Review of the french Chemex process
Creators
- 1. CEA Centre d'Etudes de Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France). Direction du Cycle du Combustible
- 2. CEA Centre d'Etudes de Grenoble, 38 (France). Direction des Technologies Avancees
Description
The french Chemex process for uranium enrichment is found upon chemical exchange between valences 3 and 4 of uranium and operated with countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction with double reflux. The main problems encountered in developing this process were to achieve electrochemical reduction on mercury cathode, master phases stability and increase performances of pulsed columns with perforated plates. The main results obtained are: - a volumic efficiency over 300 SWU/yr.m3 in the isotopic cascade - an energy consumption of 375 KWh-el/SWU with 40% in low grade thermal form. A 500 000 SWU/year plant design, dedicated to reprocessed uranium, is presented, leading to a SWU cost of 900 FF/SWU. A ten times larger plant, (5 MSWU/yr), for natural uranium, give a production cost of 650 FF/SWU
Availability note (English)
MF available from INIS under the Report Number.Files
22063379.pdf
Files
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Additional details
Publishing Information
- Imprint Pagination
- 30 p.
- Report number
- CEA-CONF--10494
Conference
- Title
- International Symposium on Isotope Separation and Chemical Exchange Uranium Enrichment.
- Dates
- 28 Oct - 1 Nov 1990.
- Place
- Tokyo (Japan).
INIS
- Country of Publication
- France
- Country of Input or Organization
- France
- INIS RN
- 22063379
- Subject category
- S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Conference
- Descriptors DEI
- COST; COUNTER CURRENT; ELECTROCHEMISTRY; EXTRACTION COLUMNS; FLOWSHEETS; ISOTOPE SEPARATION; REDUCTION; SOLVENT EXTRACTION; URANIUM 235
- Descriptors DEC
- ACTINIDE NUCLEI; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DIAGRAMS; EQUIPMENT; EVEN-ODD NUCLEI; EXTRACTION APPARATUSES; HEAVY NUCLEI; INFORMATION; INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTO; ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; NUCLEI; RADIOISOTOPES; SEPARATION EQUIPMENT; SEPARATION PROCESSES; SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTO; URANIUM ISOTOPES; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES