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Enhancement of Glass Production Rate in Joule Heated Ceramic Melter

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Published/Copyright: November 19, 2019
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Chemical Product and Process Modeling
From the journal Chemical Product and Process Modeling Volume 15 Issue 2

Abstract

In this research work, experimental studies and numerical simulation of Joule Heated Ceramic Melter (JHCM) used for vitrification of radioactive liquid waste (RLW) were carried out. The isolation of the long-lived radioactive isotopes by fixing them in suitable host matrix is the only practical approach adopted for conditioning of highly radioactive waste generated from the nuclear fuel cycle. RLW and preformed glass beads are added simultaneously on a molten glass pool maintained at 1000 °C in JHCM to form a product that is qualified for long term storage. The sequence and kinetics of different reactions taking place in JHCM were identified and calculated by carrying out Thermogravimetric Analysis of the radioactive species present in RLW at different heating rates. The effects of these constituents on the melter throughput and quality of the Vitrified Waste Product (VWP) produced were assessed. The foam generated during vitrification process has a major influence on the design of melters. The amount of foam generated was quantified and its influence on glass production rate was analyzed. Melt rate limitations were determined for JHCM based on the measured thermo-physical properties. Minimum residence time required for producing product of the desired specification is determined. A model is developed for determining the glass melting rates. Experiments were carried out for generating data required for validation of the model. The model predictions are compared with experimental results. The factors affecting the product throughput and quality are identified with an objective of reducing the residence time of the product thereby increasing the throughput. The effect of agitation on the rate of melting of glass was determined.

Keywords: Joule melter; cold cap; glass; vitrification; finite element method; plenum heaters

Nomenclature

Greek and Latin Alphabets
αi

conversion in the ith reaction

β

Heating rate (K.min−1)

ρ

Density (kg. m−3)

μ

Dynamic Viscosity (Pa.s)

∅

Level Set Function

κ

Curvature (m−1)

ε

thickness of the level set function region (m)

σ

Surface tension coefficient (kg.s−2)

γ

re-initialization parameter

δ

dimensionless change in length

Symbols
A

Pre-exponential factor

Cp

specific heat capacity (W.m−1. K−1)

D

Diffusivity (m2.s−1)

E

Electrical Field (V.m−1)

Eai

Activation Energy of ith reaction (kJ.mol−1)

F

Volume force vector (N.m−3)

J

Current density (A.m−2)

N

Concentration flux (mol.m−2.s−1)

QJ

Heat source (W.m−3)

R

Universal gas constant, (8.314 KJ.kg−1. K−1)

Re

Reaction rate (mol.m−3.s−1)

T

Temperature (K)

c

Concentration (mol.m−3)

c0

Initial concentration (mol.m−3)

d

Diameter (m)

n

unit normal to the interface

k

thermal conductivity (W.m−1. K−1)

Kf

rate constant (mol1 + v.m−3(1 + v).s−1)

p

Pressure (N.m−2)

q

heat rate (J.s−1)

s

Electrical conductivity (S.m−1)

t

Time (s)

u

Velocity (m.s−1)

v

order of reaction

wi

fractional weight of the material converted ith reaction

z

vertical direction

References

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Received: 2019-04-27
Revised: 2019-09-06
Accepted: 2019-10-17
Published Online: 2019-11-19

© 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. NOTE FROM GUEST EDITORS
  3. Research Articles
  4. Kinetic Modeling of Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Peel Using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis
  5. Numerical Evaluation of Liquid Mixing in a Serpentine Square Convergent-divergent Passive Micromixer
  6. Design of Noise Filters for Integrating Time Delay Processes
  7. Fractional Order PID Controller Design for Multivariable Systems using TLBO
  8. Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Shell and Helical Coil Heat Exchanger Using non-Newtonian Nanofluids
  9. Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics in Circular Wavy Microchannels with Sidewall Rib
  10. Design of Fractional Order PID Controller Using Genetic Algorithm Optimization Technique for Nonlinear System
  11. Design of VRFT Based Feedback-feedforward Controllers for Enhancing Disturbance Rejection on Non-minimum Phase Systems
  12. Simultaneous Scheduling and Heat Integration of Batch Plants Using Unit-Specific Event Based Modelling
  13. Multi Gene Genetic Program Modelling on L-Asparaginase Activity of Bacillus Stratosphericus
  14. Enhancement of Glass Production Rate in Joule Heated Ceramic Melter
  15. Thermographic Studies of Aerogel Composites
https://doi.org/10.1515/cppm-2019-0068
Keywords for this article
Joule melter; cold cap; glass; vitrification; finite element method; plenum heaters

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. NOTE FROM GUEST EDITORS
  3. Research Articles
  4. Kinetic Modeling of Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Peel Using Thermo Gravimetric Analysis
  5. Numerical Evaluation of Liquid Mixing in a Serpentine Square Convergent-divergent Passive Micromixer
  6. Design of Noise Filters for Integrating Time Delay Processes
  7. Fractional Order PID Controller Design for Multivariable Systems using TLBO
  8. Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Shell and Helical Coil Heat Exchanger Using non-Newtonian Nanofluids
  9. Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics in Circular Wavy Microchannels with Sidewall Rib
  10. Design of Fractional Order PID Controller Using Genetic Algorithm Optimization Technique for Nonlinear System
  11. Design of VRFT Based Feedback-feedforward Controllers for Enhancing Disturbance Rejection on Non-minimum Phase Systems
  12. Simultaneous Scheduling and Heat Integration of Batch Plants Using Unit-Specific Event Based Modelling
  13. Multi Gene Genetic Program Modelling on L-Asparaginase Activity of Bacillus Stratosphericus
  14. Enhancement of Glass Production Rate in Joule Heated Ceramic Melter
  15. Thermographic Studies of Aerogel Composites
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