Two-phase modeling of a gas phase fluidized bed reactor for the fluorination of uranium tetrafluoride

A bubbling fluidized bed reactor for the fluorination of uranium tetrafluoride by fluorine gas was simulated employing two-phase models, with the bubble phase assumed to be in plug flow, and the emulsion phase in plug flow (P-P model) and in perfectly mixed flow (P-M model). The model calculations were compared with actual data in term of fluorine conversion. The comparison showed that the P-M model predicted the data satisfactorily. The P-M model was then applied to understand the influence of operating parameters on the reactor performance. A sensitivity study of various operating parameters showed the extent each parameter can influence the rates of fluorine conversion and uranium hexafluoride production.