Compact reaction cell for homogenizing and down-blanding highly enriched uranium metal
Abstract
The invention is a specialized reaction cell for converting uranium metal to uranium oxide. In a preferred form, the reaction cell comprises a reaction chamber with increasing diameter along its length (e.g. a cylindrical chamber having a diameter of about 2 inches in a lower portion and having a diameter of from about 4 to about 12 inches in an upper portion). Such dimensions are important to achieve the necessary conversion while at the same time affording criticality control and transportability of the cell and product. The reaction chamber further comprises an upper port and a lower port, the lower port allowing for the entry of reactant gasses into the reaction chamber, the upper port allowing for the exit of gasses from the reaction chamber. A diffuser plate is attached to the lower port of the reaction chamber and serves to shape the flow of gas into the reaction chamber. The reaction cell further comprises means for introducing gasses into the reaction chamber and a heating means capable of heating the contents of the reaction chamber. The present invention also relates to a method for converting uranium metal to uranium oxide in the reaction cell of the present invention. Themore »
- Inventors:
-
- (Oakland, CA)
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869859
- Patent Number(s):
- 5411722
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01J - CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY
C - CHEMISTRY C01 - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY C01G - COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- compact; reaction; cell; homogenizing; down-blanding; highly; enriched; uranium; metal; specialized; converting; oxide; preferred; form; comprises; chamber; increasing; diameter; length; cylindrical; inches; portion; 12; upper; dimensions; achieve; conversion; time; affording; criticality; control; transportability; product; allowing; entry; reactant; gasses; exit; diffuser; plate; attached; serves; shape; flow; gas; means; introducing; heating; capable; contents; relates; method; useful; down-blending; simultaneous; natural; depleted; diffuser plate; uranium oxide; heating means; enriched uranium; depleted uranium; cell comprises; reaction chamber; upper portion; reactant gas; uranium metal; preferred form; comprises means; reaction cell; converting uranium; cylindrical chamber; criticality control; means capable; highly enrich; /423/
Citation Formats
McLean, II, William, Miller, Philip E, and Horton, James A. Compact reaction cell for homogenizing and down-blanding highly enriched uranium metal. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
McLean, II, William, Miller, Philip E, & Horton, James A. Compact reaction cell for homogenizing and down-blanding highly enriched uranium metal. United States.
McLean, II, William, Miller, Philip E, and Horton, James A. Sun .
"Compact reaction cell for homogenizing and down-blanding highly enriched uranium metal". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869859.
@article{osti_869859,
title = {Compact reaction cell for homogenizing and down-blanding highly enriched uranium metal},
author = {McLean, II, William and Miller, Philip E and Horton, James A},
abstractNote = {The invention is a specialized reaction cell for converting uranium metal to uranium oxide. In a preferred form, the reaction cell comprises a reaction chamber with increasing diameter along its length (e.g. a cylindrical chamber having a diameter of about 2 inches in a lower portion and having a diameter of from about 4 to about 12 inches in an upper portion). Such dimensions are important to achieve the necessary conversion while at the same time affording criticality control and transportability of the cell and product. The reaction chamber further comprises an upper port and a lower port, the lower port allowing for the entry of reactant gasses into the reaction chamber, the upper port allowing for the exit of gasses from the reaction chamber. A diffuser plate is attached to the lower port of the reaction chamber and serves to shape the flow of gas into the reaction chamber. The reaction cell further comprises means for introducing gasses into the reaction chamber and a heating means capable of heating the contents of the reaction chamber. The present invention also relates to a method for converting uranium metal to uranium oxide in the reaction cell of the present invention. The invention is useful for down-blending highly enriched uranium metal by the simultaneous conversion of highly enriched uranium metal and natural or depleted uranium metal to uranium oxide within the reaction cell.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}