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Production of sized particles of uranium oxides and uranium oxyfluorides

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7333160
A process is claimed for converting uranium hexafluoride (UF/sub 6/) to uranium dioxide (UO/sub 2/) of a relatively large particle size in a fluidized bed reactor by mixing uranium hexafluoride with a mixture of steam and hydrogen and by preliminary reacting in an ejector gaseous uranium hexafluoride with steam and hydrogen to form a mixture of uranium and oxide and uranium oxyfluoride seed particles of varying sizes, separating the larger particles from the smaller particles in a cyclone separator, recycling the smaller seed particles through the ejector to increase their size, and introducing the larger seed particles from the cyclone separator into a fluidized bed reactor where the seed particles serve as nuclei on which coarser particles of uranium dioxide are formed. 9 claims, 2 drawing figures.
Assignee:
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
Patent Number(s):
US 3978194
OSTI ID:
7333160
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English