Electro-synthesis of uranium chloride fuel salts
This disclosure describes systems and methods for synthesizing UCl 3 from UCl 4 . These systems and methods may also be used to directly synthesize binary and ternary embodiments of uranium salts of chloride usable as nuclear fuel in certain molten salt reactor designs. The systems and methods described herein are capable of synthesizing any desired uranium chloride fuel salt that is a combination of UCl 4 , UCl 3 and one or more non-fissile chloride compounds, such as NaCl. In particular, the systems and methods described herein are capable of synthesizing any UCl 3 —UCl 4 —NaCl or UCl 3 —NaCl fuel salt composition from UCl 4 —NaCl.
1. A method for synthesizing UCl 3 comprising:
providing a quantity of fuel salt in a molten state, the fuel salt having a first amount of UCl 4 and at least one non-fissile chloride compound selected from NaCl, MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , BaCl 2 , KCl, SrCl 2 , VCl 3 , CrCl 3 , TiCl 4 , ZrCl 4 , ThCl 4 , AcCl 3 , NpCl 4 , AmCl 3 , LaCl 3 , CeCl 3 , PrCl 3 and/or NdCl 3 ; and
applying an electric current to the fuel salt, thereby reducing at least some UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying the electric current to the fuel salt for a length of time sufficient to reduce all of the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying the electric current to the fuel salt at an amperage and for a length of time stoichiometrically calculated to create a target amount of UCl 3 .
4. The method of claim 3 wherein applying the electric current to the fuel salt comprises:
applying the electric current to the fuel salt at a constant amperage.
5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
identifying a desired final ratio of UCl 3 to UCl 4 to be obtained in the quantity of fuel salt;
determining the target amount of UCl 3 to be created based on the desired final ratio and the quantity of fuel salt;
stoichiometrically determining the amperage and length of time for the applied electric current based on the target amount of UCl 3 to be created; and
applying the electric current at the stoichiometrically determined amperage for the length of time, thereby creating a fuel salt having the desired final ratio of UCl 3 to UCl 4 .
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the stoichiometric amount of electric current is calculated to reduce all of the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fuel salt is at least 99.9% UCl 4 .
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is only NaCl.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the electric current further comprises:
passing the electric current between at least one anode and at least one cathode submerged in the molten fuel salt.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting an electric potential based on a temperature and pressure of the fuel salt to preferentially reduce the UCl 4 to UCl 3 without reducing the at least one non-fissile chloride compound; and
generating the selected electric potential between at least one anode and at least one cathode.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
maintaining the fuel salt in a molten state while applying the electric current to the fuel salt.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the maintaining the fuel salt in a molten state comprises:
monitoring the electric current applied to the fuel salt; and
changing one or both of the temperature or pressure of the fuel salt based on the monitored electric current.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
collecting Cl 2 generated by reducing the UCl 4 in the fuel salt to UCl 3 .
14. The method of claim 13 wherein collecting Cl 2 comprises:
containing the fuel salt in a closed vessel while applying the electric current to the fuel salt;
removing gas evolved during the applying operation from the closed vessel;
separating Cl 2 in the removed gas from UCl 4 in the removed gas; and
returning the UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein separating the Cl 2 and UCl 4 comprises:
condensing the UCl 4 in the removed gas into liquid UCl 4 ; and
returning the liquid UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
agitating the fuel salt while applying the electric current to the fuel salt.
17. A method comprising:
providing a quantity of molten fuel salt, the molten fuel salt having a first amount of UCl 4 ;
applying an electric current to the molten fuel salt, thereby reducing at least some UCl 4 to UCl 3 ; and
collecting Cl 2 generated by reducing the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
18. The method of claim 17 wherein collecting Cl 2 comprises:
containing the molten fuel salt in a closed vessel while applying the electric current to the molten fuel salt;
removing gas evolved during the applying operation from the closed vessel;
separating Cl 2 in the removed gas from UCl 4 in the removed gas; and
returning the UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein separating the Cl 2 and UCl 4 comprises:
condensing the UCl 4 in the removed gas into liquid UCl 4 ; and
returning the liquid UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the molten fuel salt is a mixture of UCl 3 , UCl 4 and at least one non-fissile chloride compound.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is one or more of NaCl, MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , BaCl 2 , KCl, SrCl 2 , VCl 3 , CrCl 3 , TiCl 4 , ZrCl 4 , ThCl 4 , AcCl 3 , NpCl 4 , AmCl 3 , LaCl 3 , CeCl 3 , PrCl 3 and/or NdCl 3 .
