ENGINEERING-SCALE PREPARATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ThO$sub 2$-Bi SLURRIES

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1960

OSTI ID:4840511

Kenney, W F; Susskind, H

Dispersions of up to 11.5% ThO/sub 2/ in Bi (containing 350 ppm each of Mg and Zr) were prepared in 50-lb batches and studied as part of the Liquid Metal Fuel Reactor development program. Five different varieties of oxide were used, four produced commercially by calcination of the oxalate and the fifth prepared by calcination of the hydroxide. Their characteristics and the dispersion techniques are described. Uniform dispersions were obtained in all cases except with the ThO/sub 2/ prepared from hydroxide. Slurry uniformity appeared to be unaffected by long periods of settling or by variations in temperature. Agitation under He pressure, followed by a sudden decrease in pressure, resulted in the generation of froth. No significant reduction of the Th was observed. The Mg and Zr additives and Fe (from corrosion of the container wall) were found to be strongly associated with the ThO/sub 2/ particles in the slurry. All the dispersions possessed good fluidity up to the maximum concentration studied. The 21/4 Cr-- 1 Mo steel agitator impellers, which were operated with tip speeds of about 17.5 ft/sec, suffered slight erosion in some and Fe (from corrosion of the container wall) were found to be strongly associated with the ThO/sub 2/ particles in the slurry. All the dispersions possessed good fluidity up to the maximum concentration studied. The 21/4 Cr-- 1 Mo steel agitator impellers, which were operated with tip speeds of about 17.5 ft/sec, suffered slight erosion in some cases. Dispersions containing up to 7.4 hO/sub 2/ were also successfully circulated in a1/2-in.-IPS pumped loop, both isothermally and under a 30 deg C bulk temperature difference (515 deg to 485 deg C). At a velocity of 1.4 ft/sec, good stability was observed and no froth was encountered. (auth)

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, N.Y.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-029692
• OSTI ID: 4840511
• Report Number(s): BNL-648
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BISMUTH
CALCINATION
CHROMIUM STEELS
DISPERSIONS
EROSION
HELIUM
HYDROXIDES
IN PILE LOOPS
IRON
LIQUID METAL FUEL
MACHINE PARTS
MAGNESIUM
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
OXALATES
PREPARATION
PRESSURE
PYROLYSIS
REDUCTION
SLURRIES
STABILITY
STORAGE
TEMPERATURE
THORIUM OXIDES
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
VESSELS
ZIRCONIUM