Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Methods of fabricating metallic fuel from surplus plutonium
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Application No.: US13613782Application Date: 2012-09-13
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Publication No.: US10280527B2Publication Date: 2019-05-07
- Inventor: Eric P. Loewen , Zachary W. Kosslow , John F. Berger
- Applicant: Eric P. Loewen , Zachary W. Kosslow , John F. Berger
- Applicant Address: US NC Wilmington
- Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
- Current Assignee: GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
- Current Assignee Address: US NC Wilmington
- Agency: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
- Main IPC: C25C3/36
- IPC: C25C3/36 ; G21C3/02 ; G21C19/48 ; G21C3/60 ; G21C21/00 ; G21C19/44

Abstract:
A method of fabricating metallic fuel from surplus plutonium may include combining plutonium oxide powder and uranium oxide powder to obtain a mixed powder with reduced proliferation potential. The mixed powder may be electroreduced in a bath of molten salt so as to convert the mixed powder to a first alloy. The first alloy may be pressed to remove a majority of the molten salt adhered to the first alloy to form a pressed alloy-salt mixture. The first alloy may be isolated from the salt by melting the pressed alloy-salt mixture. The first alloy may be further processed to fabricate a fuel rod. Accordingly, the metallic fuel produced may be used in a fast reactor system, such as a Power Reactor Innovative Small Module (PRISM).
Public/Granted literature
- US20160053391A1 METHODS OF FABRICATING METALLIC FUEL FROM SURPLUS PLUTONIUM Public/Granted day:2016-02-25
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