Search Patents
  • Impedance measuring method of and apparatus for detecting escaping leach solution
    Patent number: 4253063
    Abstract: In an in situ uranium leaching process, a method of detecting presence or absence of leach solution escaping from a desired leaching zone involves monitoring the electrical impedance of a zone just outside the desired zone to detect high ionic concentration indicative of leach solution. Electrical impedance is measured by locating monitor wells just outside the leaching zone and positioning pairs of current and voltage probes within the monitor wells and closest injection wells. Low frequency, constant current is generated by each pair of current probes between corresponding injection and monitor wells to develop a zone impedance-dependent voltage drop that is measured by each set of voltage probes and correlated to presence or absence of escaping leach solution. In an alternative embodiment, electrical impedances are measured between a single, central recovery well and a series of distributed, monitor wells to reduce the total number of probes required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior
    Inventor: Daryl R. Tweeton
  • Automatic scanning system for tunnel walls constructed by open-type TBM
    Patent number: 12216469
    Abstract: An automatic scanning system for tunnel walls constructed by open-type TBM, to realize the automatic, accurate, rapid and omnidirectional scanning of tunnel wall. The system comprises a three-dimensional laser scanner, a walking unit, a circumferential track, several connecting rods and a remote-control unit; wherein the three-dimensional laser scanner is fixed on the walking unit. The walking unit is provided on the circumferential track and configured to walk on the circumferential track at a set speed and a set number of walking cycles according to a control instruction. The circumferential track is fixed on the main beam of open-type TBM through the connecting rods and located between the roof bolter and cylinder of gripper shoe. The remote-control unit is configured to issue the control instruction and control the three-dimensional laser scanner to scan the tunnel wall and transmit the scanning data using set scanning parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology
    Inventors: Ju Wang, Hongsu Ma, Jian Liu, Liang Chen, Xingguang Zhao
  • Chemical component recovery from ligated-metals
    Patent number: 6096109
    Abstract: A method for converting a ligated-metal into chemical components of the ligated-metal includes forming an ionized zone that can convert the ligated-metal to a reduced ligated-metal intermediate. The ligated-metal is directed into the ionized zone, whereby the ligated-metal is converted to a reduced ligated-metal intermediate, thereby causing a thermodynamically stable metal-ligand bond of the ligated-metal to be electronically destabilized and inducing subsequent metal-ligand bond rupture. The reduced ligated-metal intermediate is converted by the metal-ligand bond rupture into chemical components of the ligated-metal. Ligated-metals that are suitable for processing by the method of the invention include, for example: uranium hexafluoride (UF.sub.6); sodium chloride (NaCl); and metal halides, such as iron trichloride (FeCl.sub.3). Chemical components that can be recovered from the ligated-metal include, for example, metals and gases derived from the ligand component of the ligated-metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Molten Metal Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nagel, Robert D. Bach
  • Method For Preparing Spherical Silica Powder Filler, And Resulting Spherical Silica Powder Filler And Application Thereof
    Publication number: 20220153599
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a spherical silica powder filler, comprising the following steps: performing hydrolytic condensation on an organic silicon compound to obtain polysiloxane precipitate, wherein the organic silicon compound comprises silane having the chemical formula of (R1)a(R2)b(R3)cSi(X)d, wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected C1-18 hydrocarbyl groups or hydrogen atoms; X is a hydrolysable functional group; a, b, and c are 0, 1, 2, or 3; d is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and a+b+c+d=4; smashing and drying the polysiloxane precipitate to obtain siloxane angular powder; and melting and spherifying the siloxane angular powder into the spherical silica powder filler. The present invention also provides a spherical silica powder filler obtained by the method and an application thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Shuzhen Chen, Rui LI
  • Reactive projectiles for exploding unexploded ordnance
    Patent number: 6679176
    Abstract: A projectile for the destruction of unexploded ordnance comprising a dart shell having a core region which contains a reactive composition comprised of a reactive metal and an oxidizer. The reactive metal is selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, magnesium, lithium, beryllium, zirconium, thorium, uranium, hafnium, alloys thereof, hydrides thereof, and combinations thereof. The oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of lithium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, chlorates, peroxides, and combinations thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the reactive composition is located on the outside of a center penetrating rod. Also included is a disposable apparatus for delivering a projectile to destroy unexploded ordnance. The apparatus is comprised of a block having a top and a bottom, the block comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of wood and polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Inventors: Peter D. Zavitsanos, Michael C. Matthews, Charles W. Files, Arno Gatti, Dmitri Bohn
