US4043755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining uranium concentration in a moving stream
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1976-03-29
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Granted: 1977-08-23
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Expires: 1996-03-29
Abstract
Abstract The concentration of uranium in a moving stream is determined by agglomerating background microbubbles out of the 6 to 10 micron size range, counting microbubbles in the stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size, exposing the stream to a radiation source to cause uranium fission fragments to produce microbubbles, countng microbubbles which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size, and subtracting one count from the other and multiplying by a calibration constant. The subtraction can be performed on an earlier first count so that both counts are made on the same volume. The radiation exposure can be automatically increased when the difference between the first and second counts is low.
Inventors
- 👤 John Bartko
- 👤 James W. Wonn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/22; G01N23/221; G01N23/222; G01N2223/00; G01N2223/07; G01N2223/074; G01N2223/60; G01N2223/626; G01N2223/637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of determining the concentration of uranium in a moving liquid stream comprising: 1. increasing the size of microbubbles in said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns until they are larger than about 10 microns; 2. counting microbubbles in a given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; 3. exposing said stream to a source of radiation which causes uranium fission fragments to produce microbubbles; 4. counting microbubbles in said given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; and 5. subtracting the number of microbubbles counted in step (2) from the number counted in step (4) and multiplying the difference by a calibration constant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of determining the concentration of uranium in a moving liquid stream comprising: 1. increasing the size of microbubbles in said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns until they are larger than about 10 microns; 2. counting microbubbles in a given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; 3. exposing said stream to a source of radiation which causes uranium fission fragments to produce microbubbles; 4. counting microbubbles in said given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; and 5. subtracting the number of microbubbles counted in step (2) from the number counted in step (4) and multiplying the difference by a calibration constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said stream is filtered prior to step (1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the exposure of said stream to said source of radiation is a function of said difference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the exposure of said stream to said radiation is controlled by the flow rate of said stream past said source of radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the flow rate of said stream past said counters is measured and said counts are made over a predetermined volume of said stream.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 including the initial step of determining said calibration constant by applying said method to a liquid containing a known concentration of uranium, and dividing said concentration by said difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the size of microbubbles is increased by agglomeration with ultrasonic sound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said subtraction is performed on a count made by step (2) at about Δt seconds before the count was made in step (4), where Δt = d/m where d is the fluid volume between the step (2) count and the step (4) count and m is the flow rate of the stream.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said source is a neutron source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said source is Am-Be or Cf.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said neutrons are fast neutrons and said liquid is enclosed in a material rich in hydrogen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the strength of said neutron source is about 10 7 to about 10 9 fast neutrons/sec.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the flux of said neutrons in said stream is about 10 4 to about 10 6 thermal neutrons/cm 2 /sec.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for determining uranium concentration in a moving liquid stream comprising: A. an agglomerator for increasing the size of microbubbles in said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns until they are larger than about 10 microns; B. a first counter for counting microbubbles in a given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; C. an irradiator for exposing said stream to a source of radiation which causes uranium fission fragments to produce microbubbles; D. a second counter for counting microbubbles in said given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; and E. calculating means for subtracting the number of microbubbles counted by said second counter from the number counted by said first counter and for multiplying the difference by a calibration constant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for determining uranium concentration in a moving liquid stream comprising: A. an agglomerator for increasing the size of microbubbles in said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns until they are larger than about 10 microns; B. a first counter for counting microbubbles in a given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; C. an irradiator for exposing said stream to a source of radiation which causes uranium fission fragments to produce microbubbles; D. a second counter for counting microbubbles in said given volume of said stream which are about 6 to about 10 microns in size; and E. calculating means for subtracting the number of microbubbles counted by said second counter from the number counted by said first counter and for multiplying the difference by a calibration constant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including a filter upstream of said agglomerator for filtering said moving liquid stream.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including means for controlling the exposure of said stream to said source of radiation so that said exposure is a function of said difference.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including means for controlling the exposure of said stream to said source of radiation by changing the flow rate of said stream past said source of radiation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including a flow meter for measuring the flow rate of said stream past said counters, said calculating means determining said difference over a predetermined volume of said stream as calculated from said flow rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said agglomerator increases the size of said microbubbles by means of ultrasonic sound.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 including means for storing the count made by said first counter for Δt seconds, where Δt = d/m, where d is the fluid volume between said first counter and said second counter and m is the flow rate of said stream, so that said calculating means performs said subtraction on counts made on the same volume of said stream.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said source of radiation is a neutron source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said neutron source is Am-Be or Cf.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said neutrons are fast neutrons and said liquid is enclosed in a material rich in hydrogen.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the strength of said neutron source is about 10 7 to about 10 9 fast neutrons/sec.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the flux of said neutrons in said stream is about 10 4 to about 10 6 thermal neutrons/cm 2 /sec.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first and second counters count microbubbles by forcing said stream through a small aperture and measuring current flow from one side of said aperture to the other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said microbubbles are counted by forcing said stream through a small aperture and measuring current flow from one side of said aperture to the other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-22 | 1981-02-21 | 1981-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-22 | 1985-02-21 | 1985-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-22 | 1989-02-21 | 1989-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |