APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF URANIUM FLUORIDE

A process of producing uranium fluoride by fluorination of uranium oxide is carried out in at least two successive treating chambers through which flow currents of hydrofluoric acid gas the main fluorination being effected in the first chamber and the finishing treatment in the other or another chamber. The means for performing this finishing treatment include a horizontal tube 8, a screw 9 for causing uranium fluoride to travel through said tube, an electric heating system 10 and heat insulating means 11. Screw 9 is controlled either manually at 12, or by a speed reducing gear and motor system 13, 14. Fresh hydrofluoric acid is fed at 15 and the residual gases flow out at 16. Screw 9 serves both to propel the solid material through tube 8 and to stir it in the presence of the gas. The connection with the main oven is ensured by means of a corrugated sleeve 17 which is capable of absorbing thermal expansions. Furthermore, means for the entry of a neutral gas for preventing the gases which are used, respectively in tube 8 and in oven 1, from passing each into the other of said elements are described. The feed of, for example, nitrogen to said means is shown at 211 at the bottom end of a funnel-shaped member 18. When leaving tube 8, the solid material drops at 22 into a container 24, through a coupling sleeve 23. In this case also, means such as above described may be used in order to prevent mixing of the gas present in tube 8 and of that present in chamber 24. The feed of nitrogen into said means is shown at 212. Automatic control of the reaction is shown in Fig. 2. Specification 800,692 is referred to.