Method and apparatus for determining the progress of a uranium oxyfluoride conversion reaction in a furnace and for controlling the reaction
US7374940B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/207497
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A substance in a condensed state, for example a powdered solid, is in continuous movement in the longitudinal direction (6) of a furnace (4, 5). A reactive gas mixture is brought into contact with the substance in the condensed state. A plurality of samples of the gaseous mixture are removed at a plurality of reference points (14) spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal direction (6) of the furnace (4, 5); each of the gas samples is analyzed outside the furnace to determine the composition of the gas mixture and for each point (14), the extent of a chemical reaction between the condensed substance and the reactive gas mixture is deduced from the composition of the gas mixture at each of the reference points (14). In particular, the apparatus comprises a sampling and injection rod (10) introduced into the furnace (4, 5) and disposed in its longitudinal direction (6). The invention is of particular application to modeling a rotary furnace (4, 5) for converting uranium oxyfluoride into uranium oxides and for controlling the conversion reaction in the furnace (4, 5).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.