unloading component 61 by the hoisting auxiliary component 62, so that the insulating container 17 can be separated from the hoisting auxiliary component 62 and cooperate with the cathode assembly conductive moving component 19, or separated from the cathode assembly conductive moving component 19 and cooperate with the hoisting auxiliary component 62.
[0112] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the lifting device 84 of the glove box 8 can be a crane or overhead crane robot mounted on top of the glove box 8. When the lifting device 84 is a crane, the crane can move along the length and width directions of the glove box body 81.
[0113] In some embodiments, the second mating portion of the insulating receiver 17 is also used to mate with the lifting aid 62. See also Figure 7 The lifting aid 62 may include a lifting support 621 and a lifting part 622. The lifting part 622 enables the lifting aid 62 to be lifted, and the lifting support 621 cooperates with the second mating part of the insulating container 17 to provide limiting and support for the insulating container 17. In such an embodiment, the lifting aid 62 is able to carry the insulating container 17 during lifting by means of the cooperation between the lifting support 621 and the second mating part of the insulating container 17, and by means of the lifting part 622 enabling the lifting aid 62 to be lifted.
[0114] See Figure 7 In some embodiments, the lifting support 621 can be an annular structure with an inner diameter larger than that of the auxiliary mating part 611 and the auxiliary support 612. When the insulating accommodating member 17 is supported by the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61, the lifting auxiliary member 62 can move downward relative to the insulating accommodating member 17 and the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 to below the insulating accommodating member 17. In such embodiments, the above arrangement allows the lifting auxiliary member 62 to move downward and upward via the lifting device 84, thereby achieving assembly or separation from the insulating accommodating member 17.
[0115] See Figure 7In some embodiments, the lifting support 621 may include a lifting support ring 6211 and a lifting cylinder 6212 connected to the lifting support ring 6211. The inner diameter of the lifting support ring 6211 is larger than the dimensions of the auxiliary mating part 611 and the auxiliary support part 612, but smaller than the outer diameter of the insulating accommodating member 17; the inner diameter of the lifting cylinder 6212 is larger than the outer diameter of the insulating accommodating member 17, so that the insulating accommodating member 17 can enter the lifting cylinder 6212 and be supported by the lifting support ring 6211, and the height of the lifting cylinder 6212 is smaller than the height of the auxiliary support part 612; the lifting part 622 is disposed on the lifting cylinder 6212. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the lifting support ring 6211 is smaller than the outer diameter of the insulating container 17, and the inner diameter of the lifting cylinder 6212 is larger than the outer diameter of the insulating container 17. This allows the insulating container 17 to enter the lifting cylinder 6212, where the lifting support ring 6211 provides vertical support and the lifting cylinder 6212 provides horizontal restraint. This ensures that the lifting support part 621 can stably and reliably support the insulating container 17, carrying it during lifting. Simultaneously, the inner diameter of the lifting support ring 6211 is larger than the dimensions of the auxiliary mating part 611 and the auxiliary support part 612, and the height of the lifting cylinder 6212 is smaller than the height of the auxiliary support part 612. This allows the lifting auxiliary part 62 to move downwards relative to the insulating container 17 and the auxiliary loading / unloading part 61 until it is completely below the insulating container 17, without affecting the mating of the insulating container 17 and the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19.
[0116] In some embodiments, the lifting cylinder 6212 may be hollowed out to reduce the overall weight of the lifting auxiliary component 62.
[0117] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the transport component 63 may be a transport roller to facilitate the transport of the lifting auxiliary component 62 carrying the insulating containment component 17.
[0118] See Figure 1 and Figure 11 , Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the electrolytic container 3 provided in an embodiment of this application. In some embodiments, the electrolytic container 3 may include a container body 31 forming an electrolytic cell 310, a container cover 32 connected to the container body 31, and an anode assembly 2. The container cover 32 forms an anode mounting interface and a cathode mounting interface 320 communicating with the electrolytic cell 310. The container cover 32 is located inside the glove box body 81.
[0119] The electrolysis equipment 100 may also include an anode assembly. In related technologies, the assembly structure between the anode and the conductive cable of the electrolysis equipment is complex, and there are operational difficulties when assembling or separating the anode from the electrolysis container 3.
[0120] To address the aforementioned issues, embodiments of this application provide an anode assembly that is easy to assemble or detach from the electrolytic container 3.
[0121] See Figure 1 and Figure 12 , Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the engagement of the anode conductive connector 23 and the anode body 21 within the container cover 32 of the electrolytic container 3, as provided in an embodiment of this application. The anode assembly 2 provided in this embodiment may include the anode body 21, an anode cover 22 for sealing the anode mounting interface, and the anode conductive connector 23 for supplying power to the anode body 21. The anode conductive connector 23 is insulatedly fixed to the container cover 32, and is configured to be detachably conductively connected to the anode body 21. That is, the anode conductive connector 23 can be detachably mechanically connected to the anode body 21, and when the two are mechanically connected, a conductive connection is achieved. In this embodiment, when the anode assembly 2 is needed, the anode body 21 and anode cover 22 are installed in the anode mounting interface, and then electrically connected to the anode body 21 through the anode conductive connector 23, thus completing the assembly of the anode assembly 2 with the electrolytic container 3; when the anode assembly 2 needs to be separated from the electrolytic container 3, the conductive connection between the anode conductive connector 23 and the anode body 21 is disconnected, and the anode body 21 can be removed from the anode mounting interface, reducing the complexity of the operation.
[0122] In some embodiments, the anode cover 22 is connected to the anode body 21, and the anode mounting interface is sealed after the anode body 21 enters the electrolytic cell 310 through the anode mounting interface.
[0123] In some embodiments, since the cathode mounting interface 320 is used for the entry of the insulating container 17, the size of the cathode mounting interface 320 should be maximized to increase the contact area between the molten salt and the cathode material. In such embodiments, the cathode mounting interface 320 is located at the center of the container cover 32, and the diameter of the cathode mounting interface 320 can be greater than or equal to half the diameter of the container cover 32. Thus, the space in the container cover 32 for setting the anode mounting interface is relatively limited. Therefore, in some embodiments, the container cover 32 can be provided with multiple anode mounting interfaces, which are equally spaced around the circumference of the cathode mounting interface 320. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the container cover 32 may be provided with three anode mounting interfaces.
