Redox dissolver tests (open access)

Redox dissolver tests

At the present time, production commitments require that each of the two dissolvers used at the Redox Plant be charged with 4.95 tons of irradiated metal every other day. After the aluminum jackets are removed from the slugs, the uranium is dissolved in three ``outs`` of 1.65 tons each. Because meteorological conditions often limit the time when the radioactive dissolver off gases may be emitted without contamination of the surrounding area, the dissolving requirements are frequently too great to maintain the required dissolver charging schedule. Unless the dissolving time cycles (or the meteorological limitations) can be reduced to assure that charging every other day can be maintained, phase 2 rates cannot be met even after activation of the third (spare) dissolver. As a means of reducing the dissolver time cycle and enabling the charging of each dissolver on alternate days throughout the year, a proposal was submitted that each dissolver charge be dissolved in two cuts of 2.475 tons each. This report presents the results of the plant test to determine the operational feasibility and relative merits of this proposal. Moreover, the information obtained may be used on a supplemental basis for the design of the Purex Plant dissolvers. 3 …
Date: January 5, 1953
Creator: Irish, E. R. & Schneider, K. J.
System: The UNT Digital Library