Pulse columns in nuclear fuel processing, Part 11 - flooding characteristics, and Part 111 - correlation of flooding characteristics in terms of physics properties of the phases.

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Date
1961-06
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Atomic Energy Commission
Abstract
Part I of a study of Pulse Columns in Nuclear Fuel Processing was published as AAEC-E-50. Following the conclusions and recommendations of the report two aspects of the study were investigated and are described herein. The first aspect (Part II) was an investigation of the flooding characteristics of a one inch diameter pulse column used to extract uranium from relatively viscous, high density feed solutions of aluminum and uranium nitrates. For the particular solution used the density was 1.240 g/m3 and the viscosity was 3.31 centipoises. The optimum pulse volume velocity (product of pulse amplitude and frequency) to give maximum throughput without flooding for this solution was found to lie between 970 and 1150 Imp. gal/(hr)(ft2). Part III describes the second aspect, an investigation of the effect of variations in the physical properties of the phases on flooding behaviour in a one inch pulse column at optimum pulse volume velocity. A correlation as a power function has been determined over a range of conditions in which the aqueous phase density varied from 1.13 to 1.37 g/m3, the organic phase density from 0.773 to 0.887 g/m3, the aqueous phase viscosity from 1.9 to 10.6 centipoises, the organic phase viscosity from 1.1 to 5.6 centipoises and the interfacial tension between the two phases from 8.9 to 15.8 dynes/cm. The correlation, determined at a continuous phase flow rate of 120m1/min can be used in the range 80 to 180 m1/min.
Description
Keywords
Nuclear fuels, Extraction columns, Uranium, Reactors, ANSTO
Citation
Baillie, M. (1961). Pulse columns in nuclear fuel processing, part 11 flooding characteristics, and part 111 correlation of flooding characteristics in terms of physics properties of the phases (AAEC-E-62). Lucas Heights, N.S.W.: Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission.