Chemistry of inorganic compounds – Radioactive
Patent
1984-10-17
1987-04-14
Miller, Edward A.
Chemistry of inorganic compounds
Radioactive
423261, 423648A, 423657, 252630, C01B 310, C01B 400
Patent
active
046577475
ABSTRACT:
A method of recovering tritium from tritiated compounds comprises the steps of heating tritiated water and other co-injected tritiated compounds in a preheater to temperatures of about 600.degree. C. The mixture is injected into a reactor charged with a mixture of uranium and uranium dioxide. The injected mixture undergoes highly exothermic reactions with the uranium causing reaction temperatures to occur in excess of the melting point of uranium, and complete decomposition of the tritiated compounds to remove tritium therefrom. The uranium dioxide functions as an insulating material and heat sink preventing the reactor side walls from attaining reaction temperatures to thereby minimize tritium permeation rates. The uranium dioxide also functions as a diluent to allow for volumetric expansion of the uranium as it is converted to uranium dioxide. The reactor vessel is preferably stainless steel of sufficient mass so as to function as a heat sink preventing the reactor side walls from approaching high temperatures. A disposable copper liner extends between the reaction chamber and stainless steel outer vessel to prevent alloying of the uranium with the outer vessel. Apparatus used to carry out the method of the invention is also disclosed.
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Proceedings of Ninth Symposium on "Engineering Problems of Fusion Research", Chicago, Illinois, IEEE 1981, pp. 2084-2087, Bartlit et al.
"Vacuum Applications for the Tritium Systems Test Assembly" at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Anderson et al, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 1 (2), Apr.-Jun. 1983, pp. 849-855.
Chafin James H.
Hightower Judson R.
Miller Edward A.
Sopp Albert
The United States of America as represented by the United States
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