[0124] See Figure 12In some embodiments, the anode conductive connector 23 may include a conductive clamping member 231, a clamping drive member 232, an insulating mounting plate 233, and an insulating connector 234. The conductive clamping member 231 clamps the anode body 21 for conductive connection with it. The clamping drive member 232 drives the conductive clamping member 231 to clamp or release the anode body 21. The insulating mounting plate 233 connects the clamping drive member 232 to the container cover 32. The insulating connector 234 provides an insulating connection between the clamping drive member 232 and the conductive clamping member 231. In such embodiments, by providing the conductive clamping member 231 and the clamping drive member 232, the conductive clamping member 231 can establish or disconnect a conductive connection with the anode body 21 simply by opening or clamping, making operation convenient. By providing the insulating connector 234 and the insulating mounting plate 233, the current conducted by the conductive clamping member 231 is prevented from being conducted to the container cover 32 and subsequently to the electrolysis container 3.
[0125] See Figure 12 In some embodiments, the conductive clamping member 231 may include two clamping portions 2311 for clamping the anode body 21 to achieve a conductive connection with the anode body 21. Both clamping portions 2311 form clamping grooves 23110 for clamping the anode body 21, and the clamping grooves 23110 are adapted to the surface of the anode body 21 so that the conductive clamping member 231 can maintain conductive contact with the anode body 21.
[0126] In some embodiments, the clamping part 2311 can be electrically connected to an external conductive cable. In some embodiments, both the clamping part 2311 and the anode body 21 can be made of brass so that the conductive clamping part 231 and the anode body 21 can establish a conductive connection through the clamping action of the conductive clamping part 231.
[0127] In some embodiments, the insulating connector 234 may be two insulating claws disposed on the outside of the two clamping portions 2311, each insulating claw being connected to one clamping portion 2311; the two insulating claws are driven by the clamping drive member 232 to perform opening or clamping operations, thereby causing the two clamping portions 2311 to clamp or release the anode body 21.
[0128] In some embodiments, the insulating mounting plate 233 may include a first insulating plate 2331 and a second insulating plate 2332 fixedly connected to the first insulating plate 2331. The second insulating plate 2332 is fixedly connected to the container cover 32 insulatedly, and the clamping drive member 232 is connected to the first insulating plate 2331 insulatedly.
[0129] See Figure 1 and Figure 12In some embodiments, the anode body 21 may include a first anode conductive segment 211 and a second anode conductive segment 212 detachably connected to the first anode conductive segment 211. The first anode conductive segment 211 is connected to the anode cover 22. The anode conductive connector 23 is detachably conductively connected to the first anode conductive segment 211. Specifically, the conductive clamp 231 achieves a detachable conductive connection with the first anode conductive segment 211 by clamping the first anode conductive segment 211. In such embodiments, since the anode body 21 is configured as a split structure, the second anode conductive segment 212 entering the molten salt and the first anode conductive segment 211 used for conductive connection can be made of different materials. Furthermore, since the second anode conductive segment 212 is more easily damaged in the molten salt, the aforementioned split design facilitates the replacement of the easily damaged second cathode conductive segment 1312.
[0130] In some embodiments, the first anode conductive section 211 may be made of brass, and the second anode conductive section 212 may be made of carbon-carbon composite material.
[0131] In related technologies, the first anode conductive segment 211 and the second anode conductive segment 212 are connected by a clamp. As mentioned earlier, the space in the container cover 32 for setting the anode mounting interface is relatively limited. Since the clamp protrudes from the radial surfaces of the first anode conductive segment 211 and the second anode conductive segment 212, it is not suitable to use a clamp to connect the first anode conductive segment 211 and the second anode conductive segment 212 in order to maximize the radial dimensions of the first anode conductive segment 211 and the second anode conductive segment 212.
[0132] To address the aforementioned issues, in some embodiments, the first anode conductive segment 211 and the second anode conductive segment 212 can be threaded together to avoid adding additional radial dimensions at their connection. The inventors of this application achieved this by forming a threaded hole in the second anode conductive segment 212, made of carbon-carbon composite material, and forming a stud in the first anode conductive segment 211, made of brass, to achieve a threaded connection between the carbon-carbon composite material and the brass material. However, the inventors of this application discovered through experiments that the brass material threadedly connected to the carbon-carbon composite material would melt, causing the carbon-carbon composite material to detach and fall into the electrolytic cell 310. The inventors of this application further discovered that this is because the outer side of the threaded hole of the second anode conductive segment 212 is not threaded, resulting in a gap in the radial direction of the first anode conductive segment 211 and the second anode conductive segment 212 after connection. This gap leads to poor electrical contact between the brass material and the carbon-carbon composite material, increasing resistance and heat, ultimately causing the brass to melt.
[0133] For this situation, see Figure 16 , Figure 16A cross-sectional view of the connection between the first anode conductive section 211 and the second anode conductive section 212 of the anode body 21 is shown. The second anode conductive section 212 forms a stud, which is threaded from top to bottom. The first anode conductive section 211 forms a threaded groove, which is threaded from top to bottom. In the embodiments of this application, by forming a stud with carbon-carbon composite material and forming a threaded groove with brass material, not only can the carbon-carbon composite material and the brass material be threadedly connected, but also the gap between the carbon-carbon composite material and the brass material can be eliminated or minimized, thus ensuring good electrical contact between the carbon-carbon composite material and the brass material and helping to prevent the brass material from melting.
[0134] In some embodiments, the height of the second anode conductive segment 212 can be increased, thereby moving the connection between the second anode conductive segment 212 and the first anode conductive segment 211 away from the molten salt surface, reducing the temperature of the first anode conductive segment 211, and preventing thermal deformation of the brass material that could affect the conductive contact between the second anode conductive segment 212 and the first anode conductive segment 211. In some embodiments, the height of the second anode conductive segment 212 can be more than twice the height of the first anode conductive segment 211.
[0135] See Figure 1 and Figure 12 In some embodiments, the anode assembly 2 may further include a lifting member 24 disposed on the anode body 21 for lifting the anode body 21. In such embodiments, the anode body 21 and the anode cover 22 can be lifted simultaneously by lifting the lifting member 24, facilitating the transfer of the anode body 21 to or from the anode mounting interface.
[0136] See Figure 1 In some embodiments, the electrolysis equipment 100 may further include an anode storage and transfer device 4 and a support platform 41. The anode storage and transfer device 4 is detachably disposed on the support platform 41. The anode storage and transfer device 4 is used to store the anode body 21 of the anode assembly 2 provided in any embodiment of the present application and to transfer the anode body 21 to the anode mounting interface.
[0137] See Figure 14 , Figure 14This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the anode storage and transfer device 4 according to an embodiment of this application. The anode storage and transfer device 4 may include a mounting member 45, multiple suspension parts 42, an anode clamping member 43, and a moving member 44. The suspension parts 42 and the moving member 44 are disposed on the mounting member 45. Each suspension part 42 is used to hang the anode body 21 on the support platform 41 by cooperating with the anode cover 22; the anode clamping member 43 is used to clamp the anode body 21; the moving member 44 is used to drive the anode clamping member 43 to move, so as to transfer the anode body 21 between the electrolytic cell 310 and the suspension part 42. In this embodiment, by moving the anode clamping member 43 holding the anode body 21 by the moving member 44, the anode body 21 can be transferred between the electrolytic cell 310 and the suspension part 42, simplifying the operation steps of transferring the anode body 21 to the electrolytic cell 310.
[0138] In some embodiments, the anode clamp 43 may be a gripper.
[0139] See Figure 15 , Figure 15 It shows Figure 14 A schematic diagram of the structure of the anode assembly 2 suspended in the suspension part 42. In some embodiments, the suspension part 42 can be a suspension groove formed in the support platform 41, and the anode body 21 can enter the suspension groove. A suspension through hole is formed on the bottom wall of the suspension groove. The size of the suspension through hole is smaller than the size of the anode cover 22 and larger than the size of the anode body 21, so that the anode body 21 can pass downward through the suspension through hole. At the same time, the anode cover 22 can be supported by the periphery of the suspension through hole, so that the anode body 21 can be suspended on the support platform 41.
[0140] See Figure 14 In some embodiments, the moving member 44 may include a first horizontal moving member 441, a vertical moving member 442, and a second horizontal moving member 443. The first horizontal moving member 441 is used to move the anode clamping member 43 relative to the mounting member 45 in a first horizontal direction; the vertical moving member 442 is used to move the first horizontal moving member 441 and the anode clamping member 43 in a vertical direction; and the second horizontal moving member 443 is used to move the vertical moving member 442, the first horizontal moving member 441, and the anode clamping member 43 in a second horizontal direction. In such an embodiment, the above arrangement enables the anode clamping member 43 to transfer the anode body 21 between the electrolytic cell 310 and the suspension part 42.
[0141] See Figure 14 In some embodiments, the vertical moving member 442 may include a first horizontal slide rail 4421 extending along a first horizontal direction and a horizontal support frame 4422 extending along a first horizontal direction. The first horizontal slide rail 4421 is disposed on the horizontal support frame 4422, and the first horizontal moving member 441 is capable of moving along the first horizontal slide rail 4421.
[0142] See Figure 14 In some embodiments, the second horizontal moving member 443 may include a vertical slide rail 4431 extending in a vertical direction and a vertical support frame 4432 extending in a vertical direction. The vertical slide rail 4431 is disposed on the vertical support frame 4432, and the horizontal support frame 4422 is movable along the vertical slide rail 4431.
[0143] See Figure 14 In some embodiments, the movable member 44 may further include a second horizontal slide rail 444 extending along a second horizontal direction, the second horizontal slide rail 444 being disposed on the mounting member 45, and the vertical support frame 4432 being movable along the second horizontal slide rail 444.
[0144] In some embodiments, the first horizontal direction is the width direction of the glove box body 81, and the second horizontal direction is the length direction of the glove box body 81.
[0145] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The suspension part 42 is disposed on one side of the mounting part 45 along the first horizontal direction. The anode storage and transfer device 4 is disposed on one side of the electrolytic cell 310 along the second horizontal direction.
[0146] See Figure 14 In some embodiments, the second horizontal moving member 443 is provided with a lifting part 4433 for hoisting the anode storage and transfer device 4 as a whole onto or off the support platform 41. In such embodiments, the above-mentioned arrangement facilitates the movement of the anode storage and transfer device 4 into or out of the glove box body 81.
[0147] In some embodiments, the hoisting part 4433 is disposed on the vertical support frame 4432.
[0148] See Figure 14 In some embodiments, the support platform 41 is provided with a positioning element 411; the mounting element 45 is provided with a positioning hole 450 for cooperating with the positioning element 411 to achieve horizontal positioning of the mounting element 45. In such embodiments, by cooperating with the positioning element 411 and the positioning hole 450, the moving element 44 can be positioned in the horizontal direction so that the moving element 44 can be installed at a preset position on the support platform 41.
[0149] In some embodiments, the positioning member 411 may be a positioning pin, which can pass through the positioning hole 450 to achieve horizontal positioning of the mounting member 45. In some embodiments, the moving member 44 may also include a locking member 46 for locking the positioning member 411 to the positioning hole 450 to prevent the positioning member 411 from leaving the positioning hole 450.
[0150] When using cadmium metal as a cathode material to recover residual actinides from chloride salts, the relevant technologies typically involve manually feeding the solid chloride salt containing residual actinides into the electrolytic cell 310 of the electrolytic equipment. However, when there is a large amount of solid chloride salt and it is heavy, relying on manual feeding of the solid chloride salt into the electrolytic cell 310 of the electrolytic equipment results in low efficiency.
[0151] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the electrolysis apparatus 100 may further include a solid chloride salt feed device 5. See also Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the solid chloride salt feeding device 5 provided in an embodiment of this application. The solid chloride salt feeding device 5 may include a feeding body 51, an inlet / outlet moving part 52, and an inlet / outlet connecting part 53. The feeding body 51 forms a transport channel, an inlet 5101 communicating with the transport channel, and an outlet 5102. The inlet / outlet moving part 52 is configured to drive the feeding body 51 to move towards or away from the cathode mounting interface 320, so that the outlet 5102 can be aligned with the cathode mounting interface 320. The inlet / outlet connecting part 53 is used to connect the feeding body 51 and the inlet / outlet moving part 52. The inlet / outlet connecting part 53 is configured to adjust the tilt angle of the feeding body 51, so that the transport channel can tilt downward towards the cathode mounting interface 320, thereby allowing the solid chloride salt in the transport channel to enter the cathode mounting interface 320 through the outlet 5102 under the action of gravity. In this embodiment, the feed body 51 is moved by the feed / discharge moving part 52, so that the discharge port 5102 is aligned with the cathode mounting interface 320, enabling the solid chloride salt feeding device 5 to accurately feed the solid chloride salt into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320; at the same time, the tilt angle of the feed body 51 is adjusted by the feed / discharge connecting part 53, so that the solid chloride salt in the transport channel can enter the cathode mounting interface 320 through the discharge port 5102 under the action of gravity, without the need for additional operation, thus realizing the convenient feeding of solid chloride salt into the electrolytic cell 310 of the electrolysis equipment 100.
