Apparatus for leaching core material from clad nuclear fuel pin segments
Abstract
This invention relates to improved apparatus for counter-currently contacting liquids and solids to dissolve, or leach, a selected component of the solids while minimizing back-mixing of the liquid phase. The apparatus includes an elongated drum which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis in either direction and is partitioned radially into a solids-inlet/liquid-outlet compartment at one end, a solids-outlet/liquid-inlet compartment at its other end, and leaching compartments therebetween. The drum is designed to operate with its acid-inlet end elevated and with the longitudinal axis of the drum at an angle in the range of from about 3.degree. to 14.degree. to the horizontal. Each leaching compartment contains a chute assembly for advancing solids into the next compartment in the direction of solids flow when the drum is rotated in a selected direction. The chute assembly includes a solids-transfer baffle and a chute in the form of a slotted, skewed, conical frustum portion. When the drum is rotated in the direction opposite to that effecting solids transfer, the solids-transfer baffles continually separate and re-mix the solids and liquids in their respective compartments. The partitions defining the leaching compartments are formed with corresponding outer, annular, imperforate regions, each region extending inwardly from the partitionmore »
- Inventors:
-
- Knoxville, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 863698
- Patent Number(s):
- 4230675
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; leaching; core; material; clad; nuclear; fuel; segments; relates; improved; counter-currently; contacting; liquids; solids; dissolve; leach; selected; component; minimizing; back-mixing; liquid; phase; elongated; drum; rotatable; longitudinal; axis; direction; partitioned; radially; solids-inlet; liquid-outlet; compartment; solids-outlet; liquid-inlet; compartments; therebetween; designed; operate; acid-inlet; elevated; angle; range; degree; 14; horizontal; contains; chute; assembly; advancing; flow; rotated; solids-transfer; baffle; form; slotted; skewed; conical; frustum; portion; opposite; effecting; transfer; baffles; continually; separate; re-mix; respective; partitions; defining; formed; corresponding; outer; annular; imperforate; regions; region; extending; inwardly; partition; rim; array; perforations; concentric; spacing; determines; depth; input; flows; continuously; preventing; due; density; differences; backflow; waves; generated; virtually; eliminated; tilted; orientation; waves generated; annular array; region extending; virtually eliminated; nuclear fuel; liquid phase; longitudinal axis; improved apparatus; core material; direction opposite; solids flow; extending inwardly; density differences; solids transfer; contacting liquid; virtually eliminate; selected component; clad nuclear; /422/
Citation Formats
Yarbro, Orlan O. Apparatus for leaching core material from clad nuclear fuel pin segments. United States: N. p., 1980.
Web.
Yarbro, Orlan O. Apparatus for leaching core material from clad nuclear fuel pin segments. United States.
Yarbro, Orlan O. Tue .
"Apparatus for leaching core material from clad nuclear fuel pin segments". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/863698.
@article{osti_863698,
title = {Apparatus for leaching core material from clad nuclear fuel pin segments},
author = {Yarbro, Orlan O},
abstractNote = {This invention relates to improved apparatus for counter-currently contacting liquids and solids to dissolve, or leach, a selected component of the solids while minimizing back-mixing of the liquid phase. The apparatus includes an elongated drum which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis in either direction and is partitioned radially into a solids-inlet/liquid-outlet compartment at one end, a solids-outlet/liquid-inlet compartment at its other end, and leaching compartments therebetween. The drum is designed to operate with its acid-inlet end elevated and with the longitudinal axis of the drum at an angle in the range of from about 3.degree. to 14.degree. to the horizontal. Each leaching compartment contains a chute assembly for advancing solids into the next compartment in the direction of solids flow when the drum is rotated in a selected direction. The chute assembly includes a solids-transfer baffle and a chute in the form of a slotted, skewed, conical frustum portion. When the drum is rotated in the direction opposite to that effecting solids transfer, the solids-transfer baffles continually separate and re-mix the solids and liquids in their respective compartments. The partitions defining the leaching compartments are formed with corresponding outer, annular, imperforate regions, each region extending inwardly from the partition rim to an annular array of perforations concentric with the rim. In each leaching compartment, the spacing between the rim and the perforations determines the depth of liquid at the liquid-outlet end of the compartment. The liquid input to the drum assembly flows continuously through the compartments, preventing back-mixing due to density differences, whereas backflow due to waves generated by the solids-transfer baffles is virtually eliminated because of the tilted orientation of the drum assembly.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980}
}