EFFECT OF GEOMETRICAL SHAPE ON THE CONTINUOUS DISSOLUTION OF ALUMINUM IN MERCURY-CATALYZED NITRIC ACID
The results of a stady of the effect of geometrical shape of aluminum reactor fuel elementa on the dissolutlon rate in mercury-catalyzed nitric acid are presented. Four shapes, round rods, tubes, flat plates, and flattened tubes, were tested at five catalyst concentrations (from 1.5 x 10/sup -6/ to 7.5 x 10/ sup -4/ molar mercury), and at each of three feed rates (280, 140, and 70 gram- moles of nitric acid per hour). Statistical analysis of the data showed that the main effects, feed rates, catalyst concentration and shape, and all first order interaction effects had a significant effect on dissolution rate. A mathematical relationship between dissolution rate and feed rate, catalyst concentration and the catalyst concentrnilon by feed rate interaction was graphically developed for each shape. At the higher catalyst concentrations, all shapes dissolve at practically the same rate. However, flat plates and flattened tubes are much less dependent on catalyst concentration and at lower catalyst concentrations dissolve over twoice as fast as round rods and tubes. Correlation of the dissolution rates of round rods with the rates obtained in previous work on cylindrical uranium -aluminum alloy fuel elements showed very good agreement. A comparison of the dissolution rate obtained in a stainless steel vessel and that obtained ln a glass vessel was made; no appreciable difference was noted. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Phillips Petroleum Co. Atomic Energy Div., Idaho Falls, Idaho
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(10-1)-205
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-007122
- OSTI ID:
- 4307350
- Report Number(s):
- IDO-14425
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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