CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR CLEANOUT AND DEACTIVATION OF LITHIUM BY-PRODUCT CANISTERS

STORED CHEMICAL ENERGY PROPULSION SYSTEMS (SCEPS) CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY THE NAVY PRODUCE CANISTERS CONTAINING LITHIUM, LITLIIUM FLUORIDE, LITHIUM SULFIDE, AND OTHER METALLIC SALTS. THIS PROJECT DEVELOPS AN APPROACH FOR SAFELY AND ECONOMICALLY DEACTIVATING, CLEANING AND RECYCLING THE CANISTERS AND THEIR CONTENTS . THE APPROACH UTILIZES THE REACTION OF LITHIUM SULFURHEXAFLUORIDE WITHIN THE CINISTER UNDER CONTROLLED ADIABATIC CONDITIONS TO DEACTIVATE TILE REMAININGMETALLIC LITHIUM WHILE MINIMIZING THE LIKELIHOOD OF CANISTER DAMAGE AND THEN TRANSFERS OUT THE MOLTEN SALTS FOR DISPOSAL. HARDWARE CONCEPTS ARE PRESENTED TO COMPLETE THE REACTION AND TRANSFER PROCESSES INA SAFE AND ECONOMIC MANNER IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT. CONCEPTS ARE ALSO DEVELOPED FOR THE SUBSEQUENT CLEANING OF THE CANISTER AND FOR THE RECYCLING/DISPOSAL OF THE REACTION PRODUCTS.