GB861316A - Method for industrial radiochemical treatment and radiochemical reactor - Google Patents

Abstract

861,316. Irradiation apparatus. NOBELBOZEL. Dec. 19, 1958 [Dec. 21, 1957], No. 41087/58. Class 98(1) A radiochemical reactor comprises a plurality of parallel, evenly spaced channels into which radioactive cartridges can be inserted, a plurality of conduits adjacent to said channels and means to feed reactants to and from said conduits. By means of this apparatus solids, liquids or gases may be treated in industrial quantities with materials having a radioactivity between 10,000 and 2,000,000 curies. Specified radioactive materials are those which emit gamma rays e.g. cobalt 60, caesium 137 or uranium from nuclear reactors. In illustrated embodiments, the radioactive materials enclosed in aluminium or stainless steel cartridges may be inserted into channels 11 and the materials to be irradiated passed through conduits 12 (Fig. 1b), said conduits being of hexagonal cross-section and being in contact with one another. In Fig. 2, the conduits carrying the material to be irradiated are partly in the form of cylindrical tubes 12 and partly in the form of square, vertical conduits 13a, 13b, 13c, together making up an irradiation chamber 13. In Fig. 4, the conduits 15 for the material to be irradiated are wound round the channels 11 containing the radioactive substance. A heat exchange medium, or a second or the same substance to be irradiated may be circulated in conduits in the unoccupied volume. In connection with another embodiment, not shown, it is stated that a coolant may be similarly circulated or passed directly through the unoccupied volume in contact with the external surfaces of the channels and conduits. In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a radiochemical reactor in which the material to be irradiated is fed from hopper 20 on to an agitated disc 24, thence through conduits (not shown) which pass between channels 19 for the radioactive substance and the irradiated material is withdrawn by means of a device 25, 26 and falls on to a conveyer belt 23. The cartridges of radioactive substance in the channels 19 are inserted from the right from a lead container (not shown) loaded with the cartridges which is moved to bring the cartridges into register with the channels. Lead insulating plugs 18 are inserted before and after the cartridges. A shroud of rubber, asbestos or other insulating material may be provided together with a cornice 17 to avoid radiation leaks during loading and the whole apparatus is embedded in concrete. A chamber on the left is provided whereby the radioactive materials may be placed in the position C for inspection of the reactor. A second reactor is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 which is suitable for treating liquids and solids simultaneously. A concrete structure 30 supports a central core 31, lined with sheet steel and filled with baryta, which contains channels 32 for radioactive material and an extended conduit 33 into which liquid can be passed through line 37 and withdrawn at 38. Four vertical sheaths 34 are also provided for the treatment of solid substances after the manner of the previously described apparatus. Lead slabs 35 serve further to insulate this part of the apparatus.