UO3 Thermal Denitration Sedimentation Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing facility for thermally denitrating uranyl nitrate hexahydrate to produce uranium trioxide suffers from low separation yield, equipment overload, and increased energy consumption due to inefficient particle collection and separation, leading to suboptimal reactivity of uranium trioxide particles for subsequent nuclear industry processes.
Innovation Solution
A facility with a sedimentation chamber that directly receives the reaction chamber outlet, allowing for high-temperature filtration and optimized gas-particle separation, reducing the need for additional cooling and equipment size, and enhancing particle reactivity through improved separation yields and reduced clogging risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cyclone and bag filter system is used for particle separation, then particle collection is achieved, but the filter becomes overloaded and head loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the particle separation process into two distinct stages: a first separation chamber that performs coarse separation of particles from the gas stream, and a second separation chamber that performs fine separation. This segmentation prevents overload of any single filter by distributing the separation load across multiple stages, with the first chamber handling the bulk of particle removal before the gas enters the second chamber with its filter.
Solution Approach 2:
The first separation chamber acts as an intermediary between the reaction chamber and the second separation chamber. It pre-treats the gas stream by removing a significant portion of particles before the gas enters the second separation chamber, thereby protecting the filter in the second chamber from overload and reducing head loss while maintaining effective particle collection.
2Device complexity
If the reaction chamber outlet is directly connected to the separation chamber, then equipment complexity is reduced, but particle separation efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The separation system is segmented into two distinct chambers: a first separation chamber for coarse particle separation and a second separation chamber for fine particle separation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain relatively simple equipment configuration (direct connection from reaction chamber) while achieving high particle separation yield through the combined effect of both chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-stage separation approach to a two-stage separation approach, adding a temporal and functional dimension to the separation process. The first chamber handles immediate coarse separation, while the second chamber provides subsequent fine separation, thereby maintaining equipment simplicity while enhancing overall separation efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If high temperature filtration is implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but filter material requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration process is segmented into two stages: high-temperature filtration in the first separation chamber where particles are still hot and less likely to condense on the filter, and lower-temperature filtration in the second separation chamber. This segmentation allows the use of standard filter materials in the second chamber while maintaining energy efficiency through high-temperature operation in the first chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The first separation chamber performs preliminary separation of particles at high temperature before they enter the second chamber. This preliminary action removes the bulk of particles while the gas is still hot, reducing the thermal load on the second chamber's filter and allowing the use of more conventional filter materials that can still effectively capture remaining fine particles.
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 facility achieves higher than 65% separation yield of uranium trioxide particles with enhanced reactivity, reducing energy consumption and maintaining a compact design while ensuring the particles' morphological characteristics are suitable for subsequent transformations into uranium dioxide and tetrafluoride.
Implementation Method 1
a sedimentation chamber into which the reaction chamber directly opens and the filter is able to make the separation at a temperature higher than 350° C.
Implementation Method 2
at least one filter configured to separate the other part of the UO3 particles from said gases and thus scrub said gases
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for thermal denitration of a uranyl nitrate hydrate to uranium trioxide UO3. The apparatus (1) comprises a burner (114) and a reaction chamber (110) configured to carry out thermal denitration of uranyl nitrate hydrate and to form uranium trioxide UO3 in the form of particles. The apparatus also comprises a separating chamber (120) suitable for separating UO3 particles from the gases resulting from the thermal denitration carried out in the reaction chamber (110), and at least one filter (130) configured for purifying the gases. The separating chamber (120) is a decanting chamber into which the reaction chamber (110) directly opens out. The filter (130) is capable of performing the separation at a temperature greater than or equal to 350° C. The invention also relates to use of such an apparatus, to a thermal denitration process and to UO3 particles obtained by such a process.