Series coupled fluidized bed reactor units including cyclonic plenum assemblies and related methods of hydrofluorination
First Claim
1. A series-coupled fluidized bed reactor unit, comprising:
- a secondary fluidized bed reactor having a partially-reacted gas outlet;
a primary fluidized bed reactor, comprising;
a reaction vessel;
a gas distributor fluidly coupled to the reaction vessel; and
a cyclonic plenum assembly, comprising;
a plenum assembly housing fluidly coupled to the gas distributor and having an annular sidewall; and
a gas/solids inlet pipe fluidly coupling the partially-reacted gas outlet to the plenum assembly housing, the gas/solids inlet pipe tangentially positioned with respect to the annular sidewall of the plenum assembly housing to induce vortex flow within the plenum assembly housing of the partially-reacted gas received from the secondary fluidized bed reactor through the gas/solids inlet pipe to promote the cyclonic separation of entrained solids from the partially-reacted gas prior to entry into the gas distributor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a series-coupled fluidized bed reactor unit are provided. In one embodiment, the reactor unit includes primary and secondary reactors. The primary reactor includes a reaction vessel, a gas distributor fluidly coupled to the reaction vessel, and a cyclonic plenum assembly. The cyclonic plenum assembly includes a plenum assembly housing, which is fluidly coupled to the gas distributor and which has an annular sidewall; and a gas/solids inlet pipe, which fluidly couples a partially-reacted gas outlet of the secondary reactor to the plenum assembly housing. The gas/solids inlet pipe is tangentially positioned with respect to the annular sidewall of the plenum assembly housing to induce vortex flow within the plenum assembly housing of the partially-reacted gas received from the secondary fluidized bed reactor through the gas/solids inlet pipe to promote the cyclonic separation of entrained solids from the partially-reacted gas prior to entry into the gas distributor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A series-coupled fluidized bed reactor unit, comprising:
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a secondary fluidized bed reactor having a partially-reacted gas outlet; a primary fluidized bed reactor, comprising; a reaction vessel; a gas distributor fluidly coupled to the reaction vessel; and a cyclonic plenum assembly, comprising; a plenum assembly housing fluidly coupled to the gas distributor and having an annular sidewall; and a gas/solids inlet pipe fluidly coupling the partially-reacted gas outlet to the plenum assembly housing, the gas/solids inlet pipe tangentially positioned with respect to the annular sidewall of the plenum assembly housing to induce vortex flow within the plenum assembly housing of the partially-reacted gas received from the secondary fluidized bed reactor through the gas/solids inlet pipe to promote the cyclonic separation of entrained solids from the partially-reacted gas prior to entry into the gas distributor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor unit for contacting a uranium dioxide feed with hydrogen fluoride gas to produce uranium tetrafluoride, the fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor unit comprising:
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a primary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor, comprising; a reaction vessel having a solids inlet for receiving the uranium dioxide feed and having a partially-reacted solids outlet for discharging partially-reacted uranium tetrafluoride; a cyclonic plenum assembly having a partially-reacted gas inlet for receiving partially-reacted hydrogen fluoride gas; and a gas distributor fluidly coupling the cyclonic plenum assembly to the reaction vessel; and a secondary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor having a partially-reacted solids inlet coupled to the partially-reacted solids outlet for receiving the partially-reacted uranium tetrafluoride from the primary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor, a gas inlet for receiving the hydrogen fluoride gas, and a partially-reacted gas outlet fluidly coupled to the partially-reacted gas inlet for supplying partially-reacted hydrogen fluoride gas to the primary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A hydrofluorination process carried-out utilizing a fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor unit including a primary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor fluidly interconnected with a secondary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor, the primary fluidized bed hydrofluorination reactor including a cyclonic plenum assembly, the process comprising:
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directing a partially-reacted gas stream withdrawn from the secondary fluidized bed hydrofluorination into the cyclonic plenum assembly through a gas/solids inlet pipe tangentially disposed with respect to an annular sidewall of the cyclonic plenum assembly to induce vortex flow within the cyclonic plenum assembly and promote the cyclonic separation of entrained solids from the partially-reacted gas stream; and removing the entrained solids separated from the partially-reacted gas stream through a solids drain pipe included within the cyclonic plenum assembly.
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Specification