THE INTEGRATED FLUID-BED SYSTEM. A Summary of the Development Work Concerning: Fluid-Bed Denitration, Fluid-Bed Reduction, Fluid-Bed Hydrofluorination
For the production of high-quality UF/sub 4/ from pure uranyl nitrate, the operability of a continuous process was demonstrated in pilot-scale fluid beds. The three separate fluid-bed-reactor systems that, respectively, denitrate, reduce, and hydrofluorinate were integrated. Correlations of the operating variables within each system were developed. In the denitrator, these data permit the prediction of such factors as heat transfer and product particle size for various operating conditions. The fluid-bed denitrator was operated successfully with uranyl nitrate feed concentrations as high as 11.8 lb of U/gal and at UO/sub 3/ production rates greater than 350 lb/hr-sq ft of reactor cross section. In the fluid-bed reduction reactor, 100 lb of UO/sub 2//hr-cu ft of active reactor volume is a satisfactory productivity, and the important operational variables at this production rate are bed temperature and hydrogenexcess. For the hydrofluorination reaction, a single-stage fluid-bed reactor was found unsatisfactory both as to product quality and reactor operability. Both of these requirements, however, were met in a two-stage fluid- bed system. High-quality UF/sub 4/ was produced in tonnage quantities and at rates as high as 73 lb/hr. The results described and the conclusions drawn indicate that the integrated fluid bed is an economical and efficient system for converting uranyl nitrate to uranium tetrafluoride. The productivity of the denitration is much greater than the target during the original design and the product is now readily processed in screw reactors as well as the fiuid-bed system. The evolved reduction-hydrofluorination system has a capacity 50% greater than its original design and will produce highquality UF/sub 4/ even under nonideal conditions. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Mallinckrodt Chemical Works. Uranium Div., Weldon Spring, Mo.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-025346
- OSTI ID:
- 4675490
- Report Number(s):
- MCW-1478
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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