Abstract: Systems and methods for producing acid deficient uranyl nitrate from a dilute uranyl nitrate solution are disclosed. In one form, the present disclosure provides a system comprising a feed evaporation system and a diffusion dialysis system. The feed evaporation system is configured to receive a feed stream and to boil off water, under vacuum, from the feed stream to produce a concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and a distilled water product. The diffusion dialysis system is configured to counter flow the concentrated uranyl nitrate solution and the distilled water product across a plurality of membrane vessels to promote nitrate migration from the concentrated uranyl nitrate solution to the distilled water, and to produce a dialysate stream and a recycle acid stream. The feed stream may include a product of a solvent extraction process used to recycle spent nuclear fuel and/or a recovery stream from other fuel fabrication activities.

Abstract: An improved system for receiving and storing a radioactive salt solution includes a tank configured to receive the radioactive salt solution while preventing criticality accidents, a solution inlet for carrying the radioactive salt solution to the tank, an overflow bottle, and a cap sealing the top end of the tank. The cap includes a lateral wye fitting having a lateral pipe configured to direct the radioactive salt solution from the solution inlet into the tank, a vertical pipe configured to direct gases from the tank to a ventilation system, and an overflow line configured to carry excess radioactive salt solution from the tank to the overflow tank. An air gap between the lateral pipe and the solution inlet prevents backflow of the radioactive salt solution into the solution inlet.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to drive shaft assemblies for a rotary furnace. In one form, a rotary furnace comprises a crucible and a drive shaft assembly. The drive shaft assembly comprises a primary shaft and a secondary shaft coupled with the primary shaft. The secondary shaft comprises: a first portion comprising a refractory alloy, the first portion defining a first end and a second end, where the first end of the first portion is configured to couple with the primary shaft; and a second portion comprising graphite, the second portion defining a first end and a second end, where the first end of the second portion is configured to couple with the second end of the first portion and the second end of the second portion is configured to couple with the crucible.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor has an axially stratified fuel bed. The reactor features a reactor shell having a base, a top having an exhaust outlet, and an axis. The axially stratified fuel bed is within the reactor shell, and includes: a first zone configured to operate at a first temperature T1, the first zone comprising a plurality of first fuel particles, each first fuel particle comprising a first radioactive ceramic core and a first ceramic seal coating; and a second zone configured to operate at a second temperature T2, where T2>T1, the second zone comprising a plurality of second fuel particles, each second fuel particle comprising a second radioactive ceramic core and a second ceramic seal coating. A coolant fluid flow path carries a coolant fluid from the base of the reactor to the exhaust outlet, along a flow path passing sequentially through the first zone and the second zone.

Abstract: A system includes a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), a first charger connected to another device external from the system having at least one battery, a second charger connected to an on board battery pack, and at least one programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to: manage communication between the VAWT, the at least one battery, and the first charger to ensure that the at least one battery reaches a preset state of charge (SOC) comprising 90% state of charge, and manage communication between the on board battery pack and the second charger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOC and trigger the second charger to discontinue the charging session, manage transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the at least one battery.

Abstract: A system includes a first charger connected to one of an aircraft, a watercraft, and a vehicle having at least one vehicle battery, a second charger connected to an on board battery pack, and at least one programmable logic controller (PLC) to manage communication between the at least one vehicle battery and the first charger to ensure that the at least one vehicle battery reaches a preset state of charge (SOC), manage communication between the on board battery pack and the second charger to ensure that the on board battery pack reaches the preset SOC, and manage transfer of energy from the on board battery pack to the at least one vehicle battery.

Abstract: A solution of acid deficient uranyl nitrate has a formula of UO2(OH)y(NO3)2-y, where y ranges from 0.1 to 0.5. The solution is prepared by placing UxOz in aqueous nitric acid to produce a uranium solution, wherein x is 1 to 3 and z is 2 to 8; placing the uranium solution under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure in a sealed reaction chamber; and heating the uranium solution to a desired temperature of between 150° C. and 250° C. by applying microwave energy to the uranium solution. The uranium solution is maintained at the desired temperature under a pressure of from 5 atmospheres to 40 atmospheres for a hold time of 15 minutes to 6 hours to produce the desired acid deficient uranyl nitrate.

Abstract: Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel elements may include: a fuel zone including fuel particles disposed in parallel layers in a matrix including graphite powder; and a shell comprising graphite and surrounding the fuel zone. The fuel particles may include fissile particles, burnable poison particles, breeder particles, or a combination thereof. The fuel zone may include a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, and a fuel particle density of the peripheral region may be greater than a fuel particle density of the central region.

Abstract: A multi-inlet gas distributor for a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor that may include a distributor body having an inlet surface, an exit surface opposed to the inlet surface, and a side perimeter surface. The distributor body may also include multiple-inlets evenly spaced from each other, wherein the multiple-inlets penetrate the distributor body from the inlet surface to a first depth. The distributor body may additionally include cone-shaped apertures connecting to corresponding ones of the multiple-inlets at the first depth and extend from the first depth toward the exit surface. An apex may be formed on the exit surface at the intersection of the cone-shaped apertures.

