SEMIEMPIRICAL MODEL FOR THE CONTINUOUS SEPARATION OF AQUEOUS ENTRAINMENT BY ELECTRIC-FIELDS

In liquid-liquid extraction related to nuclear fuel reprocessing a sem i-theoretical model was developed for the design of pilot plant scale entrainment separators with a volume flow rate of one liter per hour. The general case will be considered in which the organic continuous ph ase has a relatively high electric conductivity. A correlation will be presented between the separation efficiencies determined experimental ly and the frequency of droplet collisions derived from theoretical co nsiderations. A factor has been introduced which is exclusively a func tion of the equipment and materials system and which expresses the rat io of coalescence performance to Joule effect performance. This correl ation allows entrainment electric separators to be designed which run under operating conditions in the range of 0.35 to 1.36% (wt) for entr ainment initial concentrations and of 40 to 67 mu m for the mean dropl et diameters.