[0152] In some embodiments, the solid chloride salt may be a granular chloride salt or a powdered chloride salt.
[0153] See Figure 10In some embodiments, the width and height of the transport channel gradually decrease from the feed inlet 5101 side towards the discharge outlet 5102 side. In such embodiments, the above-mentioned arrangement makes the width and height of the transport channel on the feed inlet 5101 side larger, which facilitates the entry of solid chloride salt into the transport channel and helps to prevent chloride salt from falling out of the transport channel; at the same time, the above-mentioned arrangement makes the width and height of the transport channel on the discharge outlet 5102 side smaller, which facilitates the entry of solid chloride salt into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320 and helps to prevent chloride salt from falling out of the cathode mounting interface 320.
[0154] See Figure 10 In some embodiments, the feed body 51 may include a trapezoidal base plate 511, a cover 512 connected to both ends of the trapezoidal base plate 511 in the width direction, and a side plate 513 connecting the cover 512 and the trapezoidal base plate 511 at one end in the length direction. The trapezoidal base plate 511, the cover 512, and the side plate 513 together form a transport channel. The width of the end of the trapezoidal base plate 511 connected to the side plate 513 is greater than the width of the end of the trapezoidal base plate 511 away from the side plate 513. The end of the trapezoidal base plate 511 away from the side plate 513 protrudes from the cover 512 along its length direction. The feed inlet 5101 is formed in the cover 512, and the end of the cover 512 away from the side plate 513 and the end of the trapezoidal base plate 511 away from the side plate 513 together form the discharge outlet 5102. In this embodiment, the above-described arrangement allows the trapezoidal base plate 511, cover 512, and side plate 513 to jointly form a transport channel whose width gradually decreases from the feed inlet 5101 side to the discharge outlet 5102 side, thereby facilitating the entry of solid chloride salt into the transport channel and into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320; at the same time, when the solid chloride salt is in powder form, the above-described arrangement of the discharge outlet 5102 helps to reduce dust from the powdered chloride salt.
[0155] See Figure 10In some embodiments, the feed / discharge moving member 52 may include a feed base 521, a feed mounting plate 522, a slider 5211, and a sliding engagement member 5221. The slider 5211 is disposed on the feed base 521; the feed body 51 is mounted on the feed mounting plate 522. The sliding engagement member 5221 is disposed on the feed mounting plate 522 and is used to slide and engage with the slider 5211. The slider 5211 can move relative to the sliding engagement member 5221 towards or away from the cathode mounting interface 320. In such embodiments, the sliding engagement between the slider 5211 and the sliding engagement member 5221 eliminates the need for the feed body 51 to be excessively long within the glove box 8. The sliding of the feed body 51 relative to the feed base 521 facilitates the addition of chloride salt to the feed body 51 through the operating glove of the glove box 8, and also allows the discharge port 5102 to enter and exit the cathode mounting interface 320.
[0156] Sliding component 5211 is, for example, a slider, and sliding mating component 5221 is, for example, a slide rail.
[0157] See Figure 10 In some embodiments, the feed / discharge connector 53 may include a first feed connector 531 and a second feed connector 532. One end of the first feed connector 531 is connected to the feed mounting plate 522, and the other end is hinged to the feed body 51. The second feed connector 532 is hinged to both the feed mounting plate 522 and the feed body 51, and is configured to be telescopic, thereby changing the tilt angle of the feed body 51. In such embodiments, the first feed connector 531 and the second feed connector 532 can stably connect the feed body 51 to the feed mounting plate 522; the telescopic second feed connector 532 changes the tilt angle of the feed body 51, so that the transport channel can tilt downward toward the cathode mounting interface 320, thereby allowing the solid chloride salt in the transport channel to enter the cathode mounting interface 320 through the discharge port 5102 under the action of gravity.
[0158] In some embodiments, the second feed connector 532 may be driven by a motor or a cylinder.
[0159] See Figure 10 In some embodiments, the solid chloride salt feeding device 5 may further include a clearing component 54 for clearing chloride salt blockages in the transport channel, allowing the chloride salt to be pushed towards the discharge port 5102 under gravity. In such embodiments, the clearing component 54 moves the chloride salt in the transport channel towards the discharge port 5102, preventing chloride salt residue from remaining in the transport channel.
[0160] In some embodiments, the unblocking member 54 can be a rod that passes through the side plate 513 and enters the transport channel. In such an embodiment, when the solid chloride salt is in powder form, the above arrangement can unblock the chloride salt that is causing a blockage in the transport channel, and can also prevent the chloride salt from being pushed back by the unblocking member 54 along the transport channel in a direction away from the push-back cathode mounting interface 320.
[0161] In some embodiments, the solid chloride salt feeding device 5 may further include a limiting member for limiting the feeding body 51 when it moves to a position where the outlet 5102 is aligned with the cathode mounting interface 320.
[0162] In some embodiments, the feed mounting plate 522 and / or the slider 5211 can slide toward the cathode mounting interface 320 to a position abutting against the limiting member, thereby preventing further sliding toward the cathode mounting interface 320.
[0163] In some embodiments, the solid chloride salt feed device 5 may further include a sliding drive for driving the slider 5211 to move relative to the sliding mating member 5221 toward or away from the cathode mounting interface 320. The sliding drive is, for example, a cylinder.
[0164] In some embodiments, the solid chloride salt feeder 5 is disposed within the glove box body 81. See also Figure 2 In some embodiments, the glove box 8 may include a first glove box attachment 82 and a first transition chamber 83. The first glove box attachment 82 is connected to the glove box body 81; the first transition chamber 83 is connected to the first glove box attachment 82 to allow solid chloride salt to be added to the first glove box attachment 82 through the first transition chamber 83; the solid chloride salt feeding device 5 is partially disposed within the first glove box attachment 82 and partially disposed within the glove box body 81. Since solid chloride salt is radioactive, in such embodiments, the above-mentioned arrangement allows all operations involving solid chloride salt to be performed within the glove box 8, thereby preventing radiation leakage from the solid chloride salt; at the same time, the above-mentioned arrangement helps to avoid interference with operations within the glove box body 81.
[0165] In some embodiments, a glove box attachment for feeding cathode material may be disposed on one side of the glove box body 81 along its length. A glove box attachment for feeding anode material may be disposed on the other side of the glove box body 81 along its length. A first glove box attachment 82 may be disposed on one side of the glove box body 81 along its width.
