RECLAMATION OF DAMAGED NUCLEAR REACTOR COOLANT BY CATALYTIC HYDROCRACKING
Catalytic hydrocracking has reconverted into usable coolant the high boiling radiolytic products produced terphenyls in OMRE. Using a cobalt molybdate on low surface area alumina at a 25% conversion level with recycle of the unconverted residue, liquid product recovery was 98% with an ultimate yield in the coolant boiling range of 80%. Operating temperatures of 850-950 deg F, pressures of 5001000 psig, and flow rates of 0.5 to 2.0 LHSV were used, with 0.5 to 2.5 SCFH of hydrogen. The most satisfactory catalysts were cobalt molybdate, cobalt oxide + vanadia, platinum, and a low metal content nickel, all on low surface area alumina. Coke deposition rate was less than 0.20%/hr, and the catalysts were easily and repeatedly regenerated. The unconverted residue in the product was no more refractory than the virgin feed and could be recycled substantially to extinction. Coolant reclaimed had molecular weights of 210 to 230 and contained some biphenyl, triphenylene, and alkylpolyphenyls as well as the desired terphenyls. The products had good thermal stability up to 750 deg F, and were stable to electron irradiation at 650 deg F up to 10/sup 9/- 10/sup 10/ rads. In a hydrocracking unit scaled to handle the estimated high boiler production of 50,000 lb/d from a 300 Mwe/d power plant, total manufacturing costs are estimated at 053/lb compared to the present delivered price of 17/lb for fresh terphenyl coolant. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Phillips Petroleum Co. Research and Development Dept., Bartlesville, Okla.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-024632
- OSTI ID:
- 4716765
- Report Number(s):
- IDO-16853
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ANIONS
BOILING
CARBON
CATALYSIS
COBALT OXIDES
COOLANTS
DECOMPOSITION
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRON BEAMS
FLUID FLOW
HYDROGEN
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
IRRADIATION
LIQUIDS
MOLECULES
MOLYBDENUM OXIDES
NICKEL
OMRE
OPERATION
ORGANIC MODERATOR
PLATINUM
POLYPHENYLS
PRESSURE
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIOLYSIS
REACTOR TECHNOLOGY
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
RESIDUES
STABILITY
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
VANADIUM