Development of a Floating-Type System For Uranium Extraction From Seawater Using Sea Current And Wave Power

Abstract

The concept of a system for extracting uranium from seawater utilizing sea current and wave power is presented in this paper. The uranium absorption tests using model bed units whose size is 1/4 of the real absorbent system were carried out based on the concept design of the system. The model units are towed in the seawater with the velocity of about 2 knots for 30 hours. After the towing, the units were moored for 36 days in Imari Bay. Another absorption test, hanging the model bed units from a mooring ship in an open sea, was performed for 40 hours for assessing the effect of wave power in the uranium absorption. Based on the data obtained from the above tests, the production cost of uranium extraction was also calculated. It becomes about 34,000 yen/kg-uranium for extraction period of 60 days.