[0166] See Figure 2In some embodiments, the anode storage and transfer device 4 and the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 are respectively arranged on both sides of the container cover 32 along the length direction of the glove box body 81. This arrangement facilitates the adjacent arrangement of the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 and the anode storage and transfer device 4 to the container cover 32, thereby making it easier to assemble the cathode assembly 1 and the anode assembly 2 with the container cover 32, avoiding increasing the width dimension of the glove box 8, and thus making it easier for operators to perform related operations through operating gloves, avoiding interference during the assembly process of the cathode assembly 1 and the anode assembly 2.
[0167] In some embodiments, the solid chloride salt feed device 5 is disposed on one side of the container cover 32 along the width direction of the glove box body 81. This arrangement facilitates the addition of molten salt to the electrolytic cell 310 by placing the solid chloride salt feed device 5 adjacent to the container cover 32. This also avoids interference between the feeding process of the solid chloride salt feed device 5 and the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 and the anode storage and transfer device 4.
[0168] In some embodiments, the transport auxiliary device 6 is disposed along the length of the glove box body 81 on the side of the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 away from the container cover 32. This arrangement facilitates the assembly of the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19 with the insulating containment part 17, avoids increasing the width dimension of the glove box 8, and makes it easier for operators to perform related operations through operating gloves.
[0169] In some embodiments, the two opposite sides of the first glove box attachment 82 are respectively connected to the first transition chamber 83 and the glove box body 81; the other two opposite sides of the first glove box attachment 82 are respectively provided with operating gloves, so that solid chloride salt can be poured into the feed port 5101 of the solid chloride salt feeding device 5 through the operating gloves, which facilitates the operation of the operator.
[0170] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the glove box body 81 may include a first side surface 811, a second side surface 812 opposite to the first side surface 811, a third side surface 813 opposite to and connecting the first side surface 811 and the second side surface 812, and a fourth side surface 814; the first glove box accessory 82 communicates with the glove box body 81 through the first side surface 811 of the glove box body 81. The first side surface 811 and the second side surface 812 extend along the length direction of the glove box body 81, and the third side surface 813 and the fourth side surface 814 extend along the width direction of the glove box body 81.
[0171] In some embodiments, operating gloves are provided on the first side surface 811 and the second side surface 812. The container lid 32, the cathode assembly conductive moving part 19, the transport auxiliary device 6, and the suspension part 42 are provided adjacent to the second side surface 812 to facilitate the operator to perform related operations near the container lid 32 by using the operating gloves provided on the second side surface 812.
[0172] In some embodiments, the support platform 41 extends along the length of the glove box body 81, and the suspension part 42 is disposed on the side of the support platform 41 facing the container cover 32; the anode clamping member 43 is disposed on the side of the moving member 44 facing the container cover 32. In such an embodiment, the above arrangement is beneficial to shorten the displacement of the anode body 21 from the suspension part 42 to the electrolytic container 3.
[0173] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, the glove box 8 may further include a second glove box attachment 85 and a second transition chamber 86. The second glove box attachment 85 communicates with the glove box body 81 via a fourth side surface 814; the second transition chamber 86 communicates with the second glove box attachment 85 to allow the insertion of an insulating container 17 containing cathode material into the second glove box attachment 85 via the second transition chamber 86. A transport member 63 of the transport auxiliary device 6 extends from the second transition chamber 86 through the second glove box attachment 85 into the glove box body 81. In such embodiments, the above arrangement facilitates the transport member 63 in transporting the insulating container 17 from the second transition chamber 86 into the glove box body 81.
[0174] In some embodiments, the two opposite sides of the second glove box attachment 85 are respectively connected to the second transition chamber 86 and the glove box body 81; the other two opposite sides of the second glove box attachment 85 are respectively provided with operating gloves so as to place the insulating container 17 and the hoisting auxiliary 62 on the transport component 63 through the operating gloves provided on the second glove box attachment 85.
[0175] As previously mentioned, because the melting point of metallic cadmium is lower than that of chloride salts, metallic cadmium in electrolytic cell 310 will exist in liquid form in insulating container 17. The inventors of this application have discovered that elemental or alloyed actinides generated during electrolysis in insulating container 17 may overflow into electrolytic container 3, thereby reducing the recovery efficiency of elemental or alloyed actinides.
[0176] For the above issues, please refer to Figure 13 , Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of the electrolytic container 3 according to an embodiment of this application, omitting the container cover 32. The diagram shows the cooperation between the molten salt suction pipe 36 and the collection member 7. In some embodiments, the electrolytic device 100 may further include the collection member 7 for collecting electrolytic products that fall from the insulating containment 17 in the electrolytic container 3. In such embodiments, collecting the electrolytic products that fall from the insulating containment 17 in the electrolytic container 3 by means of the collection member 7 improves the collection efficiency of the electrolytic products, thereby improving the recovery efficiency of elemental or alloyed actinides.
[0177] In some embodiments, the collector 7 is connected to the container cover 32. The collector 7 can be removed from the electrolytic cell 310 by moving the container cover 32.
[0178] In some embodiments, the collection component 7 may include a collection tray 71 and a connector 72 for connecting the collection tray 71 to the container cover 32.
[0179] See Figure 13 In some embodiments, the electrolytic container 3 is further provided with a molten salt suction pipe 36 for removing the electrolyzed molten salt from the electrolytic cell 310. The collecting tray 71 has a clearance notch 70 to allow the inlet port of the molten salt suction pipe 36 to extend downwards to below the collecting tray 71. In such embodiments, the electrolyzed molten salt is removed from the electrolytic cell 310 via the molten salt suction pipe 36 for processing. Because the inlet port of the molten salt suction pipe 36 extends to below the collecting tray 71, it facilitates the complete removal of molten salt and prevents the electrolysis products on the collecting tray 71 from being sucked into the molten salt suction pipe 36, thus avoiding blockage.
[0180] In some embodiments, the collection tray 71 includes a base plate 711 and a retaining wall 712 disposed around the periphery of the base plate 711. The retaining wall 712 and the base plate 711 are recessed from the edge towards the center to form a clearance notch 70. In such an embodiment, electrolytic products falling onto the base plate 711 are less likely to fall outward from the retaining wall 712. The position of the clearance notch 70 not only prevents electrolytic products from falling downward through the clearance notch 70, but also ensures that the collection tray 71 does not interfere with the molten salt suction pipe 36.
