UF.sub.6 -Recovery process utilizing desublimation
Abstract
The invention is a UF.sub.6 -recovery process of the kind in which a stream of substantially pure gaseous UF.sub.6 is directed through an externally chilled desublimer to convert the UF.sub.6 directly to an annular solid ring adhering to the interior wall of the desublimer. After accumulation of a desired amount of solid UF.sub.6, the desublimer is heated to liquefy the solid. Subsequently, the liquid is recovered from the desublimer. It has been found that during the heating operation the desublimer is subjected to excessive mechanical stresses. In addition, it has been found that the incorporation of a very small percentage of relatively noncondensable, nonreactive gas (e.g., nitrogen) in the UF.sub.6 input to the desublimer effects significant decreases in the stresses generated during the subsequent melting operation. This modification to the process provides valuable advantages in terms of reduced hazard, lower operating costs for the desublimer, and increased service life for the desublimer and its auxiliaries. The new process is especially suitable for the recovery of enriched UF.sub.6 from high-speed UF.sub.6 gas-centrifuge cascades.
- Inventors:
-
- 11 Newhope La., Oak Ridge, TN 37830
- 115 Concord Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830
- 421 Cumberland St., Harriman, TN 37748
- 821 Walker Springs Rd., Knoxville, TN 37923
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865627
- Patent Number(s):
- 4546611
- Assignee:
- Eby; Robert S. (11 Newhope La., Oak Ridge, TN 37830); Stephenson; Michael J. (115 Concord Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830); Andrews; Deborah H. (421 Cumberland St., Harriman, TN 37748); Hamilton; Thomas H. (821 Walker Springs Rd., Knoxville, TN 37923)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B01 - PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL B01D - SEPARATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- -recovery; process; utilizing; desublimation; stream; substantially; pure; gaseous; directed; externally; chilled; desublimer; convert; directly; annular; solid; adhering; interior; wall; accumulation; desired; amount; heated; liquefy; subsequently; liquid; recovered; found; heating; operation; subjected; excessive; mechanical; stresses; addition; incorporation; percentage; relatively; noncondensable; nonreactive; gas; nitrogen; input; effects; significant; decreases; generated; subsequent; melting; modification; provides; valuable; advantages; terms; reduced; hazard; operating; costs; increased; service; life; auxiliaries; especially; suitable; recovery; enriched; high-speed; gas-centrifuge; cascades; service life; stresses generated; process provides; reactive gas; interior wall; substantially pure; recovery process; process utilizing; especially suitable; pure gaseous; operating costs; mechanical stresses; mechanical stress; desired amount; increased service; -recovery process; heating operation; melting operation; /62/95/220/
Citation Formats
Eby, Robert S, Stephenson, Michael J, Andrews, Deborah H, and Hamilton, Thomas H. UF.sub.6 -Recovery process utilizing desublimation. United States: N. p., 1985.
Web.
Eby, Robert S, Stephenson, Michael J, Andrews, Deborah H, & Hamilton, Thomas H. UF.sub.6 -Recovery process utilizing desublimation. United States.
Eby, Robert S, Stephenson, Michael J, Andrews, Deborah H, and Hamilton, Thomas H. Tue .
"UF.sub.6 -Recovery process utilizing desublimation". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865627.
@article{osti_865627,
title = {UF.sub.6 -Recovery process utilizing desublimation},
author = {Eby, Robert S and Stephenson, Michael J and Andrews, Deborah H and Hamilton, Thomas H},
abstractNote = {The invention is a UF.sub.6 -recovery process of the kind in which a stream of substantially pure gaseous UF.sub.6 is directed through an externally chilled desublimer to convert the UF.sub.6 directly to an annular solid ring adhering to the interior wall of the desublimer. After accumulation of a desired amount of solid UF.sub.6, the desublimer is heated to liquefy the solid. Subsequently, the liquid is recovered from the desublimer. It has been found that during the heating operation the desublimer is subjected to excessive mechanical stresses. In addition, it has been found that the incorporation of a very small percentage of relatively noncondensable, nonreactive gas (e.g., nitrogen) in the UF.sub.6 input to the desublimer effects significant decreases in the stresses generated during the subsequent melting operation. This modification to the process provides valuable advantages in terms of reduced hazard, lower operating costs for the desublimer, and increased service life for the desublimer and its auxiliaries. The new process is especially suitable for the recovery of enriched UF.sub.6 from high-speed UF.sub.6 gas-centrifuge cascades.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1985},
month = {1}
}