Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC

Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC

Brenda L Garcia-Diaz

Joshua R Gray

Luke C Olson

Michael J Martinez-Rodriguez

Joseph A Teprovich, Jr

Hector R Colon-Mercado

Elise B Fox

Ann E Visser

Nicholas J Bridges

Roderick E Fuentes

Dale A Hitchcock

David W Babineau

Christopher S Dandeneau

Methods and systems for use in targeted removal of metals from a substrate via electrorefining are described. A self-propagating reaction is initiated by use of a thermite to reach high temperatures sufficient to induce localized melting of a salt situated on a metal or alloy substrate. Using a power supply connected to an electrode assembly, an electrorefining reaction capable of generating significant localized corrosion of the substrate is produced.

Localized electrorefining of metals and alloys

Electrochemical cells and methods are described that can be utilized for the recovery of tritium directly from a molten lithium metal solution without the need for a separation or concentration step prior to the electrolytic recovery process. The methods and systems utilize an ion conducting electrolyte that conducts either lithium ion or tritide ion across the electrochemical cell.

Recovery of tritium from molten lithium blanket

A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UOand processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.

Galvanic cell for processing of used nuclear fuel

Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel

A heat transfer fluid created from nanoparticles that are dispersed into an ionic liquid is provided. Small volumes of nanoparticles are created from e.g., metals or metal oxides and/or alloys of such materials are dispersed into ionic liquids to create a heat transfer fluid. The nanoparticles can be dispersed directly into the ionic liquid during nanoparticle formation or the nanoparticles can be formed and then, in a subsequent step, dispersed into the ionic liquid using e.g., agitation.

Nanoparticle enhanced ionic liquid heat transfer fluids

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Aiken, SC, United States of America

Brenda L Garcia-Diaz