US4568436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separation of isotopes of zirconium
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1982-08-25
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2002-08-25
Abstract
Abstract The absorption of neutrons of a nuclear reactor without producing fissions is reduced by providing selected isotopes of zirconium for fabrication of parts such as cladding, thimble tubes and grids. Specifically, the zirconium is enriched in 90Zr or is depleted in 91Zr. The selected isotopes are produced by irradiating Zr(OC4H9)4t, Zr(OC5H11)4t and/or Zr(OC3H7)4t, with radiation from a CO2 laser tuned to the vibrations of the CO(90Zr) bond or the O(91Zr) bond.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Feichtner
- 👤 Donald E. Thomas
- 👤 Bulent E. Yoldas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:04
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D59/00; B01D59/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
The method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor, the said method comprising producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tetra-tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , zirconium tetra-tertiary amyloxide, Zr(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , and zirconium tetra-tertiary isopropoxide, Zr(OC 3 H 7 ) 4 t , said compounds containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from said material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C--O-- 90 Zr bond of said material, to excite selectively the C--O-- 90 Zr bond, whereby the 90 Zr component of said material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the 90 Zr component from the remainder of the irradiated material, and forming the said parts of a nuclear reactor of zirconium of said 90 Zr component of said material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
The method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor, the said method comprising producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tetra-tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , zirconium tetra-tertiary amyloxide, Zr(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , and zirconium tetra-tertiary isopropoxide, Zr(OC 3 H 7 ) 4 t , said compounds containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from said material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C--O-- 90 Zr bond of said material, to excite selectively the C--O-- 90 Zr bond, whereby the 90 Zr component of said material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the 90 Zr component from the remainder of the irradiated material, and forming the said parts of a nuclear reactor of zirconium of said 90 Zr component of said material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the material is subjected to a temperature at which it has a relatively high vapor pressure and the vapor from said material is adiabatically expanded reducing its temperature to reduce the population in the material of higher vibrational quantum levels, and the vapor at the reduced temperature is subjected to radiation emitted by the carbon dioxide laser as recited in claim 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the material is subjected to a temperature of between 423° K. and 473° K. and its vapor is reduced by adiabatic expansion to a temperature of about 50° K.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, in addition to being irradiated by radiation tuned to the frequency of the vibrations of the fundamental of the C--O-- 90 Zr bond, the vapor is irradiated by infrared radiation from a second CO 2 laser tuned to a frequency displaced from said frequency of the vibrations of the C--O-- 90 Zr bond.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, in addition to being irradiated by radiation tuned to the frequency of the vibrations of the fundamental of the C--O-- 90 Zr bond, the vapor is irradiated by ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the molecules of the specified zirconium alkoxides decompose into components existing in different phases as a result of being subject to radiation from the carbon dioxide laser, the component containing the selected zirconium isotope existing in one of said phases and the said zirconium-containing component being separated in reliance upon its physical difference from other components existing in the other phases.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
164 words
The method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor, the said method comprising producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tetra-tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , zirconium tetra-tertiary amyloxide, Zr(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , and zirconium tetra-tertiary isopropoxide Zr(OC 3 H 7 ) 4 t , said compounds containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from said material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C--O-- 91 Zr bond of said material, to excite selectively the C--O-- 91 Zr bond, whereby the 91 Zr component of said material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the 91 Zr component from the remainder of the irradiated material, and forming the said parts of a nuclear reactor of zirconium from the remainder of said material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
164 words
The method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor, the said method comprising producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tetra-tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , zirconium tetra-tertiary amyloxide, Zr(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , and zirconium tetra-tertiary isopropoxide Zr(OC 3 H 7 ) 4 t , said compounds containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from said material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C--O-- 91 Zr bond of said material, to excite selectively the C--O-- 91 Zr bond, whereby the 91 Zr component of said material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the 91 Zr component from the remainder of the irradiated material, and forming the said parts of a nuclear reactor of zirconium from the remainder of said material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the material is subjected to a temperature at which it has a relatively high vapor pressure and the vapor from said material is adiabatically expanded reducing its temperature to reduce the population in the material of higher vibrational quantum levels, and the vapor at the reduced temperature is subjected to radiation emitted by the carbon dioxide laser as recited in claim 7.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 7 wherein, in addition to being irradiated by radiation tuned to the frequency of the vibrations of the fundamental of the C--O-- 91 Zr bond, the vapor is irradiated by infrared radiation from a second CO 2 laser tuned to a frequency displaced from said frequency of the vibrations of the C--O-- 91 Zr bond.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 wherein, in addition to being irradiated by radiation tuned to the frequency of the vibrations of the fundamental of the C--O-- 91 Zr bond, the vapor is irradiated by ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the compounds, in addition to containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, also contains a plurality of hafnium isotopes as hafnium tetra-tertiary butoxide, Hf(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , hafnium tetra-tertiary amyloxide, Hf(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , and hafnium tetra-tertiary isopropoxide, Hf(OC 3 H 2 ) 4 t , the said method including the steps of subjecting the resulting material from which the 91 Zr has been separated to radiation from a CO 2 laser tuned to the frequency of the vibration of the C--O--Hf bond, whereby the Hf component of the resulting material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition from the remainder of the resulting material and forming the parts of a nuclear reactor of zirconium from the said remainder of said resulting material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the molecules of the specified zirconium alkoxides decompose into components existing in different phases as a result of being subject to radiation from the carbon dioxide laser, the component containing the selected zirconium isotope existing in one of said phases and the said zirconium-containing component being separated in reliance upon its physical difference from other components existing in the other phases.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
167 words
The method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor, the said method comprising producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , and zirconium amyloxide Zr(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , said compounds containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from said material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C--O-- s Zr bond of a selected s Zr isotope of said material, whereby the s Zr component of said material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the s Zr component from the remainder of said irradiated material, and forming the said parts of whichever of the separated s Zr component of said material or of the remainder of said material in which the zirconium has the minimum neutron absorption cross section.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
167 words
The method of producing zirconium having a low neutron-absorption cross section for use in parts of a nuclear reactor, the said method comprising producing a material of one or more of the class of compounds consisting of zirconium tertiary butoxide, Zr(OC 4 H 9 ) 4 t , and zirconium amyloxide Zr(OC 5 H 11 ) 4 t , said compounds containing a plurality of isotopes of zirconium, subjecting the vapor emitted from said material to radiation emitted from a carbon dioxide laser tuned to the vibration of the fundamental of the C--O-- s Zr bond of a selected s Zr isotope of said material, whereby the s Zr component of said material is decomposed, separating the product of the decomposition of the s Zr component from the remainder of said irradiated material, and forming the said parts of whichever of the separated s Zr component of said material or of the remainder of said material in which the zirconium has the minimum neutron absorption cross section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the molecules of the specified zirconium alkoxides decompose into components existing in different phases as a result of being subject to radiation from the carbon dioxide laser, the component containing the selected zirconium isotope existing in one of said phases and the said zirconium-containing component being separated in reliance upon its physical difference from other components existing in the other phases.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |