Additively Manufactured Tubular Injector for UF6 Hydrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tubular injectors in uranium hexafluoride hydrolysis reactors suffer from quality defects and are not suitable for reuse across different reactors, leading to inconsistent performance and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A tubular injector for uranium hexafluoride hydrolysis reactors is manufactured using additive manufacturing, ensuring excellent concentricity and uniform cross-sections of fluid circulation ducts, with a compact design and integral fittings, allowing for reproducible operation and ease of reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional manufacturing methods are used for tubular injectors, then production is simpler, but manufacturing precision and concentricity of fluid circulation ducts deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical manufacturing methods (welding, assembly) with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution enables the creation of complex three-dimensional concentric duct structures with high precision that cannot be achieved through conventional mechanical means, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate components (injector body, fittings, fluid circulation ducts) into a single integrated additive manufacturing process. This consolidation eliminates assembly steps and welding operations, achieving high concentricity while maintaining manufacturing efficiency, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tubular injectors are designed for specific reactors, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but adaptability across different reactors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the tubular injector with universal adaptability features, allowing the same injector design to be used across different reactor types and positions. The additive manufacturing process ensures that this universal design maintains high manufacturing precision and operational consistency, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the flexibility of additive manufacturing to easily modify design parameters (dimensions, duct configurations, fitting positions) while maintaining the core design and manufacturing process. This enables the injector to be adapted to different reactors without sacrificing manufacturing precision, resolving the technical contradiction.
3Loss of energy
If conventional manufacturing processes are used, then production cost is lower, but pressure losses in fluid circulation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs smooth curved transitions and optimized duct geometries enabled by additive manufacturing to reduce flow separation and turbulence. These curved designs eliminate sharp corners and abrupt transitions that cause pressure losses, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the local geometry of fluid circulation ducts at critical locations (entrances, exits, bends) using additive manufacturing capabilities. This local optimization reduces pressure losses in high-flow areas while maintaining simpler structures elsewhere, balancing energy efficiency with manufacturing ease.
Data Source
AI summary
A reactor (1) for hydrolysis of uranium hexafluoride comprises a tubular injector (9) comprising first (11), second (13) and third (15) concentric fluid circulation ducts intended to be connected respectively with a source of UF6, a source of inert gas and a source of water vapor. The tubular injector (9) is obtained by additive manufacturing.