Enrichment Processes. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Diagram * Figure from The Nuclear Fuel of Pressurized Water Reactors and Fast Reactors, ed. H. Bailly, D. Menessier,

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

Nuclear Power Plants. Nuclear Power Plant Turbine and Generator Spinning turbine blades and generator Boiling water Steam.

Advertisements

Lesson Five Fission and Chain Reactions

E NERGY R ESOURCES I NTERNATIONAL, I NC. Uranium Enrichment Presentation for Foundation for Nuclear Studies by Julian Steyn July 24, 2006.

Isotopes Rev Pisgah High School M. Jones.

Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressure In mixtures of gases each component gas behaves independently of the other(s). John Dalton (remember him from.

Uranium Enrichment Nuclear Bomb Test Little Boy Reactor Core.

The Nuclear Fuel Cycle. Presentation Components of the Fuel Cycle Front End Service Period (conversion of fuel to energy in a reactor) Back end Storage.

IAEA Sources of Radiation Nuclear Fuel Cycle – Enrichment Day 4 – Lecture 6(2) 1.

427 PHC.  Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is based upon emission of electromagnetic radiation by atoms.

Diffusion Effusion. Diffusion ~Movement of particles from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. ~Movement of particles from an.

Bonding… Putting it all Together

Splitting The Atom Nuclear Fission. Fission Large mass nuclei split into two or more smaller mass nuclei –Preferably mass numbers closer to 56 Neutrons.

Laser Enrichment of Uranium: Power Promises and Proliferation Perils Dr. Charles D. Ferguson Philip D. Reed Senior Fellow for Science and Technology.

Laser Isotope Separation – The Genie is out of the Bottle Olli Heinonen Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Nuclear Fuel, Uranium Enrichment, Fuel Fabrication, MOX Seminar on Nuclear Science and Technology for Diplomats P. Adelfang (+)Division of Nuclear Fuel.

Mass Spectrometry Introduction:

Steam Power Plant.

LIS ENRICHMENT IN FRANCE ILIAS Meeting Prague 20 April 2006 S.JULLIAN Thanks to Alain PETIT CEA Saclay.

1 Lecture #24 Fusion ENGR 303I. 2 Outline Fusion →Definition →Atoms usually used Previous attempts at fusion Current attempts at fusion →International.

Kinetic Theory The kinetic theory is an explanation of how particles in matter behave.

Mass Spectrometer Mass spectrometere is a very powerful method to analyse the structure of organic compounds.

Solids, Liquids, and Gases. Kinetic Theory The kinetic theory is an explanation of how particles in matter behave. The three assumptions of the kinetic.

Splitting The Atom Nuclear Fission. The Fission Process unstable nucleus mass closer to 56.

Nuclear Reactors Chapter 4

Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

Cell Membrane and Transport HOW THE CELL ABSORBS AND EXCRETES VARIOUS MOLECULES.

The Kinetic Molecular Theory of Gases and Effusion and Diffusion

Uranium Enrichment Brian Lynch. Table of Contents Uranium properties Enriched Uranium Classes Yellowcake Solvent Extraction/Flourination Flourination/Fractionation.

1 “Lessons Learned - Construction of the National Enrichment Facility” Stephen Cowne Director, Quality & Regulatory Affairs Louisiana Energy Services (LES)

Matter and its Changes Atoms Matter is made up of atoms Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass Atoms are the “building blocks” of life.

IB Physics 12 Nuclear Physics 6 Mr. Jean. The plan: Video clip of the day –Example of fission energies –Example of fusion energies –Recap of nuclear physics.

Year 12 Chemistry Unit 3 – AOS 1 Chemical Analysis.

© J Parkinson 1 2 Mass Defect The difference between the mass of the atom and the sum of the masses of its parts is called the mass defect (  m). Careful.

Complex Approach to Study Physical Features of Uranium Multiple Recycling in Light Water Reactors A.A. Dudnikov, V.A. Nevinitsa, A.V. Chibinyaev, V.N.

Chapter 13 States of Matter

Nuclear Reactor Design. Fuel Enrichment  Enriching Uranium results in a greater number of atoms that can be split through fission, releasing more energy.

Gases and Limiting Reagents Class Example: The Haber process produces ammonia, NH 3, for fertilizer manufacturing N 2 (g) + 3H 2 (g) → 2NH 3 (g) (a)Find.

Nuclear Energy By: Elisa Fatila April 6, 2006.

1 Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) Licensing and Planned Rulemaking Activities at NRC Tom Pham – NRC NMMSS Users Annual Training Meeting Denver,

The Kinetic-Molecular Theory of Gases

Chapter 12 Liquids and Solids Definitions!!!!  Fluid- a substance that can flow and therefore take the shape of its container.  Liquids and Gases.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle.  According to World Nuclear Association:  The nuclear fuel cycle is the series of industrial processes which involve the production.

Atomic Structure HL and SL 2.1 The Atom Atoms were thought to be uniform spheres like snooker balls. Experiments, however, have shown that atoms consist.

Chemistry Topic: Atomic theory Subtopic : Mass Spectrometer.

Chapter 13 States of Matter Read pgs Kinetic Molecular Theory The kinetic molecular theory describes the behavior of gases in terms of particles.

The Kinetic Molecular Theory of Matter Describe each word to define: Kinetic Molecular Theory Matter.

SCH 3U- Particle Theory and Kinetic Molecular Theory.

Preview Lesson Starter Objectives The Kinetic-Molecular Theory of Gases The Kinetic-Molecular Theory and the Nature of GasesThe Kinetic-Molecular Theory.

Chapter 2 Section 2 Notes Matter and Energy Kinetic Theory of Matter:  Useful for seeing differences in the 3 common states of matter on earth: solid,

Unit 5 Section 2 Notes Matter and Energy Kinetic Theory of Matter:  Useful for seeing differences in the 3 common states of matter on earth: solid,

Gases III Dr. Ron Rusay. Effusion: describes the passage of gas into an evacuated chamber. Diffusion: describes the mixing of gases. The rate of diffusion.

Fusion in the Stars Nunez & Panogalinog. Nuclear Fusion in stars is one of the most important reasons which make life on Earth possible! ○ HOW IS THAT.

Physics 12 Mr. Jean January 18 th, The plan: Video clip of the day Chapter 18 & 19 – MC.

Enrichment. U-238 More than 99% of the Uranium in the ground is U-238. U-238 doesn’t fission.

Preview Section 1 Characteristics of the Atmosphere The Atmosphere

Fundamentals of Nuclear Power

Understanding Phase Change Differences between the organization of particles in solids, liquids and gases affect how phase change takes place and how much.

Ideal Gas Law  An equation of state for a gas.  “state” is the condition of the gas at a given time.  PV = nRT  [Consider] If the moles remain constant.

The law of conservation of mass states that:. The law of conservation of mass states that: matter cannot be created or destroyed. Only changed in form.

THE MASS SPECTROMETER describes how a mass spectrum is produced using a mass spectrometer.

Mass Spectrometry Relative atomic masses and the mass of individual isotopes can be determined using a mass spectrometer. The principle behind mass spectrometry.

Atomic Structure Topic The mass spectrometer Describe and explain the operation of a mass spectrometer Describe how the mass spectrometer.

By George Taktikos. Overview Process differs from conventional rocket engines Process differs from conventional rocket engines Uses nuclear reaction to.

THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle consists of sequence of steps in which U ore is mined, milled, enriched, and fabricated into nuclear fuel.

Isotope Separator Isotope separation is the process of concentrating specific isotopes of a chemical element by removing other isotopes. E.g., separating.

Atomic Structure Topic 2.

Uranium Enrichment Louis Croquette.

Electron-Beam Machining

Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Electromagnetic Radiation

Presentation transcript:

Enrichment Processes

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Diagram * Figure from The Nuclear Fuel of Pressurized Water Reactors and Fast Reactors, ed. H. Bailly, D. Menessier, and C. Prunnier, (Lasovier Publishing, 1999) p. 14.

Enrichment Review Isotope separation enabled by minor differences in the molecular weight of UF 6 or the atomic weight of U-metal. Three most prominent methods – Gaseous diffusion (proven technology – VERY high power requirements) – Gaseous centrifuge (under development) – Laser isotope separation (maybe someday... but why)

Enrichment

Gaseous Diffusion Based on the separation effect arising from molecular effusion. – Effusion = the flow of gas through small holes. – The GD vessel contains a mixture of two gases – Gas molecules with lower molecular weight (e.g., UF 6 with U-235) travel faster and strike the vessel walls more frequently, relative to their concentration, than molecules with higher molecular weight (e.g., UF 6 with U-238). – If walls of the vessel are semi-permeable, more of the lighter molecules flow through the wall than the heavier molecules. – Therefore, gas passing through the vessel wall is slightly enriched in the lighter isotope.

Gaseous Diffusion The United States currently uses the gaseous diffusion process to enrich uranium. – Piketon, Ohio (no longer operating) – Paducah, Kentucky – Both operated by the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). – USEC which was created as a government corporation under the Energy Act of 1992 and privatized by legislation in 1996.

Gas Centrifuge Separation using rotation – The process uses a large number of rotating cylinders interconnected to form cascades. – Uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 ) gas enters a cylinder and is rotated at a high speed. – The strong “centrifugal” force draws more of the heavier gas molecules ( UF 6 with U-238) toward the cylinder wall. – The lighter gas molecules ( UF 6 with U-235) tend to collect closer to the center. – The stream that is slightly enriched in U235 is withdrawn and fed into the next higher stage, while the slightly depleted stream is recycled back into the next lower stage. Significantly more U-235 enrichment can be obtained from a single gas centrifuge machine than from a single gaseous diffusion stage.

Who uses Gas Centrifuges It has been widely used in Europe for about 30 years for the commercial nuclear power market. In February 2004, the NRC issued a license authorizing USEC to construct and operate a demonstration and test facility known as the Lead Cascade. – To be located at the Piketon, Ohio gaseous diffusion plant site. – In August 2004, USEC submitted an application for a commercial facility to be located in Piketon. – The staff review of the USEC application is scheduled to be completed by February In June 2006, the NRC issued a license to Louisiana Energy Services (LES) to construct and operate a commercial gas centrifuge enrichment facility in Lea County, New Mexico.

Laser Isotope Separation Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) – 235 U atoms and 238 U atoms absorb light of slightly different frequencies (or colors). – Dye lasers can be tuned so that only the 235 U atoms absorb the laser light. – As the 235 U atom absorbs the laser light, its electrons are excited to a higher energy state. – With the absorption of sufficient energy, a 235 U atom will eject an electron and become a positively charged ion. – The 235 U ions may then be deflected by an electrostatic field to a product collector. – The 238 U atoms remain neutral and pass through the product collector section and are deposited on a tails collector.

AVLIS The AVLIS process – Consists of a laser system and a separation system. – The separator system contains a vaporizer and a collector. – In the vaporizer, metallic uranium is melted and vaporized to form an atomic vapor stream. – The vapor stream flows through the collector, where it is illuminated by the precisely tuned laser light. Conceptually simple... but – The actual implementation of the process is likely to be difficult and expensive, – especially for countries with limited technical resources. – No country has yet deployed an AVLIS process, although several have demonstrated the capability to enrich uranium with the process.

Possible AVLIS-type system schematic