[0181] In some embodiments, the inlet port of the molten salt suction pipe 36 can be a slope, which is located below the bottom plate 711, so that the molten salt can smoothly enter the molten salt suction pipe 36 and be extracted from the electrolytic cell 310, while avoiding the electrolytic products on the collection tray 71 from being sucked into the molten salt suction pipe 36.
[0182] See Figure 11In some embodiments, the electrolytic container 3 may further include a protective shell 33, a heating and insulation component 34, and an outer shell 35. The protective shell 33 is disposed on the outside of the container body 31 to prevent material leakage from the container body 31; the heating and insulation component 34 is disposed on the outside of the protective shell 33 to heat and insulate the container body 31; the outer shell 35 is disposed on the outside of the heating and insulation component 34, and the outer shell 35 has a shell cooling chamber for the flow of a cooling medium to cool the outer shell 35; wherein, the top of the container body 31 enters the glove box 8, and the protective shell 33 is sealed to the lower surface of the glove box 8. In this embodiment, the protective shell 33 can prevent material leakage from the container body 31 to the heating and insulation component 34, thus protecting the heating and insulation component 34 and ensuring the normal progress of the electrolytic reaction, while also ensuring the sealing of the glove box 8; simultaneously, the shell cooling chamber cools the outer shell 35, preventing the outer shell 35 from overheating and affecting the safety of the electrolytic container 3.
[0183] The cooling medium is, for example, cooling water.
[0184] In some embodiments, the heating and heat preservation component 34 may include a heating component 341 and a heat preservation component 342. The heating component 341 is used to heat the container body 31; the heat preservation component 342 is used to keep the container body 31 warm.
[0185] See Figure 1 In some embodiments, the electrolytic container 3 may further include a temperature sensing element 37 for measuring the temperature of the heating element 341. The heating element 341 may be a heating wire, and the temperature sensing element 37 may be a thermocouple.
[0186] In some embodiments, the electrolysis vessel 3 is further provided with a tail gas suction pipe for extracting the tail gas after electrolysis from the electrolysis cell 310. In such an embodiment, the tail gas after electrolysis is extracted through the tail gas suction pipe for treatment.
[0187] See Figure 12 In some embodiments, the electrolysis apparatus 100 may further include a measuring element 38 disposed on the container cover 32 for measuring the liquid level of the molten salt in the electrolysis cell 310 or measuring the temperature inside the electrolysis cell 310. The measuring element 38 is, for example, a radar level gauge or a thermocouple.
[0188] In some embodiments, the electrolysis equipment 100 may also include a plurality of temporary furnace covers for sealing the cathode mounting interface 320 and the anode mounting interface when heating solid chloride salt, so as to prevent chloride salt vapor generated during the heating process from leaking out of the electrolysis cell 310.
[0189] In some embodiments, the electrolysis apparatus 100 may further include a sealed transfer component for sealing the insulating container 17 containing the electrolysis product, so as to transfer the electrolysis product generated by the electrolysis reaction to the outside of the glove box 8. The sealed transfer component is, for example, a sealed barrel.
[0190] In some embodiments, the sealed transfer element may be made of a material with radiation shielding function to prevent radiation leakage of electrolytic products generated by the electrolytic reaction.
[0191] This application also provides a method for recovering actinides from chloride salts, which is implemented using the electrolysis equipment 100 provided in any embodiment of this application. The method may include: S1, adding chloride salt to electrolysis cell 310 and heating electrolysis cell 310 to melt the chloride salt to form molten chloride salt; S2, after step S1, installing anode assembly 2 into anode mounting interface; S3, after step S1, placing insulating container 17 containing cathode material into electrolysis cell 310 through cathode mounting interface 320, heating the cathode material to melt using molten chloride salt, and inserting cathode conductive element 131 into the cathode material; S4, energizing cathode conductive element 131 and anode assembly 2 to start the electrolysis reaction, forming elemental or alloyed actinides at the interface between the molten cathode material and molten salt, and extracting the tail gas generated by the electrolysis reaction from electrolysis cell 310; S5, after the electrolysis reaction is completed, transferring insulating container 17 outside electrolysis cell 310.
[0192] The method provided in the embodiments of this application first adds chloride salt to the electrolytic cell 310, which is then heated to melt and form molten salt. Then, the anode assembly 2 and the cathode assembly 1 are installed. The cathode material is heated to melt using the chloride molten salt. After the cathode material melts, the cathode conductive element 131 is inserted into the cathode material. This helps to avoid damage to the cathode conductive element 131 and ensures good conductivity between the cathode conductive element 131 and the cathode material, which is beneficial for the formation of electrolytic products on the surface of the cathode material.
[0193] In some embodiments, in step S1, the electrolytic cell 310 is heated to a preset temperature so that the chloride salt can melt to form a molten chloride salt. In some embodiments, in step S1, after the electrolytic cell 310 is heated to the preset temperature, it can be kept at that temperature for a preset time to ensure that the mixed salt of lithium chloride and potassium chloride is completely melted.
[0194] In some embodiments, in step S1, solid chloride salt can be added to the electrolytic cell 310 using a solid chloride salt feeder 5.
[0195] Specifically, solid chloride salt can be added to the feed inlet 5101 using an operator's glove. Then, a cylinder drives a slider to move relative to the slide rail towards the cathode mounting interface 320 until the feed body 51 moves to a position where the discharge port 5102 aligns with the cathode mounting interface 320, at which point the cylinder is closed. Next, the second feed connector 532 is extended to maximize the tilt angle of the feed body 51, at which point some of the solid chloride salt enters the cathode mounting interface 320 through the discharge port 5102 under gravity. Then, the feed body 51 is gently pushed and pulled back and forth using the operator's glove, causing it to repeatedly collide with the limiting member to generate vibration, thereby allowing the solid chloride salt to enter the electrolytic cell 310 from the transport channel.
[0196] In some embodiments, step S3, which involves placing the insulating container 17 containing cathode material into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320, may include: S31, placing the insulating container 17 in the lifting aid 62; S32, lifting the lifting aid 62 and the insulating container 17 together to the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 to separate the lifting aid 62 from the insulating container 17; S33, assembling the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating container 17 together, and using the cathode moving member 14 to place the insulating container 17 into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320. In such an embodiment, the insulating container 17 can be carried by the lifting aid 62, and the insulating container 17 can be transferred by lifting the lifting aid 62.
[0197] Since the melting point of the cathode material is lower than that of the chloride molten salt, after the insulating container 17 is placed in the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320, the chloride molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 will heat the cathode material in the insulating container 17 to melt it.
