U.S. Department of Energy

Brian Robert Westphal

Robert Dominick Mariani

Steven Herrmann

Shelly Xiaowei Li

A method and device for the real-time, in-situ monitoring of Plutonium content in U&#x2014;Pu Alloys comprising providing a crucible. The crucible has an interior non-reactive to a metallic U&#x2014;Pu alloy within said interior of said crucible. The U&#x2014;Pu alloy comprises metallic uranium and plutonium. The U&#x2014;Pu alloy is heated to a liquid in an inert or reducing atmosphere. The heated U&#x2014;Pu alloy is then cooled to a solid in an inert or reducing atmosphere. As the U&#x2014;Pu alloy is cooled, the temperature of the U&#x2014;Pu alloy is monitored. A solidification temperature signature is determined from the monitored temperature of the U&#x2014;Pu alloy during the step of cooling. The amount of Uranium and the amount of Plutonium in the U&#x2014;Pu alloy is then determined from the determined solidification temperature signature.

Real-time monitoring of plutonium content in uranium-plutonium alloys

A method for the production of UClsalt without the use of hazardous chemicals or multiple apparatuses for synthesis and purification is provided. Uranium metal is combined in a reaction vessel with a metal chloride and a eutectic salt- and heated to a first temperature under vacuum conditions to promote reaction of the uranium metal with the metal chloride for the production of a UClsalt. After the reaction has run substantially to completion, the furnace is heated to a second temperature under vacuum conditions. The second temperature is sufficiently high to selectively vaporize the chloride salts and distill them into a condenser region.

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Idaho Falls, ID, United States of America

Brian Robert Westphal