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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTINUOUS METHOD FOR THE REDUCTION OF URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE WITH HYDROGEN-PROCESS DEVELOPMENT. HOT WALL REACTOR

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4189334· OSTI ID:4189334

>A continuous process for the reduction of uranium hexafluoride to uranium tetrafluoride was developed and proved on a pilot-plant scale. Complete conversion to uranium tetrafluoride was realized by contacting gaseous uranium hexafluoride with hydrogen in a heated, vertical, open-tube reactor. The purity and density of the solid product met metal grade uranium tetrafluoride specifications. Some difficulty with the accumulation of fused uranium fluorides in the tower was encountered, however, and it was necessary to stop and desing the unit about every 8 to 24 hours. The reaction of uranium hexafluoride with gaseous trichloroethylene was stadied before the tests with hydrogen were made. Although the reduction to uranium tetrafluoride was complete, the solid product was highly contaminated with the organic by-products of the reaction and was quite low in density. Tests of this method were discontinued when promising results were obtained with hydrogen as the reductant. (auth)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-14-001573
OSTI ID:
4189334
Report Number(s):
K-1379(Del.)
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Decl. with deletions Aug. 21, 1959. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English