The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2007
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2004
Fumio Kawamura, Mito, JP;
Kuniyoshi Hoshino, Mito, JP;
Masakatsu Aoi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Akira Sasahira, Hitachi, JP;
Osamu Amano, Shiroi, JP;
Hiroaki Kobayashi, Hachioji, JP;
Fumio Kawamura, Mito, JP;
Kuniyoshi Hoshino, Mito, JP;
Masakatsu Aoi, Hitachinaka, JP;
Akira Sasahira, Hitachi, JP;
Osamu Amano, Shiroi, JP;
Hiroaki Kobayashi, Hachioji, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
It is an object to increase a reprocessing speed of spent nuclear fuel and to obtain uranium having a high purity and a plutonium mixture reusable as it is at a low cost through a simple procedure. The spent nuclear fuelis subjected to fluorination using fluorinein a fluorination step, and as a result, uranium, a mixture of uranium and plutonium and a fission product are separated and recovered independently of one another. The plutonium fluoride volatilized in the fluorination is recovered along with a fixing agent and then passed through an oxidative conversion step, thereby recovering a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxides. Since the uranium can be recovered in a high purity, it is managed very easily when reused or saved. Further, since the uranium and plutonium are recovered as a mixture thereof, fuel reproduction cost is decreased and prevention of proliferation is strengthened.