GB2110949A - The catalytic oxidation of deuterium into heavy water - Google Patents
The catalytic oxidation of deuterium into heavy water Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2110949A GB2110949A GB08232651A GB8232651A GB2110949A GB 2110949 A GB2110949 A GB 2110949A GB 08232651 A GB08232651 A GB 08232651A GB 8232651 A GB8232651 A GB 8232651A GB 2110949 A GB2110949 A GB 2110949A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- deuterium
- heavy water
- combustion
- flow
- beds
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B4/00—Hydrogen isotopes; Inorganic compounds thereof prepared by isotope exchange, e.g. NH3 + D2 → NH2D + HD
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
- B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
- B01J8/04—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds the fluid passing successively through two or more beds
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J8/00—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes
- B01J8/02—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds
- B01J8/06—Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particles; Apparatus for such processes with stationary particles, e.g. in fixed beds in tube reactors; the solid particles being arranged in tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
- B01J2208/00008—Controlling the process
- B01J2208/00017—Controlling the temperature
- B01J2208/00106—Controlling the temperature by indirect heat exchange
- B01J2208/00265—Part of all of the reactants being heated or cooled outside the reactor while recycling
- B01J2208/00274—Part of all of the reactants being heated or cooled outside the reactor while recycling involving reactant vapours
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- B01J2208/00—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor
- B01J2208/02—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor with stationary particles
- B01J2208/021—Processes carried out in the presence of solid particles; Reactors therefor with stationary particles comprising a plurality of beds with flow of reactants in parallel
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Catalysts (AREA)
- Exhaust Gas Treatment By Means Of Catalyst (AREA)
- Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Apparatus for the catalytic oxidation of deuterium to form heavy water comprises a number of stages of solid catalyst beds (1, 1', 1'') which are connected in series for the flow of oxygen-containing gas, e.g. air, from 5, and which are in parallel with one another for the inflowing deuterium from 2 to be introduced via 3, 3', 3''. Disposed in the flow path of the combustion product after each catalyst bed (1, 1', 1'') is a cooler (6, 6', 6'') in which the heat of combustion evolved in the previous catalyst bed (1, 1', 1'') is transferred to a coolant. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
The catalytic oxidation of deuterium into heavy water
This invention relates to apparatus and a method for the catalytic oxidation of deuterium into heavy water.
To produce heavy water, deuterium as a starting material is prepared in a very wide variety of concentration processes from hydrogen, hydrogen compounds and mixtures containing hydrogen; the deuterium may be present, for instance, as the sole component or for instance, in a monothermal ammonia process- it may be present as a component of a mixture of dueterium and nitrogen.
Deuterium can be oxidized with a combustionsupporting gas, such as dry air, in an open-flame burner to form heavy water. In this process the high flame temperature leads to the formation of nitrogen oxides and, therefore, to heavy nitric acid (DNO3) which it is essential to separate from the heavy water before the heavy water is used in a nuclear reactor.
Another substantial disadvantage of these procedures is their uncertain operaiton. For instance, the burners can be operated only in a narrow range. If, for instance, the preceding deuterium preparation plant has to be run on partial load for any reason, the flame may go out.
It is also known to oxidize deuterium catalytically to form heavy water. To prevent overheating and destruction of the catalyst, the reaction must be performed with a very substantial excess of combustion-supporting gas. Also, the explosion limit of deuterium in such gas must not be exceeded (approximately 4.9 volume per cent in air).
Consequently, there is only a reduced concentration of heavy water in the combustion-supporting gas at the catalyzer exit, and so elaborate facilities must be provided to separate out the heavy water by condensation and freezing or an elaborate absorption process is necessary.
The present invention provides, according to one aspect, apparatus for the catalytic oxidation of deuterium to form heavy water by means of a combustion-supporting gas which is supplied in excess and which consists of oxygen or a gas mixture, more particularly air, containing oxygen as an ingredeient, the apparatus comprising at least two solid catalyst beds (1, 1', 1"), connections (11', 11") to provide for the flow of the combustion-supporting gas in series through the beds, parallel connections (3, 3', 3") to the catalyst beds for the deuterium flow, and a cooler (6, 6', 6") downstream of each catalyst bed for the removal of the heat of the oxidation reaction by means of a coolant.
By means of the invention, it is possible to construct apparatus in which the heavy water produced by oxidation is present in a high concentration in the combustion-supporting gas, usually dried air, and can be separated quite simply by condensation, in which the formation of nitrogen oxides is inhibited and in which the deuterium concentration is outside the explosion limit.
Advantageously, a catalyst consisting of a noble metal is used, such as palladium on aluminium oxide pellets or spheres as substrate.
Because of the manner in which, according to the invention, the catalyst beds are connected and coolers are interposed, the temperature at which the deuterium enters the various catalyst beds can be maintained at least substantially constant.
The present invention also provides, according to a second aspect, a method of catalytically oxidising deuterium to form heavy water in which deuterium is supplied in parallel to each of at least two solid catalyst beds while a combustion-supporting gas consisting of or containing oxygen is passed in series through the beds and, downstream of each bed, through a cooler in which the heat of the oxidation reaction in the preceding bed is removed.
