H.J. Pant

Radiotracer investigations in aniline production reactors

Radiotracer investigations were carried out to measure the residence time distribution (RTD) of the heat transfer medium (HTM) in two identical aniline production reactors. One was operating abnormally while the other functioned normally. Investigations were carried out to identify the cause(s) of inadequate heat transfer from the tube-side to the shell-side of the abnormally operating reactor. For measuring the RTD of the HTM in the shell-side of the reactor. 82Br as paradibromobenzene was used as a tracer. The analysis of the measured RTD data revealed that about 60% of the shell-side volume of the abnormally operating reactor was fouled/dead, this being the root cause of the inadequate heat transfer. The modelling of RTD data indicated undesired parallel flow streams in the shell-side of the abnormal reactor. Shutdown of the abnormally operating reactor was instituted to allow remediation, fouling subsequently being visibly confirmed. The planned shutdown resulted in reduction in downtime, with substantial economic benefit to the industry.

Investigation of flow behaviour of coal particles in a pilot-scale fluidized bed gasifier (FBG) using radiotracer technique

Knowledge of residence time distribution (RTD), mean residence time (MRT) and degree of axial mixing of solid phase is required for efficient operation of coal gasification process. Radiotracer technique was used to measure the RTD of coal particles in a pilot-scale fluidized bed gasifier (FBG). Two different radiotracers i.e. lanthanum-140 and gold-198 labeled coal particles (100 gm) were independently used as radiotracers. The radiotracer was instantaneously injected into the coal feed line and monitored at the ash extraction line at the bottom and gas outlet at the top of the gasifier using collimated scintillation detectors. The measured RTD data were treated and MRTs of coal/ash particles were determined. The treated data were simulated using tanks-in-series model. The simulation of RTD data indicated good degree of mixing with small fraction of the feed material bypassing/short-circuiting from the bottom of the gasifier. The results of the investigation were found useful for optimizing the design and operation of the FBG, and scale-up of the gasification process.

Application of 140La and 24Na as intrinsic radiotracers for investigating catalyst dynamics in FCCUs

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst samples was carried out with an objective to identify activable elements and evaluate its suitability for use as an intrinsic radiotracer for tracing catalyst itself in Fluid Catalytic Cracking Units (FCCUs) used in petroleum refining. Two catalyst samples obtained from two different refineries were analyzed. Twelve different elements were identified in each catalyst sample and their respective concentrations were determined. From the recorded gamma-ray spectra, it was found that lanthanum-140 ((140)La) and sodium-24 ((24)Na) were the predominantly present and suitable radionuclides that could be used as radiotracers for tracing catalyst in FCCUs. Lanthanum being present in much higher concentration forms the major component of the radiotracer after irradiation. Based on the results of INAA, appropriate quantities of the catalyst samples were irradiated with neutrons to produce the desired amount of activity of lanthanum-140 and sodium-24 to be used as radiotracers for tracing the catalyst itself in a pilot as well as an industrial-scale FCCU. The residence time distribution (RTD) of catalyst was measured and analyzed to determine mean residence time (MRT). The axial dispersion model (ADM) was used to simulate the measured RTD data and investigate the degree of axial mixing. The results of the experiments were used to improve the design of pilot-scale FCCU and optimize the performance of the industrial-scale FCCU.

Radiotracer investigation in a rotary fluidized bioreactor

A rotary fluidized bioreactor (RFBR) designed for treatment of wastewater was required to be investigated for its hydrodynamic behaviour and validation of design. A radiotracer investigation was carried out to measure residence time distribution (RTD) of wastewater in the RFBR using 82Br as a radiotracer. The radiotracer was instantaneously injected into the inlet feed line and monitored at the inlet and outlet of the reactor using collimated scintillation detectors connected to a data acquisition system. The measured RTD data was treated and simulated using a tanks-in-series model and model parameters i.e. number of tanks describing the degree of mixing was obtained. The results of the investigation showed no flow abnormalities and the reactor behaved as an ideal continuously stirred-tank reactor at all the operating conditions. Based on the results, the design of the reactor was validated.

Radioisotope tracer study in a sludge hygienization research irradiator (SHRI)

A radioisotope tracer study has been carried out in a batch type sludge hygienization research irradiator with flow from top to bottom, the objective being to measure flow rate, circulation and mixing times and to investigate the hydrodynamic behaviour of the irradiator for identifying the cause(s) of malfunction. A stimulus-response technique with NH4(82)Br as a tracer was used to measure the above parameters. Experiments were carried out at three different flow rates, i.e 1.0, 0.64 and 0.33 m3/min. Three combined models based on a set of differential equations are proposed and used to simulate the measured tracer concentration curves. The obtained parameters were used to estimate dead volume and analyse hydrodynamic behaviour of the irradiator. The nonlinear regression problem of model parameter estimation was solved using the Marquardt-Levenberg method. The measured flow rate was found to be in good agreement with the values shown by the flow meter. The circulation times were found to be half of the mixing times. A simple approach for estimation of dose based on a known vertical dose-rate profile inside the irradiator is presented. About one-fourth of the volume of the irradiator was found to be dead at lower flow rates and this decreased with increase in flow rate. At higher flow rates, a semi stagnant volume was found with slow exchange of flow between the active and dead volumes.

