Robert Harding Dyer

Author:

Robert C. Dyer

ISBN #:

0916179273

Author:

Robert S. Dyer

ISBN #:

0824788737

Author:

Robert L. Dyer

ISBN #:

0826209599

US Patent:

40408019, Aug 9, 1977

Filed:

Jun 14, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/696149

Inventors:

Robert H. Dyer - Oak Ridge TN
Andrew H. Fowler - Oak Ridge TN
Paul R. Vanstrum - Oak Ridge TN

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy
Research and Development Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

B01D 5322

US Classification:

55 16

Abstract:

This invention relates to an improved method and system for making relatively large and rapid adjustments in the process gas inventory of an electrically powered gaseous diffusion cascade in order to accommodate scheduled changes in the electrical power available for cascade operation. In the preferred form of the invention, the cascade is readied for a decrease in electrical input by simultaneously withdrawing substreams of the cascade B stream into respective process-gas-freezing and storage zones while decreasing the datum-pressure inputs to the positioning systems for the cascade control valves in proportion to the weight of process gas so removed. Consequently, the control valve positions are substantially unchanged by the reduction in invention, and there is minimal disturbance of the cascade isotopic gradient. The cascade is readied for restoration of the power cut by simultaneously evaporating the solids in the freezing zones to regenerate the process gas substreams and introducing them to the cascade A stream while increasing the aforementioned datum pressure inputs in proportion to the weight of process gas so returned. In the preferred form of the system for accomplishing these operations, heat exchangers are provided for freezing, storing, and evaporating the various substreams.