Samad Rana
- Email: ll17s5r@leeds.ac.uk
- Thesis title: Modelling of Precipitation Reactors in the Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel
- Supervisors: Dr Tariq Mahmud, Professor Kevin Roberts
Profile
Research project focused on modelling a key unit operation in the plutonium finishing of the PUREX process known as a “vortex precipitator”, which is a continuously operated unbaffled stirred tank reactor with a magnetic rod agitator placed at the bottom of the vessel.
Oxalic precipitation of soluble plutonium(IV) nitrate into insoluble plutonium(IV) oxalate is performed in this unit where the product leaves as a slurry, being filtered and calcined downstream converting the plutonium(IV) oxalate into plutonium(IV) oxide.
Seeking to develop a methodology, using a coupled CFD-PBM approach, to couple hydrodynamics/mixing with precipitation processes to understand how operating conditions influence product quality in such vessels. The data collected from the model will be validated against experimental data from previous studies. Controlling product quality will be important for downstream unit operations, in addition to final fuel qualty.
Project is funded by EPRSC CDT in Nuclear Energy - GREEN.
Research interests
- Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing (PUREX – Plutonium Finishing Lines)
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- Population Balance Modelling (PBM)
- Compartment/Zonal Modelling
- Hydroynamics/Mixing in Unbaffled Stirred Tank Reactors
- Crystallisation/Precipitation Processes
Qualifications
- PGDip, Nuclear Science & Engineering (2022-2023) - Distinction
- MEng, BEng, Chemical Engineering (2018-2022) - First Class Honours