US 12,272,467 B2
Separation apparatus for high-level nuclear waste
Sharif Abu Darda, Oshawa (CA); and Hossam Gaber, North York (CA)
Assigned to Janak H. Handa, Toronto (CA); and Hossam Gaber, North York (CA)
Filed by Janak H Handa, Toronto (CA); and Hossam Gaber, North York (CA)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/343,516.
Application 18/343,516 is a division of application No. 17/937,134, filed on Sep. 30, 2022, granted, now 11,728,060.
Prior Publication US 2024/0120122 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G21F 9/06 (2006.01); B03C 1/033 (2006.01); B03C 1/28 (2006.01); G21F 9/30 (2006.01); H05H 1/30 (2006.01); G21C 19/46 (2006.01)
CPC G21F 9/06 (2013.01) [B03C 1/0332 (2013.01); B03C 1/288 (2013.01); G21F 9/30 (2013.01); H05H 1/30 (2013.01); B03C 2201/18 (2013.01); G21C 19/46 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of use for a separation apparatus that includes a housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separation chamber defined between the inlet and outlet ends, a first inductively-coupled plasma torch assembly being mounted to the housing and having an injection channel in fluid communication with the separation chamber, a second inductively-coupled plasma torch assembly that is disposed around a first section of the housing, first and second magnetic elements that are disposed around second and third sections of the housing, and a plurality of concentric electrodes that are mounted within the outlet end of the housing, the method comprising:
providing a supply of the plasma-forming gas along the injection channel;
ionizing the supply of the plasma-forming gas within the injection channel and within the separation chamber for generating a plasma discharge therewithin;
providing a liquid supply of high-level nuclear waste along the injection channel, together with the supply of the plasma-forming gas; and
generating a magnetic field that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the separation chamber and an electric field that is perpendicular to the magnetic field such that the supply of high-level nuclear waste is separated into a high-mass portion of the supply of high-level nuclear waste and a low-mass portion of the supply of high-level nuclear waste;
wherein an inner surface of at least one of the first, second and third sections of the housing includes at least one first outlet aperture;
wherein one of the plurality of concentric electrodes defines a second outlet aperture; and
wherein the supply of high-level nuclear waste is separated such that the high-mass portion of the supply of high-level nuclear waste is ejected radially outwards towards the at least one first outlet aperture and the low-mass portion of the liquid supply high-level nuclear waste is directed along the separation chamber, towards the second outlet aperture.