Mechanical press system and method of removing salt using the same

Abstract

A method of removing salt from a dendritic mixture includes loading the dendritic mixture into a mechanical press system. The dendritic mixture includes a metallic dendrite and salt dispersed within the metallic dendrite. The dendritic mixture is heated to liquefy the salt without volatilizing one or more metals of the metallic dendrite. The dendritic mixture is also compressed to obtain a fluidic mixture and an ingot of the metallic dendrite. The fluidic mixture may include molten salt and residual metallic dendrite. The fluidic mixture may be filtered to separate the residual metallic dendrite from the molten salt.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field[0002]The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for removing salts from electrolytically-reduced metals.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]During a fuel fabrication process, metal oxides may be obtained from spent nuclear material and electrolytically reduced to their metallic form. The resulting metal from the electrolytic reduction step may be in the form of a dendritic structure (e.g., cake), which resembles a porous metal sponge with a relatively high surface area. As a result, the dendritic structure will also have a relatively large amount of salt adhered to and included therein from the electrolytic reduction step.[0005]To remove the salt from the dendritic structure, a cathode processor is conventionally used to subject the mixture to relatively high temperatures to vaporize the salt. However, the relatively high temperatures will also vaporize volatile contaminants and radioactive materials within the mixture, which requires relativ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for removing salts from electrolytically-reduced metals. The technical effect of this patent is to provide a more efficient and safe method for removing salts from dendritic mixtures without the need for high temperatures and expensive equipment. This is achieved by using a mechanical press system with a curved bottom portion and an upper lip portion that can come together and separate during a compression and decompression state, allowing for the separation of the metallic dendrite and the salt adhered to it. The method involves heating the dendritic mixture to liquefy the salt without volatilizing the metals, and then compressing it to obtain a fluidic mixture and an ingot of the metallic dendrite. The process is carried out at room temperature, reducing the risk of accidents and the need for expensive equipment.

Problems solved by technology

However, the relatively high temperatures will also vaporize volatile contaminants and radioactive materials within the mixture, which requires relatively expensive equipment to clean up the offgas from such a process while also increasing the risk of an accidental release of such materials.

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