(305f) Design and Implementation of a Nuclear Solvent Extraction Plant-Level Simulator

There exists interest in the development of robust, dynamic, plant-level solvent extraction simulators that can incorporate multi-phase, multi-radionuclide species, rate-base reactive processes in a flowsheet configuration. This presentation describes progress towards developing such a simulator for use with realistic aqueous/organic phases typical of nuclear reprocessing and/or radio-isotope production. The model is based on a dynamic network approach which decouples individual contactor elements in a countercurrent cascade of contactors. The time-integration of the DAE's proceed by synchronizing nodes in the network periodically. This approach facilitates the implementation of flowsheets that use bank of contactors such as centrifugal and/or mixer-settlers.

The rate-based modeling method allows for incorporation of non-equilibrium processes through mass transfer parameters that could be obtained via canonical experimental calibration in the future. We have been developing a software for solvent extraction that can be used as a plug-and-play simulator to investigate a more comprehensive dynamic behavior of plant facilities and/or laboratory scale.