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:
Sep. 01, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 11, 2012
Shelly Xiaowei LI, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Brian Robert Westphal, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Steven Douglas Herrmann, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Shelly Xiaowei Li, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Brian Robert Westphal, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
Steven Douglas Herrmann, Idaho Falls, ID (US);
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A method and device for the real-time, in-situ monitoring of Plutonium content in U—Pu Alloys comprising providing a crucible. The crucible has an interior non-reactive to a metallic U—Pu alloy within said interior of said crucible. The U—Pu alloy comprises metallic uranium and plutonium. The U—Pu alloy is heated to a liquid in an inert or reducing atmosphere. The heated U—Pu alloy is then cooled to a solid in an inert or reducing atmosphere. As the U—Pu alloy is cooled, the temperature of the U—Pu alloy is monitored. A solidification temperature signature is determined from the monitored temperature of the U—Pu alloy during the step of cooling. The amount of Uranium and the amount of Plutonium in the U—Pu alloy is then determined from the determined solidification temperature signature.