Integrated Molten Salt Electrolysis for Actinide and Rare Earth Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for uranium and uranium-transuranic processing generate contaminated electrolyte that requires multiple steps for reclaiming, leading to secondary waste streams and increased facility footprint, necessitating a more efficient and streamlined system for electrolyte recovery.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing electrolysis to sequentially remove actinides and rare earths as elemental metals from the electrolyte, with chlorine gas regeneration for re-chlorination of uranium and transuranium elements, integrating three operations in one system with a single electrolyte bath and mobile electrode sets to minimize waste and footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate systems are used for actinide removal, rare earth removal, and electrolyte regeneration, then each operation can be optimized independently, but the facility footprint and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three separate operations (actinide removal, rare earth removal, and electrolyte regeneration) into a single integrated electrolysis system. The electrolyte bath serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the medium for actinide deposition, rare earth deposition, and chlorine generation for regeneration, eliminating the need for multiple separate facilities and reducing overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolyte bath is designed to perform multiple functions within a single system. It serves as both the electrolyte medium for metal deposition and the source of chlorine for electrolyte regeneration. The same bath accommodates different electrode configurations for sequential removal of actinides and rare earths, making the system universal and multi-functional.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional multi-step reclaiming processes are used for contaminated electrolyte, then thorough purification can be achieved, but secondary waste streams are generated and process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful contamination (rare earth elements and actinides) into a beneficial resource. Instead of treating these as waste to be removed and discarded, the system uses electrolysis to selectively deposit them on cathodes while generating chlorine gas as a useful byproduct. The chlorine gas is then used to regenerate the electrolyte, turning what would be harmful contaminants into valuable materials and regenerating agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The system selectively discards (removes) actinides and rare earths from the electrolyte through electrodeposititon on cathodes, while simultaneously recovering chlorine gas at the anode. The recovered chlorine is then used to regenerate the electrolyte, creating a closed-loop process that minimizes waste and maximizes resource recovery.
3Ease of operation
If separate electrolyte baths are used for different processing steps, then each step can be independently controlled, but the number of vessels and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic electrode configurations within a single static electrolyte bath. Different electrode arrangements and potentials are applied sequentially to achieve different objectives: first for actinide removal, then for rare earth removal, and finally for electrolyte regeneration using the same bath. This dynamic control of electrodes replaces the need for multiple static vessels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient recycling of molten salt, maintaining mass balances, reducing waste, and minimizing facility space, while maximizing actinide recovery and minimizing rare earth loss, thus enhancing the nuclear fuel processing efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing electrolysis to first remove actinide as elemental metal
Implementation Method 2
collecting actinide metals using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath
Implementation Method 3
then rare earths as elemental metals
Implementation Method 4
collecting rare earth metals using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath
Implementation Method 5
The chlorine gas is then used to regenerate the electrolyte by chlorinating uranium and transuranium elements in the electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
A method for recycling molten salt from electrorefining processes, the method having the steps of collecting actinide metal using a first plurality of cathodes from an electrolyte bath, collecting rare earths metal using a second plurality of cathodes from the electrolyte bath, inserting the collected actinide metal and uranium into the bath, and chlorinating the inserted actinide metal and uranium. Also provided is a system for recycling molten salt, the system having a vessel adapted to receive and heat electrolyte salt, a first plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, a second plurality of cathodes adapted to be removably inserted into the vessel, an anode positioned within the vessel so as to be coaxially aligned with the vessel, and a vehicle for inserting uranium into the salt.