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Title: Method for removing metal vapor from gas streams

Abstract

A process for cleaning an inert gas contaminated with a metallic vapor, such as cadmium, involves withdrawing gas containing the metallic contaminant from a gas atmosphere of high purity argon; passing the gas containing the metallic contaminant to a mass transfer unit having a plurality of hot gas channels separated by a plurality of coolant gas channels; cooling the contaminated gas as it flows upward through the mass transfer unit to cause contaminated gas vapor to condense on the gas channel walls; regenerating the gas channels of the mass transfer unit; and, returning the cleaned gas to the gas atmosphere of high purity argon. The condensing of the contaminant-containing vapor occurs while suppressing contaminant particulate formation, and is promoted by providing a sufficient amount of surface area in the mass transfer unit to cause the vapor to condense and relieve supersaturation buildup such that contaminant particulates are not formed. Condensation of the contaminant is prevented on supply and return lines in which the contaminant containing gas is withdrawn and returned from and to the electrorefiner and mass transfer unit by heating and insulating the supply and return lines.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. 6440 Hillcrest Dr., Burr Ridge, IL 60521
  2. 925 Lehigh Cir., Naperville, IL 60565
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
870359
Patent Number(s):
5503811
Assignee:
Ahluwalia, R. K. (6440 Hillcrest Dr., Burr Ridge, IL 60521);Im, K. H. (925 Lehigh Cir., Naperville, IL 60565)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-31109-ENG-38
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
method; removing; metal; vapor; gas; streams; process; cleaning; inert; contaminated; metallic; cadmium; involves; withdrawing; containing; contaminant; atmosphere; purity; argon; passing; mass; transfer; unit; plurality; hot; channels; separated; coolant; cooling; flows; upward; condense; channel; walls; regenerating; returning; cleaned; condensing; contaminant-containing; occurs; suppressing; particulate; formation; promoted; providing; sufficient; amount; surface; relieve; supersaturation; buildup; particulates; formed; condensation; prevented; supply; return; lines; withdrawn; returned; electrorefiner; heating; insulating; removing metal; return line; gas channels; gas vapor; coolant gas; sufficient amount; gas containing; metal vapor; gas stream; inert gas; gas streams; hot gas; particulate form; containing gas; gas atmosphere; mass transfer; contaminated gas; purity argon; moving metal; cleaned gas; metallic contaminant; gas channel; channel walls; gas contaminated; flows upward; channel wall; involves withdrawing; containing vapor; /423/95/

Citation Formats

Ahluwalia, R K, and Im, K H. Method for removing metal vapor from gas streams. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Ahluwalia, R K, & Im, K H. Method for removing metal vapor from gas streams. United States.
Ahluwalia, R K, and Im, K H. Mon . "Method for removing metal vapor from gas streams". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870359.
@article{osti_870359,
title = {Method for removing metal vapor from gas streams},
author = {Ahluwalia, R K and Im, K H},
abstractNote = {A process for cleaning an inert gas contaminated with a metallic vapor, such as cadmium, involves withdrawing gas containing the metallic contaminant from a gas atmosphere of high purity argon; passing the gas containing the metallic contaminant to a mass transfer unit having a plurality of hot gas channels separated by a plurality of coolant gas channels; cooling the contaminated gas as it flows upward through the mass transfer unit to cause contaminated gas vapor to condense on the gas channel walls; regenerating the gas channels of the mass transfer unit; and, returning the cleaned gas to the gas atmosphere of high purity argon. The condensing of the contaminant-containing vapor occurs while suppressing contaminant particulate formation, and is promoted by providing a sufficient amount of surface area in the mass transfer unit to cause the vapor to condense and relieve supersaturation buildup such that contaminant particulates are not formed. Condensation of the contaminant is prevented on supply and return lines in which the contaminant containing gas is withdrawn and returned from and to the electrorefiner and mass transfer unit by heating and insulating the supply and return lines.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1996},
month = {1}
}