[0198] In some embodiments, step S33 may include: S331, using the cathode moving member 14 to drive the cathode assembly 12 to rotate toward the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61, so that the insulating container 17 and the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 enter the assembly space 1220 through the inlet / outlet 12201 and the notch 12210; S332, using the cathode moving member 14 to drive the cathode assembly 12 upward to move the insulating container 17 away from the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61; S333, using the cathode moving member 14 to drive the cathode assembly 12 to rotate toward the cathode mounting interface 320 to be located directly above the cathode mounting interface 320; S334, using the cathode moving member 14 to drive the cathode assembly 12 downward to place the insulating container 17 into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320, and the cathode cover 11 closes the cathode mounting interface 320. In this embodiment, by using the cathode moving member 14 to rotate the cathode assembly 12 toward the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61, and by using the cathode moving member 14 to move the cathode assembly 12 upward, the cathode assembly 12 can be assembled with the insulating container 17, thereby simplifying the assembly operation between the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating container 17. Furthermore, by using the cathode moving member 14 to rotate the cathode assembly 12 to a position above the cathode mounting interface 320, and then using the cathode moving member 14 to move the cathode assembly 12 downward, the insulating container 17 is placed into the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320, which helps to shorten the time for the cathode material to enter the electrolytic cell 310. Moreover, the cathode cover 11 directly seals the cathode mounting interface 320 after the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating container 17 enter the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320, without the need for separate operation.
[0199] In some embodiments, step S5 may include: S51, using the cathode moving member 14 to move the cathode assembly 12 upward to move the insulating accommodating member 17 directly above the cathode mounting interface 320; S52, using the cathode moving member 14 to rotate the cathode assembly 12 towards the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 to directly above the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61; S53, using the cathode moving member 14 to move the cathode assembly 12 downward so that the insulating accommodating member 17 engages with the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 and is supported by the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61; S54, using the cathode moving member 14 to move the cathode assembly 12 further downward so that the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 enters the assembly space 1220 through the bottom channel 12202; S55, using the cathode moving member 14 to rotate the cathode assembly 12 so that the insulating accommodating member 17 and the auxiliary loading and unloading member 61 leave the assembly space 1220 through the inlet / outlet 12201 and the notch 12210. In this embodiment, the above steps simplify the separation operation between the cathode assembly 12 and the insulating container 17, which helps to shorten the time it takes for the cathode material to leave the electrolytic cell 310.
[0200] In some embodiments, the step of inserting the cathode conductive element 131 into the cathode material after heating the cathode material to melt using molten chloride salt in step S3 includes: using a conductive lifting drive to move the cathode conductive element 131 toward the insulating container 17, and judging the melting state of the cathode material based on the torque or stress detected by the force sensor on the cathode conductive element 131. When the cathode material is completely melted, the conductive lifting drive is used to move the cathode conductive element 131 downward to a position below the liquid surface of the molten cathode material.
[0201] The embodiments of this application utilize the different forces exerted on the cathode conductive element 131 by molten cadmium and solid cadmium. The cathode conductive element 131 is lowered by a conductive lifting drive, and the torque or stress exerted on the cathode conductive element 131 by the cadmium is detected by a force sensor installed on the conductive lifting drive. The molten state of the cadmium is then determined by the change or magnitude of the torque or stress. This helps to avoid damage to the cathode conductive element 131 and ensure good conductivity between the cathode conductive element 131 and the cathode material.
[0202] In some embodiments, in step S4, after energizing the cathode conductor 131 and the anode assembly 2, the molten salt above the insulating container 17 is stirred. In such embodiments, this operation facilitates the flow of the molten salt in the electrolytic cell 310 to the insulating container 17 to contact the molten cathode material, while preventing the molten cathode material from being stirred outside the insulating container 17, thereby improving the recovery efficiency of actinides.
[0203] In some embodiments, in step S4, after energizing the cathode conductive element 131 and the anode assembly 2, the product auxiliary separator 15 reciprocates between the molten salt and the molten cathode material, causing the actinide element elemental or alloy layer formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt to break down and then sink under gravity. In such embodiments, the reciprocating motion of the product auxiliary separator 15 between the molten salt and the molten cathode material creates oscillation, causing the foil-like electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt to break down and then sink to the bottom of the insulating container 17 under gravity, thus preventing the electrolytic products from affecting the continued electrolytic reaction.
[0204] By selecting a suitable reciprocating lifting motion stroke, under the same stroke of the product auxiliary separator 15, as the electrolysis reaction proceeds and the interface rises continuously, the interface can still remain within the stroke of the product auxiliary separator 15 without changing the stroke of the product auxiliary separator 15. This simplifies the operation of the electrolysis product leaving the interface between the cathode material melt and the molten salt.
[0205] The recycling method of this application is described below with reference to specific embodiments.
[0206] 1. Molten Salt Feeding: ① 100-200 kg (e.g., 150 kg) of solid molten salt LiCl-KCl is placed into the first glove box accessory 82 through the first transition chamber 83 of the glove box 8. The solid molten salt LiCl-KCl is poured into the feed body 51 through the operating glove of the first glove box accessory 82. The slider is driven by the cylinder to move along the slide rail so that the feed body 51 carries the solid molten salt to the position where the discharge port 5102 is aligned with the cathode mounting interface 320. The second feed connector 532 is extended so that the transport channel is tilted downward toward the cathode mounting interface 320. The feed body 51 is pulled back and forth slightly by the operating glove so that the sliding part 5211 and the limiting part repeatedly collide slightly to generate vibration so that the molten salt powder in the feed body 51 enters the cathode mounting interface 320 from the discharge port 5102. ② After that, multiple temporary furnace covers are used to seal the cathode mounting interface 320 and the anode mounting interface. Cooling water is supplied through the cooling device, and the heating wire is turned on to heat the electrolytic cell 310 to 500°C and keep it at that temperature for 12 hours so that the mixed salt of lithium chloride and potassium chloride can be completely melted.
[0207] 2. Anode Feeding: ① Using the first horizontal moving member 441 and the second horizontal moving member 443, the gripper is transferred to a position above the anode body 21 located in the suspension part 42. The vertical moving member 442 drives the gripper to move downward to clamp the anode body 21. ② Then, the vertical moving member 442 drives the gripper to move upward until the anode body 21 is completely disengaged from the suspension part 42. The first horizontal moving member 441 and the second horizontal moving member 443 transfer the gripper holding the anode body 21 to a position directly above the anode mounting interface. ③ Then, the vertical moving member 442 drives the gripper to move downward so that the anode body 21 enters the clamping groove 23110. The insulating grippers located on the outside of the two clamping parts 2311 clamp the two clamping parts 2311, so that the anode body 21 is clamped by the conductive clamping member 231. ④ Then, the vertical moving member 442 drives the gripper to move upward so that the gripper holding the anode body 21 is separated from the anode body 21. The first horizontal moving member 441 and the second horizontal moving member 443 are used to transfer the gripper to a position away from the electrolytic container 3.
