Nuclear Fuel Mixture Isotope Conversion for Silver and Gold Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nuclear uranium reactors face issues such as the potential misuse of plutonium for military purposes, its high toxicity, commercial unviability, insufficient neutron utilization, and reduced economic efficiency in electricity generation due to the formation of plutonium and inefficient neutron use.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating stable cadmium isotopes (Cd106, Cd108) and mercury isotopes (Hg196) into the nuclear fuel mixture, which undergo nuclear transformations to produce stable silver (Ag107, Ag109) and gold (Au197) isotopes, respectively, utilizing neutrons generated from uranium fission, thereby replacing plutonium production and enhancing neutron utilization and economic efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If plutonium is produced from uranium fission, then neutrons are utilized to create fissionable material, but the plutonium can be misused for military purposes and has high toxicity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneutron utilization efficiencyVSAvoidmilitary misuse risk and toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful surplus neutrons (which would otherwise be wasted or used to create dangerous plutonium) into beneficial stable isotopes of silver and gold through controlled nuclear transformation of cadmium and mercury isotopes. This transforms a harmful byproduct into valuable commercial products while eliminating security risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the target material parameters from uranium-238 (which produces plutonium) to cadmium and mercury isotopes (which produce stable silver and gold isotopes). By changing the atomic number and neutron capture characteristics of the target material, the reaction outcome changes from producing fissionable plutonium to producing stable, non-fissionable precious metal isotopes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If surplus neutrons are not utilized, then safety risks are reduced, but economic efficiency of electricity generation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplutonium formation riskVSAvoidunused neutron energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the nuclear reactor to utilize its own surplus neutrons for a secondary productive function - transforming cadmium and mercury isotopes into valuable silver and gold isotopes. The system serves itself by using its waste neutron flux to generate additional economic value without requiring external neutron sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the neutron flux multi-functional: it serves both the primary function of sustaining the fission chain reaction for electricity generation and the secondary function of transforming target isotopes into valuable stable isotopes. This dual utilization eliminates waste and improves overall economic efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If stable isotopes of cadmium and mercury are added to fuel mixture, then valuable stable silver and gold isotopes are produced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevaluable isotope productionVSAvoidfuel mixture composition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the production of stable silver and gold isotopes with the existing nuclear fission process by incorporating cadmium and mercury isotopes into the fuel mixture. This combines two separate functions (electricity generation and precious isotope production) into a single integrated system, avoiding the need for separate production facilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3827443B1Addition into the fuel mixture of nuclear fuel for nuclear reactors

Publication Date: 2022.03.16 WEST REALITY SRO

AI summary

The invention evaluates the functioning of an atomic reactor where, during the production of electrical energy from a stable uranium isotope by means of a fission chain reaction, extra neutrons are formed that can be used, in addition to electricity production, to also convert certain elements to other elements, specifically of some selected stable isotopes of particular elements to stable isotopes of other elements and they use the fact that individual elements have different prices and use in the industry. These variations are described by known equations of elemental transformation, however they have not yet been used in practice, mainly due to the lack of natural neutron sources and by the help of this invention, neutron sources are used in the production of electrical energy in nuclear reactors, which are currently considered to be nuclear waste (they are absorbed in control rods in reactors and considered to be undesirable parts, that could start an uncontrolled fission reaction), or they are used to produce militarily sensitive fissionable plutonium, the commercial use of which is not allowed at present due to possible military abuse.