The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one form of apparatus and its mode of operation in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which shows the apparatus diagrammatically.
The drawing shows a series of three catalyst beds 1, 1', 1". Deuterium our a mixture thereof with nitrogen is supplied to the oxidation apparatus through a main 2. Branching off therefrom are branch lines 3, 3', 3" comprising control valves 4, 4', 4" respectively.
A combustion-supporting gas, such as dry air, is introduced into the first bed 1 of the oxidation apparatus in excess through a line 5, first being mixed with gas arriving through the first branch line 3 and consisting of deuterium alone or with nitrogen.
The mixture resulting from the reaction of the two components in the first bed 1 passes into a cooling coil 6 in which the heat of combustion is removed by indirect heat exchange with cooling water.
The combustion product is reccoled to entry temperature in the coil 6, then goes through a line 11', and-after receiving an admixture through branch line 3' of substantially the same quantity of deuterium or of a gas mixture of deuterium and nitrogen as in the case of branch line 3 - passes into the second catalyst bed 1 ' for further oxidation of the deuterium. The heat of combustion is removed from the combustion product in a cooling coil 6' and the mixture then goes through a line 11", and after an admixture again of the same quantity of deuterium gas or of a mixture of deuterium and nitrogen by way of branch line 3" - passes into the third catalyst bed 1" for oxidation.
In the apparatus being described, the oxidation apparatus consists of three stages; the quantity of deuterium fed to the apparatus has by the time it reaches the exit from the third stage been oxidized at least substantially completely into heavy water. Of course the apparatus can comprise a relatively large number of stages, in which event the heavy-water content of the combustion-supporting gas can be increased to near its dew point.
The end product discharged from the third stage is recooled in the coil 6" to at least the entry tempera
ture of, for example, 1 00 C and removed from the
apparatus through a line 12. In a manner which is not
shown, heavy water is then condensed from the
combustion product consisting of a mixture of heavy
water vapour, the remainder of the combustion-sup
porting gas and, possibly, inert components present
in the deuterium supply. Previously to this, traces of gas impurities are removed by ion exchange.
The quantities of deuterium supplied to the various catalyst beds can be varied by means of the valves 4, 4', 4" in the respective lines 3, 3', 3". This is advantageous because the specific heat capacity of the combustion product increases as a result of decreasing deuterium content and increasing heavy water vapour content. Consequently, an increased addition of deuterium is possible in later stages and the apparatus can comprise fewer stages.
In the apparatus described, the cooling coils 6, 6', 6" are disposed in a tank 7 through which cooling water flows. Cooling water is supplied to the tank 7 through a line 8 by means of a pump 9 and is discharged through a line 10.
The cooling system 7 could alternatively comprise separate coolers each associated with one catalyst bed. Instead of water, the coolant could be, for instance, oil or cooled air or some other coolant. The coolant entry temperature is adjusted to obviate condensation of the heavy water vapour during recooling.
Claims (6)
1. Apparatus for the catalytic oxidation of deuterium to form heavy water by means of a combustion-supporting gas which is supplied in excess and which consists of oxygen or a gas mixture, more particularly air, containing oxygen as an ingredient, the apparatus comprising at least two solid catalyst beds (1, 1', 1"), connections (11', 11") to provide for the flow of the combustion-supporting gas in series through the beds, parallel connections (3, 3', 3") to the catalyst beds for the deuterium flow, and a cooler (6, 6', 6") downstream of each catalyst bed for the removal of the heat of the oxidation reaction by means of a coolant.
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the connections (3, 3', 3") for the deuterium flow include respective flow-controlling means (4, 4', 4").
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which all the coolers are disposed in a common casing with an inlet and outlet for the flow through the casing of a liquid coolant.
4. Apparatus for the catalytic oxidation of deuterium constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
5. A method of catalytically oxidising deuterium to form heavy water in which deuterium is supplied
in parallel to each of at least two solid catalyst beds while a combustion-supporting gas consisting of or
containing oxygen is passed in series through the
beds and, downstream of each bed, through a cooler
in which the heat of the oxidation reaction in the
preceding bed is removed.
6. A method of catalytically oxidising deuterium
substantially as described herein with reference to
the accompanying drawing.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CH7829/81A CH648270A5 (en) | 1981-12-08 | 1981-12-08 | DEVICE FOR CATALYTIC OXIDATION FROM DEUTERIUM TO HEAVY WATER. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB2110949A true GB2110949A (en) | 1983-06-29 |
Family
ID=4331072
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08232651A Withdrawn GB2110949A (en) | 1981-12-08 | 1982-11-16 | The catalytic oxidation of deuterium into heavy water |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CH (1) | CH648270A5 (en) |
DE (1) | DE3231335A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2110949A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9670064B1 (en) * | 2012-09-27 | 2017-06-06 | Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC | Production of heavy water |
-
1981
- 1981-12-08 CH CH7829/81A patent/CH648270A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1982
- 1982-08-24 DE DE19823231335 patent/DE3231335A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1982-11-16 GB GB08232651A patent/GB2110949A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9670064B1 (en) * | 2012-09-27 | 2017-06-06 | Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC | Production of heavy water |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3231335A1 (en) | 1983-07-21 |
CH648270A5 (en) | 1985-03-15 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |