Discharge valve capable of withstanding intense radiation and high abrasion was developed for use in a fluidized bed reactor. The valve which employs a replaceable Teflon seal, has only one moving part and is designed for remote assembly and disassembly

Gottwald, W. L.

English

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12 O.D.X1/l6Wall Tube 
Thd. Relieved to 
Provide Breach-
Lock Action 
Nicks 
Teflon 
Inset 
. Monel 
February 1969
	
Brief 69-10044 
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF 
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Abrasion- and Radiation-Resistant Discharge Valve Developed 
The problem:	 assembly. The Teflon seal is abrasion and radiation 
	
To develop a displacement valve which can with- 	 resistant and offers natural lubricity. 
stand intense radiation and high abrasion. A process 	 How it's done: 
under development at Argonne National Laboratory 	 The body of the valve, show inthe1igure,Th a 
involves a fluidized bed of alumina to provide high 	
conicalrecessandiifg conical plug. Between 
heat-transfer rates during the fluorination 	
''ihesetwo sections is a Teflon insert which is replaced 
ated uranium. To preventbuildup-to -fi -ssiCn products	 before each new closure of the valve to help minimize 
	
_Jn_the-bedthlurnina is periodically discharged	
any deleterious effects of radiation, elemental fluorine, 
through a valve in the bottom of the bed. This valve 	
or abrasion. 
must be capable of withstanding the radiation plus the	 Screw threads at the apexes of the cones drive the 
abrasion of alumina, must be simple to operate and	 plug into the seat for closure. Upon opening, these 
maintain by a master-slave manipulator, and must 	 threads produce a clearance which minimizes scoring 
provide a straight-through port to permit occasional 	
of the Seat by alumina. Cylindrical sections at the 
rodding of a caked bed,	 bases of the cones provide an auxiliary seal during 
The solution:	 discharge. A breech-lock cutaway of the threads 
	
A discharge valve which has a replaceable Teflon 	 allows rapid assembly and disassembly, which can be 
seal and which meets all requirements for use in the 	 easily accomplished with one manipulator. 
fluidized bed reactor. The valve has only one niov-	 A tube, inserted into the plug and protruding from 
ing part and is designed for remote assembly and dis- 	 it, drives the Teflon seal with the plug, preventing 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic 	 liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space 	 document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per- 	 method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any 	 vately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690000044 2020-03-16T17:50:51+00:00Z
independent rotation cf the seal. This plug configura- 
tion also permits ready separation of the seal during 
replacement. 
Notes: 
I. This information has been published by Warren L. 
Gottwald in "Discharge Valve for Fluidized Bed 
Reactor Operating in a High Radiation FieId,' 
Nuclear Applications, Vol. 2, p. 429, December 
1966. 
2. The remotely replaceable Teflon seal appears 
promising, since abrasive wear in valves is a com-
mon industrial problem. 
3. This information may be of interest to the chem-
ical processing industry and manufacturers of 
valves.
4. Inquiries concerning this report may be directed to: 
Office of Industrial Cooperation 
Argonne National Laboratory 
9700 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439 
Reference: B69-10044 
Source: W. L. Gottwald
Central Shops

Argonne National Laboratory

(ARG-10219) 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for commercial use 
of this innovation may be made to: 
Mr. George H. Lee, Chief 
Chicago Patent Group 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Chicago Operations Office 
9800 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439
. 
. 
Brief 69-10044	 Category 05


Abrasion and resistant discharge valve developed

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