  • METHOD OF DISPOSING OF RADIOACTIVE METAL WASTE USING MELTING DECONTAMINATION
    Publication number: 20130296628
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of disposing of radioactive metal waste using melting decontamination, including sorting radioactive metal waste generated in nuclear fuel processing or production facilities by predetermined sorting criteria, and charging sorted metal waste into a melting furnace so as to be melted; adding a impurity remover to the melt of the melting furnace to remove generated slag; pouring the melt having no slag into a mold to form an ingot; subjecting the ingot to gamma spectroscopy using a gamma spectrometer to measure gamma rays of U-235 (185.72 keV, 57.2%) among uranium isotopes, performing detector calibration using a certified reference material and self-absorption correction depending on the density of a medium using MCNP computer code, and calculating total radioactivity of the ingot from the quantified radioactivity and mass of U-235; and efficiently and rapidly determining whether the ingot subjected to radioactivity measurement satisfies a clearance limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: KEPCO NUCLEAR FUEL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suk Ju CHO, Young Bae Lee, Jeung Gun Seol, Yong Jae Kim
  • Method for improving metals recovery using high temperature pressure leaching
    Patent number: 7125436
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Systems embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Phelps Dodge Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Marsden, Robert E. Brewer, Joanna M. Robertson, David R. Baughman, Philip Thompson, Wayne W. Hazen, Roland Schmidt
  • Alcohol compositions for blending with gasoline
    Patent number: 4705532
    Abstract: An alcohol composition suitable for mixing with gasoline comprises at least 30 percent by weight of methanol, the remainder of said composition comprising higher alcohols the distribution of which on a methanol-free basis isC.sub.2 --about 10 to 90 weight percent,C.sub.3 --about 15 to 60 weight percent,C.sub.4 --about 0.5 to 35 weight percent,C.sub.5 --about 0 to 15 weight percent,C.sub.6 --about 0 to 15 weight percent,and wherein the percent of C.sub.3 is equal to or greater than 1.25 times the percent of C.sub.4.The alcohol composition can be prepared from hydrogen and carbon monoxide under alcohol forming conditions in the presence of a catalyst containing copper and uranium and alkali or alkaline earth metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: The Standard Oil Company
    Inventors: Terry J. Mazanec, John G. Frye, Jr., Harley F. Hardman
  • Systems and methods to recover value-added materials from gypsum
    Patent number: 11912582
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods from processing flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum feedstock and ash feedstocks, either separately or together. FGD gypsum conversion comprises reacting FGD gypsum (calcium sulfate) feedstock or phosphogypsum, in either batch or continuous mode, with ammonium carbonate reagent to produce commercial products comprising ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate. A process to separate the impurities and convert the calcium carbonate to a pure precipitated calcium carbonate is disclosed. These impurities include a concentrate of valuable Rare Earth Elements, and radioactive thorium and uranium. A process to convert calcium sulfite to calcium sulfate using oxygen and a catalyst is also disclosed. Ash conversion comprises a leach process followed by a sequential precipitation process to selectively precipitate products at predetermined pHs resulting in metal hydroxides which may be converted to oxides or carbonates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Davy Powersports Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien M. Papouchado, Barry E. Sheetz, Leonard Passmore, Joseph D. Preston
  • Porous UOsintered pellets and method for fabricating porous UOsintered pellets and electrolytic reduction using same
    Patent number: 9558853
    Abstract: A method for fabricating porous UO2 sintered pellets to be fed into the electrolytic reduction process for the purpose of metallic nuclear fuel recovery is provided, which includes forming a powder containing U3O8 by oxidizing spent nuclear fuel containing uranium dioxide (UO2) (step 1), fabricating green pellets by compacting the powder formed in step 1 (step 2), fabricating UO2+x sintered pellets by sintering the porous U3O8 green pellets fabricated in step 2 at 1200 to 1600° C., in an atmospheric gas (step 3), and forming UO2 sintered pellets by cooling the UO2+x sintered pellets to room temperature, and reduction the same at 1000 to 1400° C., in a reducing atmosphere (step 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KOREA HYDRO AND NUCLEAR POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Ho Na, Ki Hong Kim, Dae-Yong Song, Hee-Sung Shin, Ho-Dong Kim
  • DEVICES INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE ADHESION LAYER AND METHODS OF FORMING ADHESION LAYERS
    Publication number: 20140376349
    Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having a disc and a peg, and the peg having five surfaces thereof; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least one of the five surfaces of the peg, the adhesion layer including one or more of the following: rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, hafnium, ruthenium, technetium, rhodium, palladium, beryllium, aluminum, manganese, indium, boron, and combinations thereof beryllium oxide, silicon oxide, iron oxide, zirconium oxide, manganese oxide, cadmium oxide, magnesium oxide, hafnium oxide, and combinations thereof tantalum carbide, uranium carbide, hafnium carbide, zirconium carbide, scandium carbide, manganese carbide, iron carbide, niobium carbide, technetium carbide, rhenium carbide, and combinations thereof chromium nitride, boron nitride, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yuhang Cheng, Tong Zhao, Michael C. Kautzky, Ed F. Rejda, Kurt W. Wierman, Scott Franzen, Andrew J. Boyne, Michael Allen Seigler, Sethuraman Jayashankar
  • Broad energy spectra neutron source for logging and method
    Patent number: 5097123
    Abstract: Logging method and tool string for identifying and determining the concentrations of subsurface formation elements next to a borehole, by (i) using a broad energy spectra neutron source (such as a chemical source, like AmBe), and (ii) detecting and counting the delayed gamma rays resulting from the activation by the neutrons of atoms of least one element of interest (e.g. aluminum). Two gamma ray detectors may also be disposed on either side of the broad energy spectra neutron source, for detecting and counting the prompt gamma rays resulting from the capture of neutrons by atoms of elements, such as Si, Ca, Fe, S, H, or Cl, Gd, Ti, or K.The broad energy spectra neutron source is used for both the "activation" and the "capture" measurements. The tool string may also include a natural gamma ray tool for the determination of uranium, thorium and potassium, and for measuring the background to be subtracted from the gross Al activation measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Grau, Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Process for aryl-aryl carbon to carbon bond formation by arylation of aryl halide or an aromatic compound
    Publication number: 20050227863
    Abstract: A solid catalyst, consisting of partially halogenated metal oxide or mixed metal oxide or zeolite or zeolite-like solid, represented by a general formula: X(a)/PbMOc(OH)d wherein, X is halogen element selected from F, Cl, Br and I; P is phosphorous element; M is at least one metallic element selected from alkaline earth metals, rare earth metals, group IIIa metals, non-noble transition metals, Sn, Sb, Bi, Si, thorium and uranium; O is oxygen; H is hydrogen; a is the concentration of halogen element X present in the catalyst in the range from 0.01 wt % to 50 wt %; b is the mole ratio of P to M in the range from zero to 1.0; c and d are the number of oxygen and OH groups, respectively, required to satisfy the valence requirement of the metallic and non-metallic elements (M and P); and the ratio of d to c in the range from zero to about 1.0, with or without any catalyst support, useful for the Friedel-Crafts reactions and also its method of preparation are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Vasant Choudhary, Rani Jha
  • Electrochemical processes utilizing a layered membrane
    Patent number: 4326935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a membrane assembly and processes for the utilization of the membrane assembly, or membrane assemblies having like properties. The membrane assembly comprises intermixed layers of capillary material and high dielectric constant impermeable material, forming capillary channels parallel to the direction of ion transport through the membrane. The membrane is anion permeable, does not have membrane potential and will not foul even over extended operation, allows cross-flow of anions and cations, and is highly efficient. It is possible to remove complex metals from any contaminated acid by electrodialysis, such as removing vanadium and uranium in recoverable form from contaminated phosphoric acid, while producing food grade phosphoric acid in the process. Additionally, simple metals may be removed from mine waste liquids (from leaching), chlorine can be produced from a chloride containing salt, and chromium can be removed from chromium contaminated water by electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: Innova, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Moeglich
  • Self-powered neutron and gamma-ray flux detector
    Patent number: 4284893
    Abstract: A self-powered neutron and gamma-ray flux detector is provided wherein the emitter comprises an emitter core of at least one material selected from nickel, iron, titanium and alloys based on these metals, and an emitter outer layer around the core which has a thickness in the range of the order of 0.03 mm to of the order of 0.062 mm and which is of at least one material selected from platinum, tantalum, osmium, molybdenum and cerium. With this construction, by increasing the emitter diameter beyond the optimum for a solid platinum emitter, the ratio of neutron to gamma-ray sensitivity, and hence the prompt response fraction, is increased while an acceptably small burnup rate is maintained. Larger diameter emitters of this construction have response characteristics that closely match those required for a fuel power detector in, for example, heavy-water-moderated, natural-uranium power reactors. The emitter core is preferably of Inconel (Trademark) and the emitter jacket is preferably of platinum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Colin J. Allan, Ross B. Shields, Jerry M. Cuttler, Gerard F. Lynch
  • Low temperature catalytic combustion of chlorohydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4031149
