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ORNL-TM-2170.txt
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CHHEED MARTIN ENERGY RESEARCH LIBRARIES
LO
IEER AT 150
| 3 445L 0513008 & ‘'IONAL LABORATORY
— ——operated by
UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION
NUCLEAR DiVISION o “RB'DE
for the oDt e R e
N
DOCUMENT &0 L EOTION
U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
ORNL- TM- 2170
HOT-CELL STUDIES OF THE FLUIDIZED-BED FLUORIDE VOLATILITY PROCESS
FOR RECOVERING URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM FROM SPENT UO,, FUELS
J. C. Mailenand G. |. Cathers
bAK RIDGE NATIONAL
CENTRAL RESEARC
DOCUMENT COL
LIBRARY LO
DO NOT TRANSFER TO A
If you wish someone els
document, send BT
and the library will arra
UECN-796% 1
{3 3-671 f
NBTICE This document contains information of a preliminary nature
and was prepared primarily for internal use at the Oak Ridge National
Loboratory. It is subject to revision or correction and therefore does
not represent a final report.
bbb . LEGAL NOTICE — — S
This report was prepared as an account of Government sponsored work. Neither the United States,
nor the Commission, nor any person dacting on behalf of the Commission:
A. Makes any warranty or representaticn, expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of the information contained in this report, or that the use of |
any infermation, aopparatus, methed, or process disclosed in this report may not infringe
privately owned rights; or
B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for damoges resulting from the use of
any information, apparatus, methed, or process disclesed in this report.
As used in the cbeve, ““person acting on behalf of the Commissien®’ includes any employee or
contractor of the Commission, or employee of such cantractor, to the extent that such employee
or contractor of the Commission, or employee of such contractor prepares, disseminures, or
provides access to, any information pursuant to his employment or controct with the Commission,
or his employment with such contractor. '
ORNL~ TM- 2170
Contract No. W-Th05-eng-26
CHEMICAL TECHNCILOGY DIVISION
Chemical Development Section B
HOT-CELL STUDIES OF THE FLUIDIZED-BED FLUORIDE VOIATILITY PROCESS
FOR RECOVERING URANIUM AND PLUTONIUM FROM SPENT UO2 FUELS
J. C. Mailen and G. I. Cathers
APRIL 1969
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATCRY
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
operated by
UNTON CARBIDE CORPORATION
for the
U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
ENEPGY RESEARCH LIBRARIES
T
|
3 yy5kL 0513008 &
b
CONTENTS
Abstract
1. Introduction .
2. Hxperimental .
2.1 Equipment Used . . . ¢ « « « o« « « .
2.2 Sampling Procedure
2.3 Experimental Materials . . . . . . .
3. Results and Discussion « . « « « « « + + .
3.1 Oxidation of Fuel . . . . . . . .
3.2 Volatilization of Uranium with BrF5
3.3 Desorption of Uranium .
3.4 Volatilization of PuF6 with Fluorine
3.5 Recovery of Plutonium from Nal Trap
. Conclusions
5. References
10
10
10
12
. 21
. 21
. 29
29
30
HOT-CELL STUDIES OF THE FLUIDIZED-BED FLUCRIDE VOIATILITY PROCESS
POR RECOVERING URANIUM AND PLUTONTUM FROM SPENT UO_. FUELS
Jd. C, Mgilern and G. T. Cathers
ABSTRACT
Bench-scale experiments with UO2 that had been irra-
diated to a burnup of 34,000 Mwd/metric ton and cooled for
two years were performed, using a 0.94-in.-ID fluidized-
bed resctor. The objectives of these experiments were to
test NaF at 400°C for use as a trap Tor volatile fission
product fluorides, to test MgF2 for use as a Lrap Tor nep-
tunium and technetium fluorides, to test NaF at 550°C for
use as a trap Tor sorbing PuF6 and separating it from ru-
thenium, to study the behavior of neptunium, and to deter-
mine the fate of tritium.
