Use of Fluidic Pumps

Abstract

The invention provides a method for the transportation of at least one material in a molten state from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the use of transfer means comprising a fluidic pump to effect the transportation of said at least one material. The preferred type of fluidic pump is the Reverse Flow Diverter (RFD) Pump. Preferably, the at least one material in a molten state comprises at least one molten inorganic salt or molten metal, preferably alkali metal halides such as potassium chloride or lithium chloride, or eutectic mixtures thereof. The materials are in a molten state, at a temperature which is usually in excess of 200° C. A preferred gas for use according to the method of the invention is dry argon. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the method of the present invention is applied to the transportation of molten salts in dry conditions in various applications in the nuclear industry.

1 . A method for the transportation of at least one material in a molten state from a first location to a second location, said method comprising the use of transfer means comprising a fluidic pump to effect the transportation of said at least one material, wherein said material has a melting point at a temperature which is in excess of 150° C. 
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluidic pump comprises a Diode Pump or a Reverse Flow Diverter Pump. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said Reverse Flow Diverter Pump comprises gas control means, a charge vessel, a reverse flow diverter and discharge pipework, said gas control means facilitating the repeated supply of pressurised gas to the charge vessel in two phases, said phases comprising a drive phase and a refill phase. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein, during the refill phase, a partial vacuum is applied to the charge vessel via the gas control means to augment the filling rate. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said Reverse Flow Diverter Pump is located inside a feed vessel. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said Reverse Flow Diverter Pump is installed externally to a feed vessel, with penetration into the lower part of the supply tank. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said Reverse Flow Diverter Pump comprises an Immersion Reverse Flow Diverter. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said gas control means comprises at least two jet pumps, comprising at least one drive jet pump and at least one suction jet pump, or the availability of vacuum and pressurised gas. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9  which additionally comprises the provision of a gas leg between the charge vessel and each of said at least two jet pumps. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the material for construction of said fluidic pump comprises carbon steel, a Hastelloy, or a silicon carbide ceramic. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transfer means is adapted to allow for the dilation of pipework with temperature. 
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said transfer means comprises sections of bent pipes. 
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said temperature is in excess of 200° C. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said transportation of said at least one material in a molten state from said first location to said second location occurs in dry conditions which are free from aqueous contamination. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in any  claim 4  wherein said pressurised gas comprises a dry and/or inert gas. 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said pressurised gas comprises dry argon. 
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said pressurised gas is heated to substantially the same temperature as the melt prior to use. 
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the pathway through which the gas is introduced into the apparatus containing the molten material is heated to ensure that the gas remains at elevated temperature prior to contact with the molten material. 
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least one material in a molten state comprises at least one molten inorganic salt or molten metal, a chemical compound or mixture having a melting point in the range 200° to 1200° C., or a polymer having a melting point in excess of 200° C. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . (cancelled) 
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said at least one molten inorganic salt comprises potassium chloride or lithium chloride, or eutectic mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said molten inorganic salt is contaminated with species showing radioactivity. 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said at least one molten metal comprises at least one of sodium, zirconium, aluminum, titanium, cadmium, uranium or other actinide, or a molten alloy such as generally used in the foundry or steel-making industry. 
   
   
       33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said mixture comprises NaOH/sodium carbonate eutectic. 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the viscosity of the at least one material in a molten state does not exceed 20 cp. 
   
   
       38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rate of transportation of said at least one molten material is in the range between 0.1 and 10 l/s. 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . (canceled) 
   
   
       46 . (canceled)