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved method of making chlorinated derivatives of ethylene wherein chlorine-containing by-products are burned in a catalytic combustion reactor to produce primarily a hydrogen halide which is recycled to the chlorinated derivative reaction and the heat of combustion from said reactor is utilized to preheat the materials used in said chlorinated derivative reaction. The catalyst employed is one containing 5% to 20% of UO.sub.3 (uranium trioxide) on 80% to 95% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 or a combination of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 as a support and having a surface area of at least 50 square meters per gram. The catalytic combustion reaction is carried out at temperatures in the range of about 350.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C. to produce a mixture of gases containing essentially hydrogen chloride and being substantially free of elemental chlorine and chlorohydrocarbon compounds, said gases being then mixed with ethylene and reacted to form ethylene dichloride (EDC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1977
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Jamal S. Eden
  • Process and technical arrangement to produce in series single crystal penetrator rods of an alloy of 40wt% tungsten-40wt% titanium-20wt% osmium to replace depleted uranium which causes after use hazardous environmental problems
    Publication number: 20110189325
    Abstract: A new process and technical arrangement to produce in series penetrator rods which have a true single crystal structure consisting of an alloy of 40% by weight Tungsten, 40% by weight Titanium, 20% by weight Osmium. Those single crystal penetrator rods do not break up upon impact on a target, the material sleeves back over the surface whilst the core drives forward and penetrates till the given velocity is used up. This phenomena is only achievable with a single crystal structure and leads to a size and weight reduction because there is not any material lost upon impact on the target as it happens with all penetrator rods which have a grain structure and as they are used today. This alloy as named above has the highest density and highest hardness possible, caused by the crystal growth process and it permits the user to stay out of reach of any opponent not using the same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Juergen Wisotzki
  • NUCLEAR REACTOR
    Publication number: 20090207963
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a nuclear reactor, comprising a reactor core, neutron reflectors surrounding the core on all sides, uranium oxide as reactor fuel and a coolant that is liquid at proces conditions and solid at room temperature. The invention is characterized in that the nuclear reactor comprises a thermal isolation which is impermeable for the coolant, which is of a different material than the coolant and which has a melting point higher than the temperature in the reactor, in such a way that the thermal isolation is surrounding the reactor core and the neutron reflectors on all sides in order to provide a leak-tight containment function. Therefore the phenomenon is being used that the temperature on the outside of the installation is always far below the melting point of the coolant, in such a way that the coolant solidifies on the outside of the installation under all possible circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Vera Van Uitert-Zoet
    Inventor: Gerrit Clemens Van Uitert
  • PHOTON PROPAGATION MODIFIED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USING SAME
    Publication number: 20230339175
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing compositions include low-absorbing particles or non-absorbing particles that have an absorbance for wavelengths of 300 nm to 700 nm that is equal to or greater than 0 Au and is less 1.0 Au, such as 0.001 Au?absorbance?0.7 Au. Slurries including such particles and an uranium-containing particle and that are used in additive manufacturing processes have an increased penetration depth for curative radiation. Removal of low-absorbing particles or non-absorbing particles during post-processing of as-manufactured products results in pores that create porosity in the as-manufactured product that provide a volume accommodating fission gases and/or can enhance wicking of certain heat pipe coolant liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC
    Inventors: John R. SALASIN, Benjamin D. FISHER
  • Purification of phosphoric acid solutions
    Patent number: T971006
    Abstract: an improved method of purifying wet-process phosphoric acid by sedimentation, in which the crude acid is intimately mixed with an appropriate amount of finely divided silica or silicate. The result is that the absolute magnitude of the zeta potential of the suspended solids, particularly humus and gypsum, decreases to a value that allows them to aggregate, settle rapidly, and be removed by conventional methods. The Si:F ratio is increased, effecting a reduction of fluorine contamination. The rate of growth of gypsum crystals is increased, reducing the amount of post-precipitation of gypsum and other particulates. Because the rate of settlement is increased, the holding time prior to further processing, such as concentrating to merchant-grade acid, is decreased, reducing storage and space requirements and associated capital investment as well as investment in product inventory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventor: Anthony J. Smith
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