Method and apparatus for rapid adjustment of process gas inventory in gaseous diffusion cascades
The invention relates to an improved method and system for making relatively large and rapid adjustments in the process gas inventory of an electrically powered gaseous diffusion cascade in order to accommodate scheduled changes in the electrical power available for cascade operation. In the preferred form of the invention, the cascade is readied for a decrease in electrical input by simultaneously withdrawing substreams of the cascade B stream into respective process-gas-freezing and storage zones while decreasing the datum-pressure inputs to the positioning systems for the cascade control valves in proportion to the weight of process gas so removed. Consequently, the control valve positions are substantially unchanged by the reduction in invention, and there is minimal disturbance of the cascade isotopic gradient. The cascade is readied for restoration of the power cut by simultaneously evaporating the solids in the freezing zones to regenerate the process gas substreams and introducing them to the cascade A stream while increasing the aforementioned datum pressure inputs in proportion to the weight of process gas so returned. In the preferred form of the system for accomplishing these operations, heat exchangers are provided for freezing, storing, and evaporating the various substreams. Preferably, the heat exchangers are connected to use existing cascade auxiliary systems as a heat sink. A common control is employed to adjust and coordinate the necessary process gas transfers and datum pressure adjustments.
- Assignee:
- Energy Research and Development Administration
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4040801
- Application Number:
- TRN: 78-007283
- OSTI ID:
- 5246724
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 14 Jun 1976; Other Information: PAT-APPL-696,149
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS
PROCESS CONTROL
AVAILABILITY
ELECTRIC POWER
INVENTORIES
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 238
URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTROL
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
POWER
RADIOISOTOPES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM FLUORIDES
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
050501* - Nuclear Fuels- Uranium Enrichment- Gaseous Diffusion- (-1989)