Particulate collection apparatus
AssigneeBritish Nuclear Fuels plc
InventorsBarry Snelson, Frederick J. Moore, Peter B. MacAlpine
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Particulates from a source fall into a tundish which discharges to a collection chamber. The build-up of particulates in the chamber is sensed, and a valve opened at the bottom of the chamber when a pre-determined level of the particulates is sensed in the chamber. A valve at the top of the chamber may be closed at the same time so that pressurized air can be injected into the chamber to expel the particulates through the bottom of the chamber through the valve. A filter circuit may be connected to the tundish to assist in removing particulates from the tundish.
Claims12
Apparatus for grinding nuclear fuel pellets including means for grinding the pellets in the presence of liquid, the improvement comprising a trough located below the grinding means for collecting liquid and grinding particulates therefrom, an outlet from the trough arranged to discharge said liquid and the grinding particulates into a vessel having declivitous sides and a bottom outlet, a collection chamber having an upper inlet communicable with the bottom outlet and having a lower outlet, a lower obturating means at the lower outlet, sensing means for sensing an accumulation of the grinding particulates at a predetermined level in the collection chamber, the lower obturating means being responsive to the sensing means, a recirculation circuit connected at one end to the declivitous sides of the vessel and having the other end thereof arranged to discharge at the grinding means, and pump means for circulating the liquid from the vessel through the recirculation circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.