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is only NaCl.
23. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
maintaining the molten fuel salt in a molten state while applying the electric current to the fuel salt.
24. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
monitoring the electric current applied to the molten fuel salt.
25. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
applying the electric current to the molten fuel salt for a length of time sufficient to reduce all of the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
26. A method comprising:
providing a quantity of molten fuel salt, the fuel salt having a first amount of UCl 4 ; and
applying an electric current to the molten fuel salt, thereby reducing at least some UCl 4 to UCl 3 ; and
agitating the molten fuel salt while applying the electric current to the molten fuel salt.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the molten fuel salt is a mixture of UCl 3 , UCl 4 and at least one non-fissile chloride compound.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is one or more of NaCl, MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , BaCl 2 , KCl, SrCl 2 , VCl 3 , CrCl 3 , TiCl 4 , ZrCl 4 , ThCl 4 , AcCl 3 , NpCl 4 , AmCl 3 , LaCl 3 , CeCl 3 , PrCl 3 and/or NdCl 3 .
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is only NaCl.
30. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
applying the electric current to the fuel salt for a length of time sufficient to reduce all of the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
31. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
applying the electric current to the fuel salt at an amperage and for a length of time stoichiometrically calculated to create a target amount of UCl 3 .
32. The method of claim 31 wherein applying the electric current to the fuel salt comprises:
applying the electric current to the fuel salt at a constant amperage.
33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
identifying a desired final ratio of UCl 3 to UCl 4 to be obtained in the quantity of fuel salt;
determining the target amount of UCl 3 to be created based on the desired final ratio and the quantity of fuel salt;
stoichiometrically determining the amperage and length of time for the applied electric current based on the target amount of UCl 3 to be created; and
applying the electric current at the stoichiometrically determined amperage for the length of time, thereby creating a fuel salt having the desired final ratio of UCl 3 to UCl 4 .
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the stoichiometric amount of electric current is calculated to reduce all of the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
35. The method of claim 26 wherein the fuel salt is at least 99.9% UCl 4 .
36. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
maintaining the fuel salt in a molten state while applying the electric current to the fuel salt.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the maintaining the fuel salt in a molten state comprises:
monitoring the electric current applied to the fuel salt; and
changing one or both of the temperature or pressure of the fuel salt based on the monitored electric current.
38. The method of claim 26 further comprising:
collecting Cl 2 generated by reducing the UCl 4 in the fuel salt to UCl 3 .
39. The method of claim 38 wherein collecting Cl 2 comprises:
containing the fuel salt in a closed vessel while applying the electric current to the fuel salt;
removing gas evolved during the applying operation from the closed vessel;
separating Cl 2 in the removed gas from UCl 4 in the removed gas; and
returning the UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein separating the Cl 2 and UCl 4 comprises:
condensing the UCl 4 in the removed gas into liquid UCl 4 ; and
returning the liquid UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
41. A method for synthesizing UCl 3 comprising:
providing a quantity of molten fuel salt, the fuel salt having a first amount of UCl 4 ; and
applying an electric current to the fuel salt for a first length of time sufficient to reduce all of the UCl 4 to UCl 3 .
42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:
agitating the molten fuel salt while applying the electric current to the molten fuel salt.
43. The method of claim 41 wherein the molten fuel salt is a mixture of UCl 3 , UCl 4 and at least one non-fissile chloride compound.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is one or more of NaCl, MgCl 2 , CaCl 2 , BaCl 2 , KCl, SrCl 2 , VCl 3 , CrCl 3 , TiCl 4 , ZrCl 4 , ThCl 4 , AcCl 3 , NpCl 4 , AmCl 3 , LaCl 3 , CeCl 3 , PrCl 3 and/or NdCl 3 .
45. The method of claim 44 wherein the at least one non-fissile chloride compound is only NaCl.
46. The method of claim 41 further comprising:
collecting Cl 2 generated by reducing the UCl 4 in the fuel salt to UCl 3 .
47. The method of claim 46 wherein collecting Cl 2 comprises:
containing the fuel salt in a closed vessel while applying the electric current to the fuel salt;
removing gas evolved during the applying operation from the closed vessel;
separating Cl 2 in the removed gas from UCl 4 in the removed gas; and
returning the UCl 4 to the closed vessel.
48. The method of claim 47 wherein separating the Cl 2 and UCl 4 comprises:
condensing the UCl 4 in the removed gas into liquid UCl 4 ; and
returning the liquid UCl 4 to the closed vessel.