Time Dependent Implementation of Argonne's Model for Universal Solvent Extraction

Argonne’s Model for Universal Solvent Extraction (AMUSE) simulates multi-stage aqueous solvent extraction processes for components of interest to spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. The current work has incorporated time dependency into the simulation; the original AMUSE program was used for steady-state simulation. Determining the evolution of component concentrations with time allows for improved accountancy of neutron capture products and fission products. Additionally, potential transient accumulations can be identified, which will allow for improved safety during process start-up. This implementation uses a lumped efficiency term to represent the mass transfer rate between phases within each stage and uses a well mixed assumption for the concentrations within each phase. Additional work to determine the total interfacial area is ongoing at Argonne National Laboratory, and will eventually be used to replace the lumped efficiency term.