Comurhex plant

Variants of this basic process are used in other plants. For example, the Comurhex plant at Malvesi [B5] filters the output from the dissolver, uses pulse columns in the extracting section, and dilutes TBP with n-dodecane instead of n-hexane. 

In the Comurhex plant at Malvesi [B5], reduction of UO3 and conversion of UO2 to UF4 are carried out in a single L-shaped, moving-bed reactor. Reduction takes place in a vertical section and hydrofluorination in a horizontal section. Practically complete utilization of HF is obtained. 

In the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plant at Paducah and the Comurhex plant at Pierrelatte [B5], UF4 is converted to UF by reaction with fluorine in a tower reactor. Solid UF4 and a slight excess of fluorine gas are fed at the top of a monel tower with walls cooled to around 500°C. Most of the UF4 reacts almost instantaneously with a flame temperature of around 1600°C. Small amounts of unreacted UF4 and uranium oxides are removed from the bottom of the tower and recycled to the hydrofluorination step. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ , ]

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