In these studies the U0, wes first oxidized with 20%
02--80% N, at h50°C, to form U308; this was then btreated
with BrF5~N2 mixtures (5 to 10% BrF5) at 300°C to form
UF6 and volatllize the uranium and most of the ruthenium,
molybdenun, and techonetium fluorides; finally, treatment
with fluorine at 300 Lo 500°C was used to Tluorinate and
volatilize the plutonium as PuFé. In some runs, BrI, was
3
used for a finsl cleanup of uranium after the BrF5 tfeat—
ment. Plutonium was separated from the fluorine stream,
by irreversible sorption on NaF, in a trap at lemperatures
above 500°C. Uranlium hexafluoride was purified by passage
through a 400°C WaF bed and by sorption on, and desorption
from, Nab'.
A ruthenium decontamination factor of 2000 was ob-
tained by using a 400°C NaF ted and a residence time of
15 sec; cosorption of ruthenium in the plutonium Utrap
was minimized by operating it at 550 to 600°C. Of the
syitium in the fuel, about 95% was liberated during the
heatup of the fuel to 450°C and during the oxidation; the
other 5% was liberated during the BrF_ step.
J
1. INTRODUCTION
Hot-cell tests of the fluldized-bed Tluoride volatility process
were made at Oak Ridge National Iaboratory in support of the proposed
Tuidized-Bed Volatility Pilot Plant.® These studies were designed to
explore The chemical behavior of various fission products, using high-
burnup tuel, ana tc evaluate methods Tor decontaminating the uranium
and plutonium products. Opecifically, we attempted to do the Tollowing:
1. test NaF at LOC°C Tor its effectiveness in removing vclatile
fission products,
2. test MgFP at 100°C for use 22 & neptunium and technetium trap,
2. test NalF for use as a plutonium trap, particularly regarding
cosorpvion of ruthenium,
4. examine the behavior of ueptunium, and
5. determine the fate of tritium.
The results of these tests and examinations, along with significant
observations made in the course of the work, are presented in this
report.
Acknowledgmente. — The authors wish to recognize the fine work
acne oy the Analytical Chemistry Division in the analysis of the hot
samples, and that of J. H. Goode Tor his analysis of the tritium and
plutorium content of the fuel. We were assisted in the initial cold
teating ol the equipment by T. E. Crabtree; the hot-cell work was
o
performed with fthe assistance of L. A. Byrd.
*Design and construction efforts involving the Fluidized-Bed
VolaTility Pilot Plant, which was scheduled for installation in
s1de. 3019, were terminsted in the 211 of 1967 zccording to a direciive
pued oy Lhe USAEC,
L
2. HEXPERIMENTAT
2.1 HEoulpment Used
Because space was limited the hoft-cell tests were done with small
equipment. The fluidized-bed reactor, which was made of 1-in.-0D
nickel pipe, had a2 2-in.-0D disengaging section. Except for the cold
trap and the Na¥ trap for plutonium sorption, the variocus traps con-
sisted of 1- or 2-in.-0D nickel tubes.
The fluidized-bed veactor is shown in Fig. 1. The bed was
supported in the reactor by a ball check valve. The temperature of
the fluidized section was monitored by an external thermccouple in a
well that was welded to the side of the reactor. Heat was supplled to
the fluidized-bed portion of the reactor by a clamshell heater. The
temperature of the disengaging secltion wasg monitored by an external
thermocouple. Calibration of this thermocouple against an internal
thermocouple indicated that the temperature cf the gas in the disengaging
section was about 30°C higher than that of the wall. The disengaging
section was heated by means of a wrappling of asbestos-coeoated resistance
wire (Cerro Corp. "Rockbestos') thermally insulated with Ssuereisen.
The filter at the top of the disengaging section was periodically blown
back by a pulse of 5- to 10-psig nitrogen. The coaxial tube arrangement
shown in Fig. 1 created sufficient restricticn in the flow out of the
bed to ensure that more than half of the blowback pulse passed through
the Tilter. This arrangement eliminzated the use of valves, which were
known to require frequent maintenance.
