Siemens Power Corporation, Inc.

Advanced Nuclear Fuels Corporation

Inaky J Urza

A moisture detection system for in-process nuclear fuel powder components includes a container within which the powder is located, a purge gas supply for providing a purge gas within the container, the purge gas contacting the powder and absorbing moisture therefrom, an off-gas line for transporting at least a portion of the purge gas after the purge gas contacts the powder, and a moisture detector for determining the moisture in the purge gas. The moisture content of the purge gas provides an indication of the moisture content of the powder. A process for detecting moisture of an in-process nuclear fuel powder component includes the steps of supplying a purge gas, contacting the powder with the purge gas, transporting at least a part of the purge gas through an off-gas line, and measuring the moisture of the purge gas in the off-gas line, the moisture measurement providing a measure of moisture in the powder.

Method and system for in-line detection of moisture in

A moisture detection system for in-process nuclear fuel powder components includes a container within which the powder is located, a purge gas supply for providing a purge gas within the container, the purge gas contacting the powder and absorbing moisture therefrom, an off-gas line for transporting at least a portion of the purge gas after the purge gas contacts the powder and a moisture detector for determining the moisture in the purge gas. The moisture content of the purge gas provides an indication of the moisture content of the powder. A process for detecting moisture of an in-process nuclear fuel powder component includes the steps of supplying a purge gas, contacting the powder with the purge gas, transporting at least a part of the purge gas through an off-gas line, and measuring the moisture of the purge gas in the off-gas line, the moisture measurement providing a measure of moisture in the powder.

A rotary kiln has a rotatable cylinder through which a product passes in counter-current to a hot gas stream which dries the product. At the product entrance end, a vent annulus enters into the kiln for a length sufficient to allow entrained particles in the exhaust gas to either fall out within the rotating cylinder or pass through the annulus at a velocity sufficient to maintain their entrainment until discharge at a downstream location. Utilizing a vent annulus which enters into the kiln prevents entrained particles from becoming disentrained in the feed breech of the kiln which causes accumulation requiring periodic shut-downs for clean-outs which are disruptive of continuous operation. Utilizing the present invention incorporating a vent annulus in the rotary kiln minimizes down time and increases the efficiency and utilization of the rotary kiln. Additionally, the Separate vent annulus substantially simplifies the feed breech structure of the kiln simplifying construction.

Rotary kiln off-gas vent system

The present invention contemplates the conversion of uranium hexafluoride with superheated steam to produce a fine, submicron, uranyl fluoride powder which is agglomerated and densified in a fluidized bed of a uranium oxide material. Thereafter, the agglomerated and densified uranyl fluoride is defluorinated and reduced in the fluidized bed to yield a fluoride containing uranium oxide material having a uranium to oxygen ratio of from about 1:2.0 to about 1:2.67. The so-produced fluoride contains uranium oxide material treated with steam and hydrogen to produce ceramic grade uranium dioxide.

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Richland, WA, United States of America

Inaky J Urza