Fluorination of UF4 in a mini-tapered fluidized bed and mathematical modeling

A mini-tapered fluidized bed reactor can be used for fluorination reaction of UF4 to produce uranium hexafluoride. By adopting the mini-tapered bed the problems associated with fluidization in a cylindrical bed such as entrainment of particles and the limitation of operating velocity can be overcome, consequently the performance of the reactor can be enhanced. Simulation of the reactor was performed employing two-phase models, bubble phase with piston flow and emulsion phase with piston (D.P-P model) or perfectly mixed flow (D.P-M model). The voidage of the emulsion and bubble phases were estimated from the distribution two-phase structure hydrodynamic model. The model predictions have been compared with the results from a pilot-scale experiment. The D.P-P model gives good agreement between computed and empirical results. The effects of various parameters on the reactor performance are discussed using the model.