FLUIDIZATION TECHNIQUES AS APPLIED TO REACTOR FUEL PROCESSING

Technical Report · Fri Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1958

OSTI ID:4309000

Lawroski, S; Jonke, A A; Levitz, N; Petkus, E J

Developments in fluidized-bed technology as applied to the processing of nuclear fuel materials, both ir- -- -radiated and non-irradiated are discussed. Continuous conversion of recovered an decontaminated uranyl nitrate solution to uranium trioxide in a fluidized-bed calciner was demonstrated in pilot scale equipment. Concentrated uranyl nitrate solution is continuously atomized and fed to the hot agitated uranium trioxide bed, resulting in thermal decomposition of the uranyl nitrate. Recent studies show that from this uranium trioxide it is possible to produce uranium dioxide of high chemical reactivity by hydrogen reduction in a fluidized-bed reactor. The improved reactivity results tion temperatures in the fluidized-bed reactorl Multistage, fluidized-bed equipment for pilot-scale production of uranium dioxide and uranium tetrafluoride has been designed and successfully operated. Use of such equipment permits countercurrent contact between reactant gases and solids, and allows temperature gradients to be used. The development of separation processes consisting of dissolution in aqueous media, evaporation in a fluidized-bed calciner, and fluorination in a fluidized-bed reactor are described. Separated uranium methods employing fractional distillation. Work on application of this process to plutonium-bearing fuels has also been initiated. (auth)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Lemont, Ill.
• NSA Number: NSA-12-014734
• OSTI ID: 4309000
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/542
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AEROSOLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CONTROL
COUNTER CURRENT
DECONTAMINATION
DISTILLATION
EVAPORATION
FABRICATION
FLUIDIZATION
FLUORINATION
FUELS
GASES
HEATING
HYDROGEN
IRRADIATION
LEACHING
MIXING
OPERATION
PILOT PLANT
PLANNING
PLUTONIUM
PRODUCTION
PYROLYSIS
RADIOCHEMISTRY
RECOVERY
REDUCTION
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
TURBULENCE
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
URANIUM TETRAFLUORIDE
URANIUM TRIOXIDE
URANYL NITRATES
WATER