METHOD AND FACILITY FOR CONVERTING URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE INTO URANIUM DIOXIDE

摘要

The conversion method comprises the steps of hydrolysis of UF6 into uranium oxyfluoride (UO2F2) in a hydrolysis reactor (4) by reaction between gaseous UF6 and dry steam injected into the reactor (4), pyrohydrolysis of UO2F2 into UO2 in a pyrohydrolysis furnace (6) by reaction of the UO2F2 with dry stream and gaseous dihydrogen (H2) injected into the furnace (6), extracting excess gas in the reactor (4) via a capture device (50) comprising a plurality of filters (52), periodic unclogging of the filters (52) by injection of a neutral gas into the filters (52) from the outside to the inside of the reactor (4) in order to unstick powder stuck on the filters (52), and measuring the relative pressure in the reactor (4), the conversion method further comprising the implementation of an intermittent unclogging of the filters (52) when the relative pressure in the reactor (4) exceeds a predetermined intermittent unclogging threshold.