Liquid-liquid radioactive extraction with pulsated gas mixing - using jet pumps to minimise gas subjected to contamination

A liquid-liquid extraction plant for radioactive substances comprises a pulsated mixing chamber, a separating vessel and pulsating gas line, leading to the mixing chamber all housed within a nuclear radiation shield. A gas jet pump supplies the pulsating effect, its suction side being connected to the pulsating gas line, leading to the mixing chamber, while its motive gas line, is supplied from a pressurised gas main via a shut-off valve mounted outside the nuclear radiation shield. Pref. a pressurised gas line leading directly through the shield to the pulsating gas line, is supplied from outside the shield via a gas valve. Two gas jet pumps, each with its own set of equipment as above, are pref. installed, with an interlock ensuring that both cannot operate simultaneously. Esp used for reprocessing nuclear fuels. The system has no moving parts inside the radiation shield. Also, the use of a jet pump means that most of the motive gas does not become contaminated; therefore the quantity of gas to be decontaminated is minimal.