Residence time distribution measurements in a pilot-scale poison tank using radiotracer technique.

Various types of systems are used to control the reactivity and shutting down of a nuclear reactor during emergency and routine shutdown operations. Injection of boron solution (borated water) into the core of a reactor is one of the commonly used methods during emergency operation. A pilot-scale poison tank was designed and fabricated to simulate injection of boron poison into the core of a reactor along with coolant water. In order to design a full-scale poison tank, it was desired to characterize flow of liquid from the tank. Residence time distribution (RTD) measurement and analysis was adopted to characterize the flow dynamics. Radiotracer technique was applied to measure RTD of aqueous phase in the tank using Bromine-82 as a radiotracer. RTD measurements were carried out with two different modes of operation of the tank and at different flow rates. In Mode-1, the radiotracer was instantaneously injected at the inlet and monitored at the outlet, whereas in Mode-2, the tank was filled with radiotracer and its concentration was measured at the outlet. From the measured RTD curves, mean residence times (MRTs), dead volume and fraction of liquid pumped in with time were determined. The treated RTD curves were modeled using suitable mathematical models. An axial dispersion model with high degree of backmixing was found suitable to describe flow when operated in Mode-1, whereas a tanks-in-series model with backmixing was found suitable to describe flow of the poison in the tank when operated in Mode-2. The results were utilized to scale-up and design a full-scale poison tank for a nuclear reactor.

Measurements of liquid phase residence time distributions in a pilot-scale continuous leaching reactor using radiotracer technique.

An alkaline based continuous leaching process is commonly used for extraction of uranium from uranium ore. The reactor in which the leaching process is carried out is called a continuous leaching reactor (CLR) and is expected to behave as a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) for the liquid phase. A pilot-scale CLR used in a Technology Demonstration Pilot Plant (TDPP) was designed, installed and operated; and thus needed to be tested for its hydrodynamic behavior. A radiotracer investigation was carried out in the CLR for measurement of residence time distribution (RTD) of liquid phase with specific objectives to characterize the flow behavior of the reactor and validate its design. Bromine-82 as ammonium bromide was used as a radiotracer and about 40-60MBq activity was used in each run. The measured RTD curves were treated and mean residence times were determined and simulated using a tanks-in-series model. The result of simulation indicated no flow abnormality and the reactor behaved as an ideal CSTR for the range of the operating conditions used in the investigation.

Benchmarking Radioactive Particle Tracking (RPT) with Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA)

Abstract In current work, Radioactive Particle Tracking (RPT) experiment has been performed in a rectangular bubble column having dimensions reported by Pfleger et al. (1999). As has been reported in recent decades, RPT has come to be accepted now as a reliable and versatile non-invasive flow measurement technique for mapping the flow fields in multiphase reactors.In this work, the objective has been to benchmark RPT (which is a very versatile technique) against reported data (Pfleger et al. 1999) with Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) (which is claimed to be a very accurate technique at low volume fractions of the dispersed phase). We show that RPT does remarkably well both in terms of versatility and accuracy. Overall, this work helps to establish the accuracy standards of the RPT technique.

Flow rate measurements in a draft tube baffle crystallizer using a radioactive flow follower technique

Flow rates produced by two different propellers (designated PR-L and PR-R), designed and manufactured by two different companies and used in a draft tube crystallizer, have been measured by means of a neutrally buoyant radioactive flow follower technique. Comparison of the results indicates that the flow rates produced by the propeller PR-L were higher than the propeller PR-R. From the measured flow rates, the characteristic flow numbers of the propellers were calculated and used to predict the behaviour of the propeller for varying operating conditions. The flow numbers ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 and 0.4 to 1.3 for PR-R and PR-L respectively.

Radiotracer investigation in an industrial-scale oxidizer.

A radiotracer investigation was carried out in an industrial-scale oxidizer. The main objectives of the investigation were to measure residence time distribution (RTD) of organic process fluid, determine the mean residence time (MRT) and investigate the degree of axial mixing. Bromine-82 as p-dibromo biphenyl was used as a radiotracer for measuring RTD of the organic process fluid. The MRT of the fluid in the oxidizer was determined to be 390min. An ideal stirred tank model with a plug flow reactor in recirculation stream was used to simulate the measured RTD data and was found suitable for describing flow in the system. Based on the model simulation the mean residence times in oxidizer and recycle stream were estimated. The results of the investigation showed that the oxidizer behaved as a well-mixed reactor whereas the recycle stream behaved as a plug flow reactor.