[0208] 3. Cathode Feeding: ① A silicon nitride crucible filled with 30 kg of metallic cadmium and a lifting auxiliary component 62 are placed into the second glove box attachment 85 via the second transition chamber 86. Using the operating gloves of the second glove box attachment 85, the silicon nitride crucible and the lifting auxiliary component 62 are placed on the transporter, which then sends them into the glove box body 81. ② Subsequently, the lifting auxiliary component 62 containing the silicon nitride crucible is lifted onto the auxiliary loading and unloading component 61 using the crane on top of the glove box body 81. The auxiliary loading and unloading component 61 then supports the silicon nitride crucible containing metallic cadmium, at which point the lifting auxiliary component 62 is separated from the silicon nitride crucible. ③ Afterward, the cathode moving component 14 moves the cathode assembly 12 toward the silicon nitride crucible so that the auxiliary support 612 can enter the notch 12210, thereby allowing the auxiliary mating part 611 and the insulating containment part 17 to enter the assembly space 1220 via the inlet and outlet 12201. ④ Then, the cathode moving component 14 drives the cathode assembly 12 upward to separate the silicon nitride crucible from the auxiliary mating part 611. ⑤ Then, the cathode moving component 14 drives the cathode assembly 12 and the silicon nitride crucible to move directly above the cathode mounting interface 320. The cathode moving component 14 then drives the silicon nitride crucible downward until the silicon nitride crucible enters the electrolytic cell 310 and the cathode cover 11 seals the cathode mounting interface 320. ⑥ Then, the force sensor installed on the conductive lifting drive component measures the stress on the cathode conductive component 131 to determine the melting state of the cadmium metal. When the cadmium metal is completely melted, the conductive lifting component 133 moves the cathode conductive component 131 downward to insert it into the molten cadmium metal.
[0209] 4. Electrolysis process: Connect the cathode and anode power supply, set the current to 100-200A (e.g., 150A), and start electrolysis; after electrolysis starts, use the tail gas suction pipe to extract the tail gas generated during the electrolysis process from the electrolysis cell 310 by negative pressure suction; at the same time, use the stirrer 161 to stir the chloride molten salt, and use the auxiliary separation body 151 to make the continuously generated actinide elemental or alloyed elements descend to the bottom of the silicon nitride crucible.
[0210] 5. Cathode Discharge: ① Disconnect the cathode and anode power supplies. Use the cathode moving component 14 to move the silicon nitride crucible upwards until it leaves the electrolytic cell 310 through the cathode mounting interface 320. Maintain this position above the electrolytic cell 310 for a predetermined time to cool the silicon nitride crucible and the material inside. ② Then, use the cathode moving component 14 to rotate the silicon nitride crucible above the auxiliary loading and unloading component 61. Use the cathode moving component 14 to move the silicon nitride crucible downwards so that the auxiliary mating part 611 enters the assembly space 1220 through the bottom channel 12202 and mates with the silicon nitride crucible. ③ Then, use the cathode moving component 14 to rotate the cathode assembly 12 to separate the cathode assembly 12 from the silicon nitride crucible. At this time, the silicon nitride crucible is supported by the auxiliary loading and unloading component 61. ④ Then, the hoisting auxiliary component 62 is lifted by the crane on the top of the glove box 8 so that the auxiliary loading and unloading component 61 is separated from the silicon nitride crucible. The hoisting auxiliary component 62 carrying the silicon nitride crucible is placed into the sealed bucket on the transport component by the crane and then transported out of the glove box body 81 by the transport component.
[0211] Regarding the embodiments of this application, it should also be noted that, without conflict, the embodiments of this application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.
[0212] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. The scope of protection of this application shall be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A cathode assembly that improves the recovery efficiency of actinides, suitable for electrolytic equipment for recovering actinides from chloride salts, the electrolytic equipment comprising an electrolytic container forming an electrolytic cell and a cathode mounting interface communicating with the electrolytic cell; characterized in that, The cathode assembly includes a cathode material and an insulating accommodator for containing the cathode material, and the cathode assembly further includes: A cathode assembly is used to be assembled with or separated from the insulating housing, so that when assembled with the insulating housing, it can carry the insulating housing through the cathode mounting interface into and out of the electrolytic cell. The product auxiliary separation component is configured to assist the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt to leave the interface and sink to the bottom of the insulating container under their own weight. The product auxiliary separation component includes: The system includes an auxiliary separation body, an auxiliary connecting part, and an auxiliary lifting part, wherein the auxiliary separation body is connected to the auxiliary lifting part via the auxiliary connecting part; The auxiliary lifting unit is used to drive the auxiliary separation body to reciprocate between the molten salt and the molten cathode material, so as to break the electrolytic products formed at the interface between the molten cathode material and the molten salt, and thus allow the electrolytic products to sink to the bottom of the insulating container under the action of gravity. The auxiliary separation body includes a main body, a plurality of claws connected to the main body, and a connecting part connected to the main body, wherein the connecting part is used to connect to the auxiliary connecting part.
2. The cathode assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two adjacent claws are connected by a smooth transition, and the ends of the claws are rounded.
3. The cathode assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting portion and the auxiliary separation body are symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical plane.
4. The cathode assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The auxiliary separation body is eccentrically positioned with its center of gravity biased toward the connecting portion; the length of each claw gradually increases from the connecting portion toward the direction away from the connecting portion.
5. The cathode assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, Except for one claw portion that is opposite to the connecting portion, the ends of the other claw portions are on the same circumference.
6. The cathode assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, A space is formed between one of the claw portions opposite to the connecting portion and the circumference for the passage of a cathode conductive component that supplies power to the cathode material.
7. The cathode assembly according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Also includes: A cathode cover for sealing the cathode mounting interface; The cathode cover is connected to the product auxiliary separation component.
8. An electrolytic device for recovering actinides from chloride salts, characterized in that, The electrolysis equipment includes: An electrolytic container, the electrolytic container forming an electrolytic cell and a cathode mounting interface communicating with the electrolytic cell; The cathode assembly according to any one of claims 1-7 is used to enter the electrolytic cell through the cathode mounting interface.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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