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Title: Article separation apparatus and method for unit operations

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1176376

An apparatus and method are disclosed for separating articles from a group of articles. The apparatus includes a container for containing one or more articles coupled to a suitable fluidizer for suspending articles within the container and transporting articles to an induction tube. A portal in the induction tube introduces articles singly into the induction tube. A vacuum pulls articles through the induction tube separating the articles from the group of articles in the container. The apparatus and method can be combined with one or more unit operations or modules, e.g., for inspecting articles, assessing quality of articles, or ascertaining material properties and/or parameters of articles, including layers thereof.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
Assignee:
Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
Patent Number(s):
7,740,424
Application Number:
11/355,608
OSTI ID:
1176376
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Integrity Confirmation Tests and Post-irradiation Test Plan of the HTTR First-Loading Fuel journal June 2001
Safety criteria and quality control of HTTR fuel journal September 2001
Defect-Related Properties of Nuclear Materials Studied by Electrical Method journal October 1996
Crushing strengths of SiC-Triso and ZrC-Triso coated fuel particles journal May 1981

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