US3884784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for electro-chemically cutting an irradiated nuclear fuel assembly
Assignee: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre
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Filing: 1972-07-03
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1992-07-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a process for electrochemically cutting an irradiated nuclear fuel assembly, in which an electrolyte is arranged between an electrode and the assembly to be cut, and an electric current is conducted between the assembly and the electrode, this process being characterized in that a molten oxidising salt is used as electrolyte, in which a halide is dissolved as auxiliary agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Gerard Wurm
- 👤 Impe Jean Van
- 👤 Coninck Antoine De
- 👤 Paul Raymond Heylen
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Rombaux
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:24
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C19/00; G21C19/34; G21C19/38; B; B23; B23H; B23H3/00; B23H3/08; B23H9/00; C; C25; C25F; C25F3/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A PROCESS FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY CUTTING AN IRRADIATED FUEL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: CONNECTING THE ASSEMBLY AS AN ANODE INTO AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, CONNECTING A TOOL WITH A ROW OF CHANNELS AS A CATHODE INTO THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, AND THROWING AN ELECTROLYTE THROUGH THE CHANNELS AGAINST THE ASSEMBLY, THE ELECTROLYTE CONSISTING IN A MOLTEN SALT COMPRISING AN ALKALI NITRATE, IN WHICH A FLUORIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROU COMPRISING NAF, KF AND LIF IS DISSOLVED IN A CONCENTRATION OF 1-10 MOL %.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A PROCESS FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY CUTTING AN IRRADIATED FUEL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: CONNECTING THE ASSEMBLY AS AN ANODE INTO AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, CONNECTING A TOOL WITH A ROW OF CHANNELS AS A CATHODE INTO THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT, AND THROWING AN ELECTROLYTE THROUGH THE CHANNELS AGAINST THE ASSEMBLY, THE ELECTROLYTE CONSISTING IN A MOLTEN SALT COMPRISING AN ALKALI NITRATE, IN WHICH A FLUORIDE SELECTED FROM THE GROU COMPRISING NAF, KF AND LIF IS DISSOLVED IN A CONCENTRATION OF 1-10 MOL %.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali nitrate is NaNO3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte consists in a molten ternary eutectic: NaNO3 - KNO3 - LiNO3, in which a fluoride selected from the group comprising NaF, KF and LiF is dissolved in a concentration of 1-10 mol %.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is molten NaNO3 in which NaF is dissolved in a concentration of 1-5 mol %.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2873233A
Cited
US3446713A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |