Composite Media for Fluid Stream Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite media for fluid stream processing, such as nuclear fuel treatment off-gas streams, face challenges with flow restriction and reduced effectiveness due to small particle sizes and lack of porosity in conventional active component forms, which limits the surface area available for material removal.
Innovation Solution
A composite media is developed with crystalline aluminosilicate materials dispersed in a polyacrylonitrile matrix, providing a larger surface area and radiolytic stability, allowing for efficient processing of fluid streams by forming beads with a macroporous structure that enhances the exposure of the active component to the fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the active component is provided in powder or finely granulated form to increase surface area, then the surface area for material removal is improved, but the flow rate of fluid stream is reduced due to smaller air spaces between particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous polymer matrix material that provides internal porosity and connectivity, allowing fluid to flow through the matrix while maintaining high surface area contact with the active component dispersed within it. This resolves the contradiction by creating pathways for fluid flow that do not require large inter-particle spaces, as the porous structure provides both flow channels and surface area simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material consisting of active component particles dispersed within a porous polymer matrix. This composite structure combines the high surface area benefit of fine particles with the flow characteristics of a continuous matrix material, allowing both high surface area contact and adequate fluid flow through the composite beads.
2Speed
If finely granulated active component is compressed under high pressure to form larger pellets to improve flow, then the flow rate is improved, but the active component is washed away and the pellets become brittle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the active component into the porous polymer matrix before the fluid stream processing begins. This preliminary embedding action prevents the active component from being washed away during operation, as it is already fixed within the matrix structure rather than being loosely contained in pellets that can crumble.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of active component dispersed in porous polymer matrix creates a mechanically stable material where the matrix provides structural integrity and prevents particle loss, while maintaining the desired flow characteristics without requiring high-pressure pelletization.
3Reliability
If inorganic materials are used as supporting matrix to provide stability, then the stability under radioactive conditions is improved, but the porosity is minimized limiting active component exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous polymer matrix that provides high porosity and surface area for active component exposure, contrasting with conventional low-porosity inorganic matrices. The porous structure allows fluid to penetrate deeply into the bead interior, maximizing contact with dispersed active component throughout the volume, not just at the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional inorganic matrices to a porous polymer matrix, fundamentally altering the porosity and surface area characteristics. This parameter change enables high active component exposure while maintaining structural stability through the crosslinked polymer network.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite media achieves increased loading capacities and efficient processing of fluid streams with improved flow rates and stability in radioactive environments, effectively removing constituents like krypton, xenon, and iodine from nuclear fuel treatment off-gas streams.
Implementation Method 1
an active component, such as a crystalline aluminosilicate material, may be provided to contact the fluid stream and remove at least one of the krypton, xenon, and iodine by way of adsorption
Implementation Method 2
The composite media has radiolytic stability, relatively high loading of the active component, and a large surface area of the active component
Data Source
AI summary
A composite media including at least one crystalline aluminosilicate material in polyacrylonitrile. A method of forming a composite media is also disclosed. The method comprises dissolving polyacrylonitrile in an organic solvent to form a matrix solution. At least one crystalline aluminosilicate material is combined with the matrix solution to form a composite media solution. The organic solvent present in the composite media solution is diluted. The composite media solution is solidified. In addition, a method of processing a fluid stream is disclosed. The method comprises providing a beads of a composite media comprising at least one crystalline aluminosilicate material dispersed in a polyacrylonitrile matrix. The beads of the composite media are contacted with a fluid stream comprising at least one constituent. The at least one constituent is substantially removed from the fluid stream.