Figure 2 shows the flange-filter assembly that was used on the
fluidized-bed reactor and on all traps except the cold trap and the
Na¥ trap for plutonium. TIn this design, the Teflon O-ring acts to
seal the Tlanges and to seal in the Tilter. The presence of these
filters at the top of each trap prevented significant transfer of dust
vetween traps. The Tilters were replaced after each run.
The traps (except the cold trap and the plutonium trap) were
heated with resistance wire wrappings and were insulated with Sauereisen.
FILTER
- BLOWBACK
l‘ PULSE
éifl()D
b
TO
;Zza’fiLgNGE
DETAIL '8
¥ in.Diam-/ £H] —
éflnlflAM
DETAIL"A"
Pia. 1.
with Rlowbsck Systoen.
SEE FLANGE-FILTER
ASSEMBLY DRAWING
GAS
TREATMENT
a in. 0.0,
32-mil WAL L
Schematic Dliagram
ORNL. DWGC. ©9-85
FILTER
BLOWEACK
PULSE
SEE
DETAHfE”\\& Y
; ngfi _TO GAS
g T TREATMEMT
l\ /.’
\\ //
[ _"‘“]R
<THERMOCOUPLE
R e
10 in.
2 in.0.D.— e
-
\ / Y
1~ 1.
___________ . 4
4
Vin 00— e
N\
e MONEL BALL
NG
SEE ; /2 TO 3/4 in.
A » .
DETAIL "A" ~TE DIAM
of tne C.94-1n.~-1D Fluidized-Bed Reactor
-
1.
4m.
ORNL DWG 69-88
FLANGES TIGHTENED
BY THREE, 3/8-in,
BOLTS ON 120°
X CENTERS
o \
Tl 700
r‘
A
(
Z
3/32-in. THICK
TEFLON O-RING
/2 9/16-in. 1. D.,
L)
.
- |
~-HUYCK SINTERED
3 NICKEL FIBER
(e — 27 i7" n5i5¢ 80 mil. THICK,
ro.oezin. | 2 9/16-in. 0. D.
1
4 7 7 =/
0.625in. //f/ —=
Y \ e / —
|
4 4
2 i
Fig. 2.
4in.
otandard Flange-Filter Assembly.
The bottom plates were recessed within the heated tubes tTo prevent a
temperature decrease at the bottom of the trap. In each o7 these traps,
the gag entered the trap at the bottom znd exited at the top through =
flarge-[ilter sssemoly.
The cold trap, which was used to collect the UF6 product, consisted
of 2 6-in.~long, 2-in.-0D nickel tube Titted with a baffle that Torced
the gas to circulate to within 2 in. of the bottom. The Trap was cooled
by Immersicn in dry ice-~trichlorcetiylene.
In the Tirst four hot-cell tests, the plutenium trap consisted of
a straight tupe having a thermocouple well that entered the side about
hailfway down the tube; here, the two Nal' beds were supported on each
side ol the therymocouple well. The disgsdvantsge of this type of trap
was the large =emperature differential (50 to 100°C) across the section
of Nel¥ on the g=s inlet side. The NaF trap used fTo scorb plutonium in
the most recent tests is shown in Fig. 3. The double-wall design
resulted in a very small temperature gradlient in The ianer tube. Two
2.5-g portions of 12- Cto 20-mesh Nal', separsted by a plug of 3-mil
nickel wire, were ingerted Into this inner bube. The highest termpera-
ture cccurred at the bottom of the irner tube. The decreases in tem-
perature over the first and second sectlions were about 1°C and about
4°C, respectively. Thus, this trap could be operated with an essentially
constant sorption temperature; 1t was hested with = clamshell furnace.
Unheated 1/4-in.-0D Kel-F lines served to connect the fluidized-
bed reactor, gas suppliecs, and the various traps. No valves were used
inslide the cell except on the uranium product cold trap.
O"f-gas from the process was pasced through the scrubber shown
in Fig. 4. The BrFS and fluorine streams were scrubbed with 2 N
KOH--0.2 N KT solution in 100% excecs, =nd the gss resulting from the
foue]
oxidztlon step was scrubbed with water. Representative sarmulec of
the scrubber offluent were withdrawn asutomatically by means of the
solercid velve and Limer locaied at the bottom of The column.
