General Atomics, Inc.

General Atomic Company

Ga Technologies, Inc.

Lloyd Chauncey Brown

Charles C Adams

Timothy Creston Bertch

Gottfried E Besenbruch

Rudi Klasen

A method for preparing plutonium-238 (Pu-238) includes using a nuclear reactor in irradiating a liquid containing a neptunium-237 (Np-237) based compound with neutrons to convert a portion of the Np-237 based compound to a Np-238 based compound; retaining the liquid containing the resulting mixture for a sufficient amount of time for the Np-238 based compound to at least partially convert to a Pu-238 based compound; and separating the Pu-238 based compound from the neptunium based compounds using fractional distillation or a chemical separation method.

Systems and methods for efficiently preparing plutonium-238 with high isotopic purity

Methods and apparatus are provided for producing and extracting Mo-99 and other radioisotopes from fission products that overcome the drawbacks of previously-known systems, especially the excessive generation of radioactive wastes, by providing gas-phase extraction of fission product radioisotopes from a nuclear fuel target using a mixture including halide and an oxygen-containing species with heat to convert the fission product radioisotopes to gas (e.g., Mo-99 to MoOClgas). The gaseous species are evacuated to a recovery chamber where the radioisotopes solidify for subsequent processing, while the substantially intact uranium target made available for further irradiation and extraction cycles.

Methods and apparatus for selective gaseous extraction of molybdenum-99 and other fission product radioisotopes

A method for producing molecular Iodine for introduction into the laser cavity of a Chemical-Oxygen-Iodine-Laser (COIL) includes the step of preparing a solid mixture that contains a primary component and an additive component. The solid mixture is formulated to generate a gas having a high concentration of molecular Iodine when ignited. The primary component of the mixture is composed of oxidizer and fuel at a substantially stoichiometric ratio and includes at least one Iodine compound. The additive component is provided to cool the relatively high temperature gas that is created during combustion of the primary component. The result is a gas at a relatively low temperature in which most of the Iodine is present as molecular Iodine. The additive component is preferably an Iodine compound that either absorbs heat during decomposition such as Iodine Pentoxide (I O ) or an Iodine compound that absorbs heat during sublimation such as solid Iodine.

Molecular iodine supply system for a chemical laser

An on-demand system for generating Iodine gas that is substantially free of contaminants such as water, Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide includes a solid mixture of oxidizer and fuel having at least one Iodine compound. An ignitor squib is provided to ignite the mixture and thereby generate a contaminant free Iodine gas. Preferably, Iodine Pentoxide (I O ) is used as the oxidizer and a metal such as Zinc, Tin, Calcium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silica, Sodium, Potassium, Lithium, Boron, Beryllium, Sodium Azide or Iron is used as the fuel. With this composition, the solid mixture is substantially free of Hydrogen and Carbon compounds and the corresponding combustion gas is free of water, Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide. The mixture is disposed within a permeable jacket to capture non-gas reaction products generated during combustion such as solid and liquid metal oxides while allowing Iodine gas to pass through the permeable jacket.

Contaminant free iodine supply system

A system for supplying Iodine gas to a laser cavity includes a cartridge for generating Iodine gas and delivery piping for transporting Iodine gas from the cartridge to the laser cavity. The cartridge includes a hollow, cylindrical casing having an open end. The casing contains a solid preheat material, a solid mixture containing Iodine, and a purge material. An ignitor squib is disposed in the casing near the open end to initiate a burn front. The burn front travels through the preheat material to generate hot gas for preheating the delivery piping, preventing Iodine gas condensation in the piping. Next, the burn front travels through the mixture containing Iodine to generate Iodine gas which flows through the preheated delivery piping to the laser cavity. The burn front then passes through the purge material generating a purge gas to remove any traces of corrosive Iodine gas from the delivery piping.

Iodine on-demand system for a chemical laser

This invention relates to particle coaters and in particular to a method and apparatus for a circulating bed particle coater which is particularly adapted for coating small diameter particles.

Method and apparatus for circulating bed coater

A method and apparatus for the countercurrent contacting of solid particles with a fluid is disclosed. The contacting is effected within a multistage tower, each stage having a weir means regulating the flow of particles within and from each chamber so that all particles receive approximately the same exposure to the contacting fluid. The disclosed design is readily scaled up to increase capacity without requiring proportional increases in the vertical dimension which are costly and might result in damage to the particles. The method and apparatus are especially adapted for washing salt from alumina microspheres.

Countercurrent solids-fluid contactor

Apparatus for suspending particles in a fluidized bed within a coating chamber where the particles are coated with a substance contained in a reactant gas introduced into the chamber by means of a centrally arranged nozzle extending upwardly from the coating chamber floor. Levitating gas for suspending the particles in the fluidized bed is introduced into the chamber from around the centrally arranged nozzle and generally parallel with the chamber base to promote particle circulation through the fluidized bed and minimize deposition within the chamber in one species of the apparatus, the nozzle is supported upon a movable probe which forms a closure for an opening in the chamber base through which coated particles are unloaded.

Fluidized bed gas coating apparatus

A method and multiple embodiments of apparatus for coating particles with a substance contained in a reactant gas, the particles being suspended in a fluidized bed within a coating chamber. In the method and each embodiment of the apparatus, the reactant gas is introduced into the coating chamber through an elongated nozzle closed at its upper end and including multiple lateral orifice openings for directing the reactant gas radially outwardly into the coating chamber. Means are preferably arranged about the base of the nozzle for introducing levitating gas radially and spirally outwardly into the chamber to further promote circulation of the particles and to accomplish more uniform coating.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Lloyd Chauncey Brown