Critical conversion

As a part of the High Conversion Critical Experiment (Hi-C) > at Argonne National Laboratory, the thermal disadvantage factor (() has been measured in five lattices that had water-to-uranium oxide-volume ratios of from... 

Thermal Disadvantage Factors and U-235 Fission-to-Cadminm Ratios in High Conversion Critical Experiment Lattices... 

Using a constant buckling conversion, critical sizes have been derived from these experimental data for spherical, cylindrical, cubic, and slab geometries. These critical dimensions are given in Table I along with the corresponding critical dimensions for Pu-water and "PuGi-water systems at theoretical densities of 4.16 and 8.46 g Pu/cm , respectively. 

Pollution Prevention. Procedures haven been developed for recovery of composite ammonium perchlorate propellant from rocket motors, and the treatment of scrap and recovered propellant to reclaim ingredients. These include the use of high pressure water jets or compounds such as ammonia, which form fluids under pressure at elevated temperature, to remove the propellant from the motor, extraction of the ammonium perchlorate with solvents such as water or ammonia as a critical fluid, recrystalli2ation of the perchlorate and reuse in composite propellant or in slurry explosives or conversion to perchloric acid (166,167). 

Measurement Requirements. Any analysis of measurement requirements must begin with consideration of the particular accuracy, repeatabihty, and range needed. Depending on the appHcation, other measurement considerations might be the speed of system response and the pressure drop across the flow meter. For control appHcations repeatabihty may be the principal criterion conversely for critical measurements, the total installed system accuracy should be considered. This latter includes the accuracy of the flow meter and associated readout devices as well as the effects of piping, temperature, pressure, and fluid density. The accuracy of the system may also relate to the required measurement range. 

Chlorine Trifluoride. Chlorine trifluoride is produced commercially by the continuous gas-phase reaction of fluorine and chlorine ia a nickel reactor at ca 290°C. The ratio of fluorine to chlorine is maintained slightly in excess of 3 1 to promote conversion of the chlorine monofluoride to chlorine trifluoride. Sufficient time ia the reactor must be provided to maintain high conversions to chlorine trifluoride. Temperature control is also critical because the equiHbrium shift of chlorine trifluoride to chlorine monofluoride and fluorine is significant at elevated temperatures. 

Some control over the spHt between methyl radical oxidation (to HCHO) and dimerization in heterogeneous oxidation can be achieved by varying conditions (116). For homogeneous oxidation, an efficiency of 70—80% to methanol has been claimed at 8—10% conversions (110). This is the high end of the reported range and is controversial. Even so, such technology appears unlikely to be competitive for regular commercial use until further advances are made (117). The critical need is to protect the products from further oxidation (118). 

The i j -configuration of the 6,7-double bond in pre-vitamin D is critical to its subsequent thermal rearrangement to the active vitamin. A photochemical isomerization of pre-vitamin D to yield the inactive trans-isoTnen occurs under conditions of synthesis, and is especially detrimental if there is a significant short wavelength component, eg, 254 nm, to the radiation continuum used to effect the synthesis. This side reaction reduces overall yield of the process and limits conversion yields to ca 60% (71). Photochemical reconversion of the inactive side product, tachysterol, to pre-vitamin D allows recovery of the product which would otherwise be lost, and improves economics of the overall process (70). 

The ore is ordinarily ground to pass through a ca 1.2-mm (14-mesh) screen, mixed with 8—10 wt % NaCl and other reactants that may be needed, and roasted under oxidising conditions in a multiple-hearth furnace or rotary kiln at 800—850°C for 1—2 h. Temperature control is critical because conversion of vanadium to vanadates slows markedly at ca 800°C, and the formation of Hquid phases at ca 850°C interferes with access of air to the mineral particles. During roasting, a reaction of sodium chloride with hydrous siUcates, which often are present in the ore feed, yields HCl gas. This is scmbbed from the roaster off-gas and neutralized for pollution control, or used in acid-leaching processes at the mill site. 

After 30 hours, the maximum and critical fermentation is underway and the pH must remain above 4.0 for optimal fermentation. However, accompanying bacterial contamination from various sources such as yeast contamination, improper cleaning procedures, slow yeast growth, or excessive temperatures can result in a pH below 4.0. The remaining amylase enzymes, referred to as secondary conversion agents, are inactivated and can no longer convert the dextrins to maltose. Under these circumstances, the fermentor pH continues to drop because of acid production of the bacteria, and the pH can drop to as low as 3.0. The obvious result is a low ethanol yield and quaUty deterioration. 

Oxychlorination of Ethylene or Dichloroethane. Ethylene or dichloroethane can be chlorinated to a mixture of tetrachoroethylene and trichloroethylene in the presence of oxygen and catalysts. The reaction is carried out in a fluidized-bed reactor at 425°C and 138—207 kPa (20—30 psi). The most common catalysts ate mixtures of potassium and cupric chlorides. Conversion to chlotocatbons ranges from 85—90%, with 10—15% lost as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide (24). Temperature control is critical. Below 425°C, tetrachloroethane becomes the dominant product, 57.3 wt % of cmde product at 330°C (30). Above 480°C, excessive burning and decomposition reactions occur. Product ratios can be controlled but less readily than in the chlorination process. Reaction vessels must be constmcted of corrosion-resistant alloys. 

AH iagredients in the polymerization recipe are not always added at the beginning of the process. For example, better latex stabHity can sometimes be achieved by starting with only part of the emulsifier, saving the rest for later addition. Sometimes a portion of the modifier is held out for late addition to aHow higher final conversion without premature consumption of aH of it. OccasionaHy, if a low acrylonitrile product is the objective, part of the acrylonitrile monomer wiH be saved for late addition so that a chemically more uniform copolymer is produced, which can sometimes enhance properties in critical appHcations. 

Note that under choked conditions, the exit velocity is V = V = c = V/cKTVM not V/cKT(/M, . Sonic velocity must be evaluated at the exit temperature. For air, with k = 1.4, the critical pressure ratio p /vo is 0.5285 and the critical temperature ratio T /Tq = 0.8333. Thus, for air discharging from 300 K, the temperature drops by 50 K (90 R). This large temperature decrease results from the conversion of internal energy into kinetic energy and is reversible. As the discharged jet decelerates in the external stagant gas, it recovers its initial enthalpy. 

Bead Polymerization Bulk reaction proceeds in independent droplets of 10 to 1,000 [Lm diameter suspended in water or other medium and insulated from each other by some colloid. A typical suspending agent is polyvinyl alcohol dissolved in water. The polymerization can be done to high conversion. Temperature control is easy because of the moderating thermal effect of the water and its low viscosity. The suspensions sometimes are unstable and agitation may be critical. Only batch reaciors appear to be in industrial use polyvinyl acetate in methanol, copolymers of acrylates and methacrylates, polyacrylonitrile in aqueous ZnCh solution, and others. Bead polymerization of styrene takes 8 to 12 h. 

The Fischer-Tropsch reaction is highly exothermic. Therefore, adequate heat removal is critical. High temperatures residt in high yields of methane, as well as coking and sintering of the catalyst. Three types of reac tors (tubular fixed bed, fluidized bed, and slurry) provide good temperature control, and all three types are being used for synthesis gas conversion. The first plants used tubular or plate-type fixed-bed reactors. Later, SASOL, in South Africa, used fluidized-bed reactors, and most recently, slurry reactors have come into use. 

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