Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC

Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC

Savannah River National Solutions, LLC

Henry T Sessions

Xin Xiao

Michael A Brown

Lucas M Angelette

Leung Kit Heung

Simona E Hunyadi Murph

Simona H Murph

Kaitlin J Lawrence

Paul R Beaumont

David M Immel

David W Babineau

Heather Mentzer

Robert L Rabun, Iii

Jared L Clark

Sharon H Redd

John Kvartek

James E Klein

Methods and systems directed to the separation of tritium from an aqueous stream are described. The separation method is a multistage method that includes a purification stage during which tritium of a tritium-contaminated aqueous stream is adsorbed onto a cooled and wet separation phase, a regeneration stage during which the adsorbed tritium is exchanged with hydrogen in a gaseous stream to regenerate the separation phase and provide a gaseous stream with a high tritium concentration, and a third stage during which the tritium of the gaseous stream is separated from the gaseous stream as a gaseous tritium product.

Low temperature decontamination of tritiated water

Vehicle structural components and additive manufacturing methods for forming the components are described. The structural components incorporate hydrogen storage materials for use in conjunction with hydrogen fuel cells in electric-powered vehicles such as unmanned aerial vehicles. The hydrogen storage materials can be in the form of a 3D printed metal foam that includes a metal hydride and an inert structural metal. The material can exhibit a very low weight density able to store hydrogen in a low pressure solid-state form at a high energy density. The structural components that carry the hydrogen storage materials can be exchangeable components of a vehicle, and the vehicle can be refueled by merely exchanging an exhausted component for a replacement component that is fully-charged with hydrogen.

Structural vehicle components for hydrogen storage

Automated apparatuses for use in examining gas sorption materials are described. Devices utilize a noncontact magnetic induction heating approach for controlling the temperature of tested materials. The apparatuses can be used to generate single or multiple isotherms simultaneously. The apparatuses can examine nanogram or microgram-scale quantities of materials of interest and can do so automatically and unattended. Pressure-composition isotherms can be provided through use of disclosed apparatuses in a period of a few hours.

Automatic gas sorption apparatus and method

Multi-functional materials for use in reversible, high-capacity hydrogen separation and/or storage are described. Also described are systems incorporating the materials. The multi-functional materials combine a hydrogen-absorbing material with a high-efficiency and a non-contact energy-absorbing material in a composite nanoparticle. The non-contact energy-absorbing material include magnetic and/or plasmonic materials. The magnetic or plasmonic materials of the composite nanoparticles can provide localized heating to promote release of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage component of the composite nanoparticles.

Controlled release of hydrogen from composite nanoparticles

Work area cleanup systems and methods are described for removing tritium from the atmosphere of a work area such as inert gas gloveboxes. Systems utilize a multi-column approach with parallel processing. Tritium of a tritium-contaminated stream is converted into tritiated water and adsorbed onto the separation phase of a first column as a second, parallel column can be simultaneously regenerated. The gaseous stream that exits the column during the regeneration phase can carry a high tritium concentration. The system can also include and a separation stage during which the tritium of the gaseous regeneration stream can be separated from the remainder of the regeneration product.

Tritium cleanup system and method

Methods and systems for the separation of isotopes from an aqueous stream are described as can be utilized in one embodiment to remove and recover tritium from contaminated water. Methods include counter-current flow of an aqueous stream on either side of a separation membrane. The separation membrane includes an isotope selective layer (e.g., graphene) and an ion conductive supporting layer (e.g., Nafion&#xae;). An electronic driving force encourages passage of isotopes selectively across the membrane to enrich the flow in the isotopes.

Isotope separation methods and systems

Multi-functional materials for use in reversible, high-capacity hydrogen separation and/or storage are described. Also described are systems incorporating the materials. The multi-functional materials combine a hydrogen absorbing material with a high-efficiency and anon-contact energy absorbing material in a composite nanoparticle. The non-contact energy absorbing material include magnetic and/or plasmonic materials. The magnetic or plasmonic materials of the composite nanoparticles can provide localized heating to promote release of hydrogen from the hydrogen storage component of the composite nanoparticles.

Thermal cycling devices are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal cycling device includes a packed tube comprising an inlet portion defining an inlet and an outlet portion defining an outlet. The packed tube is provided in a double coil arrangement, wherein the double coil arrangement causes radially neighboring turns of the packed tube to have opposing flow directions therethrough. The thermal cycling device further includes a cooling device disposed axially adjacent to the packed tube, and a heating device disposed axially adjacent to the packed tube opposite the cooling device.

Thermal cycling device

The apparatus and process for separating hydrogen isotopes is provided using dual columns, each column having an opposite hydrogen isotopic effect such that when a hydrogen isotope mixture feedstock is cycled between the two respective columns, two different hydrogen isotopes are separated from the feedstock.

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Aiken, SC, United States of America

Henry T Sessions