Abstract: Metal oxide gel particles, may be prepared with a desired particle size, by preparing a low-temperature aqueous metal nitrate solution containing hexamethylene tetramine as a feed solution; and causing the feed solution to flow through a first tube and exit the first tube as a first stream at a first flow rate, so as to contact a high-temperature nonaqueous drive fluid. The drive fluid flows through a second tube at a second flow rate. Shear between the first stream and the drive fluid breaks the first stream into particles of the metal nitrate solution, and decomposition of hexamethylene tetramine converts metal nitrate solution particles into metal oxide gel particles. A metal oxide gel particle size is measured optically, using a sensor device directed at a flow of metal oxide gel particles within the stream of drive fluid.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements may include: forming a base portion of the fuel element by depositing a powdered matrix material including a mixture of a graphite material and a fibrous material; depositing particles on the base portion in a predetermined pattern to form a first particle layer, by controlling the position of each particle in the first particle layer; depositing the matrix material on the first particle layer to form a first matrix layer; depositing particles on the first matrix layer in a predetermined pattern to form a second particle layer by controlling positions of each particle in the second particle layer; depositing the matrix material on the second particle layer to form a second matrix layer; and forming a cap portion of the fuel pebble by depositing the matrix material. The particles in the first particle layer and the second particle layer include nuclear fuel particles.

Abstract: Nuclear fuel elements may include: a fuel zone including fuel particles disposed in parallel layers in a matrix including graphite powder; and a shell comprising graphite and surrounding the fuel zone. The fuel particles may include fissile particles, burnable poison particles, breeder particles, or a combination thereof. The fuel zone may include a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, and a fuel particle density of the peripheral region may be greater than a fuel particle density of the central region.

Abstract: A fluidized gas reactor includes a system for preventing a fluidizing gas comprising a reactant from premature reaction. The fluidized gas reactor includes a reaction chamber including a particle bed; a gas distribution plate having a plurality of openings therethrough, wherein each opening opens into the reaction chamber; and a plurality of vertical fluidizing gas inlet tubes, each of the fluidizing gas inlet tubes being in fluid communication with one of the openings in the gas distribution plate. Each fluidizing gas inlet tube is configured to receive a fluidizing gas and transport the fluidizing gas to the reaction chamber. A fluidizing gas source provides a stream of the fluidizing gas to the fluidizing gas inlet tubes. A coolant system prevents the fluidizing gas from undergoing reaction before entering the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Entrained particles from an exhaust gas stream may be removed from the gas stream with a device including a housing having a top, an inner surface, and a bottom with a hole passing therethrough, where the housing further includes an impact surface. An entrance pipe guides the exhaust gas stream into the housing toward the impact surface, and is arranged so that the entrance pipe has an inner diameter x; and the impact surface is separated from the opening of the entrance pipe by a distance y, wherein y is between 3x and ?x. An exit pipe guide the exhaust gas stream out of the housing. A receptacle is removably connected to the hole in the bottom of the housing. The impact surface diverts the exhaust gas stream from a first flow direction to a second flow direction, causing the entrained particles to fall from the exhaust gas stream into the receptacle before entering the exit pipe.

Abstract: A dust filtration unit for a frac sand storage bin and a method for using the same is disclosed. The dust filtration unit includes an adapter base adapted for attachment to an opened inspection hatch on the sand storage bin, a diffuser manifold attached to the adapter base, and a top plate of the diffuser manifold defining a plurality of filter bag orifices. Each of a plurality of filter bags is releasably attached to one of the plurality of filter bag orifices. In a non-limiting embodiment, the dust filtration unit further includes a hinge between the adapter base and the diffuser manifold, wherein the hinge rotatably attaches the adapter base to the diffuser manifold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements may include: forming a base portion of the fuel element by depositing a powdered matrix material including a mixture of a graphite material and a fibrous material; depositing particles on the base portion in a predetermined pattern to form a first particle layer, by controlling the position of each particle in the first particle layer; depositing the matrix material on the first particle layer to form a first matrix layer; depositing particles on the first matrix layer in a predetermined pattern to form a second particle layer by controlling positions of each particle in the second particle layer; depositing the matrix material on the second particle layer to form a second matrix layer; and forming a cap portion of the fuel pebble by depositing the matrix material. The particles in the first particle layer and the second particle layer include nuclear fuel particles.

Abstract: A method of mass producing nuclear fuel elements may include: forming a graphite base portion of the fuel elements; repeatedly performing a sequence of operations comprising depositing a uniform graphite layer over a previous layer, depositing a layer of particles on the uniform graphite layer within a fuel zone diameter, so that the particles are spaced apart in a predefined pattern, and applying a binder using additive manufacturing methods to bind each layer with successively increasing and then decreasing diameters to form a central portion of fuel elements including a fuel-containing fuel zone; and repeatedly performing a sequence of operations comprising forming a uniform graphite layer on a previous layer and applying a binder using additive manufacturing methods to bind each layer with successively decreasing diameters to form a cap portion of fuel elements. The particles may include one or more of a nuclear fuel material, burnable poison material, or breeder material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements may include: forming a graphite base portion of the fuel element; depositing a first layer of graphite spheres on the base portion; depositing a first layer of fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles on the first layer of graphite spheres; forming a second layer of graphite spheres on the first layer of particles; depositing a second layer of fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles on the second layer of graphite spheres; and forming a graphite cap portion of the fuel element. Fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles of the first layer may be are spaced apart by substantially the same distance, and fuel, burnable poison and/or breeder particles of the second layer may be spaced apart by substantially the same distance. The fuel element may be a spherical fuel pebble. The fuel particles may be tri-structural-isotropic (TRISO) particles without an overcoat.