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US3969631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas production apparatus
Assignee: Energy Research and Development Administration ERDA
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Filing: 1975-03-20
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1995-03-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates generally to the production of gases, and more particularly to the production of tritium gas in a reliable long operating lifetime systems that employs solid lithium to overcome the heretofore known problems of material compatibility and corrosion, etc., with liquid metals. The solid lithium is irradiated by neutrons inside low activity means containing a positive (+) pressure gas stream for removing and separating the tritium from the solid lithium, and these means are contained in a low activity shell containing a thermal insulator and a neutron moderator.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren E. Winsche
- 👤 Francis T. Miles
- 👤 James R. Powell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:51
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21G; G21G1/00; G21G1/04; G21G1/06; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/081; B01J19/084; C; C01; C01B; C01B4/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
Tritium gas producing apparatus for use with a source of neutrons comprising means consisting of: a. solid lithium target means for receiving the neutrons so as to produce tritium that diffuses through the solid lithium means; and b. sintered aluminum product cooling means interposed between the solid lithium target means and the source of neutrons for containing gas coolant that circulates under pressure through the cooling means in contact with the solid lithium target means to separate and remove the tritium that escapes from the solid lithium means by said diffusion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
Tritium gas producing apparatus for use with a source of neutrons comprising means consisting of: a. solid lithium target means for receiving the neutrons so as to produce tritium that diffuses through the solid lithium means; and b. sintered aluminum product cooling means interposed between the solid lithium target means and the source of neutrons for containing gas coolant that circulates under pressure through the cooling means in contact with the solid lithium target means to separate and remove the tritium that escapes from the solid lithium means by said diffusion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the solid lithium target means has contained therein other elements that are chemically bonded thereto so as to have a high tritium equilibrium pressure, a high melting point above about 500° C, and good neutron economy by providing small thermal and fast neutron cross-sections so that the predominant neutron reactions therein are in the lithium part thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the elements in the solid lithium means beside Li are selected from the group consisting of Al, O, Mg, Si and F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the solid Li means is LiAl with a melting point of greater than about 500°C having good neutron economy and a high tritium equilibrium pressure of about 10 3 times better than Li for the same tritium concentration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the solid means is a 1 mm diameter ball containing LiAl particles 100 to 600 A in diameter having a binder consisting of finely divided Be particles of about the same diameter as the LiAl particles that are compressed therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention of claim 1 having cooling tubes (18) containing the solid lithium target means (12) and a moderator (22) adjacent the solid lithium target means (12) adapted to receive and transport the gas coolant along the tube axis, the sintered aluminum product cooling means forming a shell (32) having an insulator (33) between the shell (32) and the cooling tubes (18) adapted to transport the gas coolant into and out of the cooling tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 6 having a shell and cooling tubes made from sintered aluminum product containing Al 2 O 3 dispersoid for strength and integrity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention of claim 6 having an inlet means for the gas coolant adapted to circulate the coolant between the insulator and the cooling tubes before circulating the coolant in contact with the solid lithium target means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 6 having solid means consisting of pellets exposed to the gas coolant in the cooling tubes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 6 having cooling tubes and protium gas means in the tubes containing hydrogen for scavenging the tritium in the gas coolant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claim 6 having a trap for removing the tritium from inside the cooling tubes, the trap containing metal means for absorbing the tritium as a solid metal tritide, selected from the group consisting of the tritides containing Zr, Ti and Y.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 11 having means for converting the absorbed solid metal tritide into T 2 O by the addition of oxygen thereto for absorption and recovery by water absorption.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 6 having means adapted to contain liquid alkali metal for absorbing the tritium from the gas coolant for recovery from the alkali metal by cold trapping.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 13 having means adapted to contain the liquid alkali metal means in contact with a minor amount of the gas coolant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention of claim 13 in which the liquid alkali metal means includes means for forming an intermediate heat exchange circuit having heat exchange means and a steam generator for supplying useful heat from the gas coolant in direct proportion to the neutron energy that is received and moderated in said moderator to produce heat by the slowing down of the neutrons.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2061769A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |