1 nuclear cookies. 2 problem statement during normal operation an electro refiner produces a small...

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Nuclear Cookies

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Problem Statement

During normal operation an electro refiner produces a small amount of plutonium that builds up. When the plutonium concentration gets too high a portion of the salt must be removed. The scope of this project is to remove a volume of salt from the ER and parse it into appropriately sized cubes for transport to a grinder.

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Mock-up of ER

Once we have a solid lead on which route we are going down we can use this mock-up to simulate things like the bucket lowering into the ER, or the conveyor removing something like water from the tank below.

Will have metal plate over this hole with a more precisely machined hole

SpecificationsGeneral Requirements Specific Requirements Acceptable Performance Tolerance/Targeted

Performance

Evolution (1 cycle) Amount of salt removed 16,500 cm3 -500 cm3

Time 1 week 3 days (goal)

Disassembly/Assembly (maintenance)

Time for disassembly or assembly 1 day 2 hours

# Parts 10 2 parts

Consistent Fasteners Dowel pins for alignment and socket head cap screws (all same size)

N/A

Size Height 7 ft maximum

Fit in 84 in by 60 in airlock 2 pieces 1 piece (goal)

Footprint when resting 3 ft by 3 ft maximum

Fit electrorefiner ports 10.75 in, 4in, or 8.875 in N/A

Materials Survive dry and radioactive environment

steel, aluminum, high altitude brushes

N/A

Withstand high temperatures 650 oC melting point for all materials in ER, 1000 oC for all structural components

minimum

Withstand beating ¼ in thick minimum

Handling (set up/take down)

Fit with cranes and manipulators Hooks and Handles N/A

Set up and take down Only assembly/disassembly is trays N/A

Vertical Motion for entry/exit with ER

40 in 2 in

Specifications

General Requirements Specific Requirements Acceptable Performance Tolerance/Targeted Performance

Life Expectancy Time 10 years minimum

Number of cycles 100 minimum

Parts replaced during lifetime 0 maximum

Time spent tweaking mechanism

1 hour per cycle average over lifetime

maximum

Electrical Power Available Power Source 110 Volts Volts

Salt Cubes Size 2 in by 2in by 2 in maximum

Interaction with ER vessel

Gap between bottom of vessel and bottom of our device

4 in minimum

Salt level range device is designed for

16 in to 20 in from bottom 0 in (but may work outside that range)

Relative Importance of Specs

General Requirement Weighting ReasonEvolution 5 The essence of what we are trying to do

Disassembly/Assembly 2 If the other specs are met, this one becomes a non-issue

Size 4 For our device to work, it must fit these specs

Materials 3 For some designs, basically a non-issue, for others an definite problem

Handling 4 For our device to work, it must fit these specs

Life Expectancy 1 We don’t foresee this being an much of an issue

Electrical Power 3 For some designs, basically a non-issue, for others an definite problem

Salt Cubes 5 Has to be done for the grinder to work

Interaction with Vessel 2 Not an issue with all designs, only a small issue with others

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Pulley System

Function Options

Removal Method

Dipping Tray

Pressure Differential

Buckets Archimedes Screw

Removal Tool Elevator Crane Trays Motorized Pipe Suction

Freezing to Size Required

Venturi Atomizing Salt

Trays Breaking Icemaker

Transport to Container

Funnel Weir/Trough Flexible Metal Tubing

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Pulley/Conveyor Concept

1. Individual cube containers scoop out salt

2. Cubes are transported using a conveyor system

3. Salt freezes on the way up

4. Cubes fall out on the way down

5. Cubes slide down on ramp to storage container

FreezingRange

Disadvantages• Heat can escape from the

electrorefiner• Complexity—many places for device

to fail• Unsure if 110 Volt electric motor can

produce enough power• Long set-up time (2 separate pieces

that must be put together, conveyer and ramp)

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Pulley System Analysis

Advantages• High Upside: 9 hours to

remove and freeze 16,500 cm3 into cubes

• Run continuously without a need to stop

• Can remove salt with salt level as low as 6 in from bottom

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Evaluation of Pulley System Concept

General Requirement Weighting Performance Rating Total

Evolution 5 3 15

Assembly 2 0 0

Size 4 2 8

Materials 3 3 9

Handling 4 0 0

Life Expectancy 1 1 1

Electrical Power 3 1 3

Salt Cubes 5 3 15

Interaction with vessel 2 3 6

Total 57

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Venturi Tube

Function Options

Removal Method

Dipping Tray









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Venturi Tube Analysis

Pressure differential from argon flow pulls salt from the ER and flash freezes it through atomization upon exit.

Disadvantages•High volume flow rate input required to drive suction.

•Unknown reliability and functionality.

•Potential draw tube freezing problems.

Advantages•Completes the extraction and freezing in one step.

•Small.

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Evaluation of Venturi System Concept

Specification Weighting Performance Rating Total

Evolution 5 1 5

Assembly 2 3 6

Size 4 3 12

Materials 3 3 9

Handling 4 3 12



Salt Cubes 5 2 10

Interaction w/ER 3 3 9

Net total 73

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Bucket-Tray Systems

Function Options

Removal Method

Dipping Tray









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Bucket Tray Concept 1(double-click on photo to see video)

Basic Function:

Bucket system supplies salt to the tray system.

Then after a set freezing time the operator places the trays into a flipping mechanism that

places all the cubes into the container used to transport the salt to the grinder in HFEF

Will be designed

for crane

All metal high temperature valve

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Mr. BucketProposed Bucket Size (8in ID, 11½ in tall)

Removes ~9400 cm3 with each bucket cycle.

Acme Screw to tighten down a lid for transport

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Tray Ideas Designs Center Around:• Use on the table top in the hot cell where the existing design is emptied• Handling the amount of salt provided by the bucket from either one or

multiple dumps • Reducing the handling for getting cubes into the container • Getting salt to freeze into the required shape• Safe against Spilling

When the salt is dry the tray will be removed and replaced with the container that carries the salt to the grinder

Any spills are contained and go into the tray beneath

Enough capacity for one bucket load of salt

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Bucket Tray Analysis

Positives: • Simple design with minimal moving parts. • Heat Loss from the ER can be minimized• Low setup Time • Uses hot-cell proven tray concepts from last design without as much handling

time

Drawbacks:• Removes the demanded amount of in two bucket cycles • Most handling intensive • Salt can freeze moving parts such as the bucket valve or hinges

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Evaluation of Bucket Tray System Concept

General Requirement Weighting Performance Rating Total

Evolution 5 3 15

Assembly 2 3 6

Size 4 3 12

Materials 3 3 9

Handling 4 3 12



Salt Cubes 5 2 10

Interaction with vessel 2 3 6

Total 81

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Deliverables By May 15th we will deliver: One Completed Design that Satisfies the Specifications Agreed On• Full Scale Prototype• Drawing Package • Manufacturing Notes • Applicable Math Models

By Dec 15th we will deliverAll Feasible Ideas• Rendered Images • Solid Model images with

major features explained• Basic Feasibility Math Models

1 nuclear cookies. 2 problem statement during normal operation an electro refiner produces a small...

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