Gee Tlowe into the cell were moritored with differentisl prossure
1
transmitters {Foxboro 15A-152). Nitrogen, oxyzen, and Muorine were
ORNL DWG 69-9i
—iind 12 in. leg——
THERMOCOUPLE
WELL
%in. Ni TUBE
3 r 1 ’/_
- GAS
SUPPORT INLET
g DISC
1. [
2 In.
5in
3~ in
_— 8 HOLES, 1/32 in.
DIAM, DRILLED CLOSE
, / TO BOTTOM OF TUBE
= in.
? g_qgfl/
; - {
o | |, ——~
Fig. 3. Plutonium Trep Used in Most Recent Tests.
ORNL DWG 62-8¢
PROCESS GAS 2 N KOH
CONTAINING ——»—1[—4~ 0.2 MK
BrFg OR Fp SOLUTION
1-in-SWAGELOK
1-in-0.0. BY——""|
rfi-Lone | r/_,, CONNECTOR
ALUNDUM TUBE [
. /1—in.-»o,0. ay 2-f1-LONG
To | P STAINLESS STEEL TUBE
sggggggg; REACTOR COLUMN PACKED
47 WITH FUSED ALUMINA
f + 1-in-SWAGELOK
wi“* CONNECTOR
TIMER
2004,
SOLENOID
VALVE
T0 TO
DISFOSAL SAMPLE
CONTAINER
Fig. k. Tluorine and BrF5 Disposal Apparatus Used in Hot-Cell
Experiments.
piped through ambient-temperature tubing Into the cell. Bromine
pentafluoride gas was generated by heating a cylinder of liquid BrFs to
shout 50°C and passing it through tubing and differential pressure
transmitters heated above this temperature. Before entering the cell,
the BrF5 zas was diluted with nitrogen to eliminate the necessity of
heating the lines inside the cell. Bromine trifluoride was produced
al the dinlet of the fluidized-bed reactor by mixing appropriaste amounts
of bromine =and Br¥F_. Bromine was generated by passing nitrogen through
2
2 bromine bubbler maintained at 0°C.
2.2 Banpling Procedure
Sampling the solid traps, except the plutonium trap, was done by
passing the solids through a fumnmel with an inverted "Y" bobttom until
a sample of convenient size (about 7 o exceplt in the case of the
fluidized-bed sample, which was 3.5 ¢} was obtained. Two samples from
ecach trap were submitted for analysis, and the results were averaged.
The funnels used for this procedure were washed prior to the sampling
step; and, In each run, the "coldest" traps were sampled first as a
Turther precaution against cross-contamination. Such sampling was
unnecessary Tor the plutonium trap since each section of the Trap
contained only about 2.5 g
The filter of the fluidized-bed reactor was leached after each
run with 100 ml of 2 N A1(1\103)3
was submitted for analysis. The,UFé oroduct in the cold trap was
hydrolyzed with 200 to 250 ml of 1 I Al(1\103)3.
ctarted at eilther 30°C or —80°C, and then the temperature was increased
solution, and a sample of the leachate
This hydrolysis was
Lo 100°C for about 30 min. A more complete recovery of the uranium
in the solution was achieved when hydrolysis was begun at 30°C. A
sample of the resulting solution and s sample of a water rinse of the
cold btrap was submitited for analysis.
Samples of the scrub solutions were also submitted for analysis.
10
2.3 Experimental Materials
A1l metal vessels, excepht the scrubber, were fabricaled of nickel;
the scrubber was constructed of Alundum and stainless steel.
The heat-transfer medium in the fluidized-bed reactor consisted
of 50 g of 48- to 100-mesh Alcoa T-61 alumina.
The fuel charge, which consisted of about 34 g of UOE from the
Yankee rvezctor, had been irradiated to a burnup of about 34,000 Mwd/
metric ton and cooled for two years. The estimated composition of
this fuel, as calculated by Merriman's program,l is given in Table 1.
In general, these values were used in the calculations presented in
this report. The isoltopic analysis of the plutcnlum in this fuel, as
determined by mass spectrographic methods, is given in Table 2.
The Naf used in the traps (except the plutonium trap) consisted
of 1/8ainu right circular cylinders obtained from the Harshaw Chemical
Company. In the plutonium trap, brcken pellets or fused NaF, 12 to 20
mesh in each case, were used.
Part of the MgF2 used in the technetlium-neptunium trap was
obtained from the Paducah Gasecous Diffusion Plant; the remainder was
prepared at ORNL by fluorination of MgSQu.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Oxidation of Fuel
Before the start of Tthe oxidstion, the Tuel was Tirst heated to
450°C in fluidizicg nitrogen. The oxidation treatment with 20 vol % 02
in nitrogen lasted for 2 hr at 450°C and resulted in pulverization of
the fuel (see Fig. 5). During the heatup period and the oxidation, about
95% of the tritium was evolvedng The Initizl tritium content was deter-
mined by dissolving a 6-g bateh of fuel in nitric acid and analyzing
the solution and off-gas for tritium;g the amount of tritium remaining
after oxidation was determined similarly. No significant amounts of
other materials, excepi the rare gases (which were not determined),
egcaped from the fluidized-bed reactor.
i ' 2 A - » " . 9 9)
Table 1. Estimated Composzsition of 3hug Charge ™ of Yankee UO2 Fuel
Element me dis/min
U 28, 600
b
Pu 374
Np 2.5
Rb 10.4 ~ 0
]
Sr 25.0 §.72 x 107F
- - 10
71 106.5 2.25 x 10
-
Nb 6.29 x 107 5.01 x 10°°
Mo 103.5 ~ 0
O
Te P64 107
Ru 65.2 8.0l x 1077
Te 17.7 3.h3 % 10t
Cs 11k.3 7.65 x 1072
Ce 73.8 1.03 x 1013
3g” 1.15 x 100t
a . . X
"'uel had been irradiated to a burnup of
34,000 Mwd/metric ton and cooled for two years.
b . - ,
From unpublished data of J. H. Goode,
ORNL.
12
Table 2. lsotopic Analysis of Plutonium™ in Yankee UOE Fuel
Isotope At. %
238 2. 36
239 57.75
2Lo 20.60
241 13.78
2o 5.52
2l < 0.001
adis(a)/(min (mg Pu) =
! )
1000 % 107 {caleulated).
3.2 Volatilization of Uranium with BrF
The uranium volatilization step is shown in TFig. 6. In this
step, which was carried out at 300°C, the treatment typically consisted
of exposure to 5 vol % BrF5 for 1 hr, 10% BrF5 for 2 hr, and 5% BrF3
for 0.5 hr; in ecach case, the BTF5 or Br’F3 was diluted with nitrogen.
After the gas contalning the volatile fission product fluorides, UF6,
bromine, and bromine fluorides leaves the fluidized~bed reactor, it
enters the bottom of the CRP (complexable reaction products) trap,
vhere 1t is mixed with excess fluorine to convert the bromine to BrF5.
This prevents loss of uranium in the CRP trap via formztion of non-
velatile UF5 complexes. In our experiments, an average of about 0.02%
of" the uranium was found in the CRP trap. Most of the volatile fission
product Tluorides are removed in this trap. The gas then passes through
thie uranium sorption traps where uranium, techretium, and some molybdenum
are sorbed. Finally, the gas is routed to the scrubber, where the
Tluorine =znd bromine flucrides are contachbed with KOH-KI solution.
Treatment with BTF,3 for a briefl pericd at the end of the uranium
voelatilization step has been found to be desirable for the cleanup of
13
ORNL DWG, 6¢9-92
BLOWBACK TO OFF-GAS
SCRUBBER
100°C
| 450°%C
2 hr 20%
02 IN No
F'ig. 5. Oxidation Flowsheet.
BLOWEBACK
1 hr 5% BI’F5