The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Allen D Ryon

Paul A Haas

Charles D Scott

John S Vavruska

Ray E Barker

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for making a population of dense, closely size-controlled microspheres by sol-gel procedures wherein said microspheres are characterized by a significant percentage of said population being within a predetermined, relatively narrow size range. Microsphere populations thus provided are useful in vibratory-packed processes for nuclear fuels to be irradiated in LWR- and FBR-type nuclear reactors.

Method and apparatus for controlled size distribution of gel

Apparatus for contacting particles with a fluid includes two tubes having different diameters and each including a straight lower section inclined relative to the horizontal and a straight, vertical upper section, the lower ends of the tubes being joined together. Fluid introduced into the lower ends of the tubes allows particles to drop slowly in the larger diameter tube and fluidizes the same particles in the smaller diameter tube.

Apparatus for contacting particulate material with processing liquid

Gas produced from coal and containing CH.sub.4, CO, CO.sub.2, H.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S is contacted with CO.sub.2 scrub liquid to form (1) a liquid CO.sub.2 stream containing as solutes CH.sub.4, H.sub.2 S and minor portions of the CO and H.sub.2, and (2) a gas stream containing CO.sub.2 and major portions of the CO and H.sub.2, the CO and H.sub.2 in this stream being recycled to the means which produces gas from coal, and CO.sub.2 in the stream being recycled to the scrub liquid. The solute-bearing liquid CO.sub.2 stream is fractionated into (1) a liquid CO.sub.2 stream containing CH.sub.4 and H.sub.2 S, and (2) a H.sub.2 /CO gas stream which is recycled into contact with the scrub liquid. The last-mentioned liquid CO.sub.2 stream is fractionated into (1) a CH.sub.4 /CO.sub.2 gas stream the CO.sub.2 of which is recycled to the scrub liquid, and (2) a liquid CO.sub.2 stream containing H.sub.2 S, and CO.sub.2 of this stream is also recycled to the scrub liquid.

Growing community of inventors

Oak Ridge, TN, United States of America

Allen D Ryon