UF
The invention relates to UF 6 transport and process containers to store UF 6 enriched up to 20 percent by weight 235 U in amounts up to 1,500 kg U. The containers include a shell, which has an integral heat exchanger positioned between the exterior and interior surfaces/substrates of the shell. The integral heat exchanger is composed of metal passage voids to pass heat transport fluid. The shell forms an inner chamber, and a partition configuration is positioned within the inner chamber, extending longitudinally along the length of the container, to form a plurality of individual compartments within the inner chamber to store the UF 6 . The containers may be produced by additive manufacturing methods.
1. A UF 6 transport and process container to store UF 6 enriched up to 20 percent by weight 235 U in amounts up to 1,500 kg U, comprising:
a shell, comprising:
an exterior surface/substrate;
an interior surface/substrate;
an integral heat exchanger positioned between the exterior and interior surfaces/substrates, the integral heat exchanger comprising:
metal; and
passage voids to pass heat transport fluid;
an inner chamber formed by the shell; and
a partition configuration positioned within the inner chamber and extending longitudinally along the length of the container, to form a plurality of individual compartments within the inner chamber to store the UF 6 .
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein said container is the shape of a cylinder.
3. The container of claim 1 , wherein the exterior and interior surfaces/substrates are formed of metal selected from stainless steel, carbon steel, nickel alloy, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, ferritic alloy, and combinations or alloys thereof.
4. The container of claim 3 , wherein the metal extends continuously from the exterior surface/substrate to the interior surface/substrate.
5. The container of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the shell includes an absorber layer formed between the exterior and interior surfaces/substrates and optionally positioned on each side of the integral heat exchanger.
6. The container of claim 5 , wherein the absorber layer comprises the metal doped with B 4 C and optionally enriched in 10 B isotope or other such neutron absorber material that is compatible with the metal.
7. The container of claim 1 , wherein the exterior and interior surfaces/substrates are undoped.
8. The container of claim 1 , wherein the partition configuration is selected from a hub and spokes configuration, and/or nested geometric shapes corresponding to the shape of the shell.
9. The container of claim 8 , wherein the hub and spokes are constructed of a material selected from metal and metal alloy.
10. The container of claim 9 , wherein the metal is selected from stainless steel, carbon steel, nickel alloy, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, ferritic alloy, and combinations or alloys thereof.
11. The container of claim 10 , wherein the metal extends continuously from an exterior wall to an interior wall of each of the hub and spokes.
12. The container of claim 11 , wherein an absorber layer is formed between the exterior and interior walls.
13. The container of claim 12 , wherein the absorber layer comprises the metal doped with B 4 C and optionally enriched in 10 B isotope or other such neutron absorber material that is compatible with the metal.
14. The container of claim 11 , wherein voids or passages are formed in the spokes extending from the exterior wall to the interior wall.
15. A method of producing the container of claim 1 , wherein the shell and/or the partition configuration are/is formed using an additive manufacture process.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the additive manufacture process comprises three-dimensional printing.