Case Study: BNFL Vortex Detection Precipitation
Introduction
The thermal oxide reprocessing plant (THORP) at Sellafield, Cumbria, UK, reprocesses fuel for nuclear power plants. It includes continuous stirred tanks into which reactants are added to produce a heavy metal precipitate. Stirring of the reaction vessel must be continuous and of the right intensity to ensure the precipitation process proceeds as intended.
The Challenge
Stirring of the reaction vessel must be continuous and of the right intensity to ensure the precipitation process proceeds as intended. The tanks are operated with a deep vortex, the presence and depth of which provides valuable information on the performance of the precipitation.
British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) commissioned a project with partners University of Leeds and Industrial Tomography Systems to develop a vortex imaging system based on Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT).
