Fluidized Bed Reactor for Radioactive Effluent Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for decontaminating radioactive liquid effluents require large and inflexible installations, significant investment, and generate excessive sludge, with inefficiencies in processing capacity and radiological activity concentration.
Innovation Solution
A continuous decontamination process using a vertical reactor with a fluidized bed for contacting and settling radioactive particles, allowing prolonged contact time and efficient separation of solid and liquid phases without the need for additional flocculants, reducing the volume of sludge and enhancing decontamination efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional decontamination treatment is carried out using separate reactor and settling tank, then solid-liquid separation can be achieved, but the installation becomes large and inflexible with significant investment required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reactor and settling tank into a single integrated device. The reactor serves dual functions: it acts as both the treatment reactor where co-precipitation occurs and as the settling tank for solid-liquid separation. This eliminates the need for separate tanks and reduces installation complexity while maintaining separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the treatment reactor for co-precipitation, provides settling zone for separation, and acts as the decanter. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall installation.
2Ease of operation
If discontinuous treatment mode is used to allow various treatment stages, then treatment can be carried out step by step, but the time required increases significantly reducing processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous operation where effluent, solid particles, and reagents are introduced continuously into the reactor. The co-precipitation, settling, and separation processes occur simultaneously in different zones of the reactor, eliminating the need for sequential batch operations and significantly increasing processing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor is pre-configured with distinct zones for co-precipitation and settling. Solid particles and reagents are pre-positioned in the reactor before effluent introduction begins, allowing immediate continuous operation without requiring separate preparation steps for each treatment cycle.
3Reliability
If long residence time is provided in reactor for effective treatment, then decontamination efficiency improves, but the reactor volume must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the treatment process vertically by incorporating a tall settling zone above the reaction zone. This vertical arrangement allows prolonged residence time for settling without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint or overall volume of the reactor, maintaining compact design while achieving effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The reactor is divided into distinct functional zones: a lower reaction zone for co-precipitation and an upper settling zone for separation. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function, with the settling zone providing extended residence time without requiring the entire reactor volume to be enlarged.
4Reliability
If large quantities of solid particles are used for minimum treatment efficiency, then decontamination is ensured, but the volume of sludge produced increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of solid particles by inducing co-precipitation that forms larger, denser particles with better settling characteristics. This changes the particle size distribution and density, improving settling efficiency and allowing effective treatment with smaller quantities of solid material, thereby reducing sludge volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment process creates composite particles through co-precipitation, where radioactive contaminants are incorporated into the crystal structure of precipitating salts. This composite formation concentrates contaminants into smaller volumes of sludge while maintaining treatment efficiency, as the radioactive elements are trapped within the solid matrix rather than requiring large quantities of separate adsorbent material.
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
This approach reduces the size and operational costs of decontamination facilities, increases processing capacity, and concentrates radiological activity in a smaller volume of sludge, improving decontamination efficiency and flexibility in handling variable effluent inputs.
Implementation Method 1
by coprecipitation and/or adsorption and/or ion exchange, of capturing and retaining said radioactive chemical elements
Implementation Method 2
by coprecipitation and/or adsorption and/or ion exchange, of capturing and retaining said radioactive chemical elements
Implementation Method 3
by coprecipitation and/or adsorption and/or ion exchange, of capturing and retaining said radioactive chemical elements
Implementation Method 4
a step of bringing said liquid effluent into contact in an agitated fluidized bed with solid particles
Implementation Method 5
a step of settling said suspension, in a second zone of the same reactor, whereby a solid phase is obtained comprising the solid particles containing the said radioactive chemical element(s)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for decontaminating a liquid effluent containing one or more radioactive chemical elements to be removed, said method including the following steps: a step of contacting said liquid effluent, in an agitated fluidised bed in a first area of a reactor, with solid particles capable of trapping and retaining said radioactive chemical elements by co-precipitation and/or adsorption and/or ion exchange, whereby a suspension of solid particles containing said radioactive chemical element(s) is obtained; a step of decanting said suspension in a second area of the same reactor, said second area being separate from the first abovementioned area, whereby a solid phase including the solid particles containing said radioactive chemical element(s) to be removed and a liquid phase that is lean in or free of said radioactive chemical element(s) to be removed are obtained; and a step of separating said solid phase from said liquid phase.