Latest ArticlesThe core equipment of the stable rotation method for separating 76Ge isotopes is the stable rotation machine. The normal and stable operation of the stable rotation machine is a key element to ensure the smooth progress of the entire production process. The main indicator for measuring the normal operation of the stable rotation machine is whether the speed of the stable rotation machine per minute is within a reasonable range, which is monitored by the stabilizer speed measurement system. Since the official launch of the speed measurement system, its performance in monitoring the speed and friction power consumption of the stable rotation machine has been outstanding. However, there is a drawback that when the system detects abnormal speed data of the stable rotation machine, it fails to automatically trigger the program to protect the stabilizing machine. In response to this deficiency, this article elaborates on the various functions of the speed measurement system, delves into the problem of the speed measurement system being unable to automatically execute protection programs when monitoring abnormal situations in the stable rotation machine, realizes the data communication docking between the speed measurement system and the DCS system based on MODBUS/TCP protocol, and completes the corresponding configuration programming work in the DCS system. After using the improved rotating speed measurement system, once the system detects fault protection signals such as single unit out of step/group out of step, single unit damage/group damage in the stabilizing machine, these signals will be transmitted in real time to the DCS control system. The DCS system immediately issues an accident alarm and activates the protection interlock program, successfully solving the problem of the speed measurement system being unable to protect the stabilizing machine in abnormal situations, effectively preventing damage to the stable rotation machine, and improving the safety performance of the system.
Alkaline materials were used to neutralize acidic waste residue. Open and closed experimental environments were set up with different dosing ratios and pH conditions.By monitoring the changes in pH, U, and $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$ in the supernatant of the neutralization residue, and analyzing the mineral composition of the neutralization residue using XRD, the effect of CO2 on U stability during the neutralization process of acidic waste residue was studied. The results show that CO2 in the surrounding air during neutralization treatment affects the stability of pH and U in the neutralization residue. The fixation of CO2 by the neutralization residue under alkaline conditions is an acidification process. As the pH of the neutralization residue decreases, the CO2 fixed in the air transforms into $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$, which gradually accumulates and causes the already stabilized U in the neutralization residue is leached out again. The pH adjustment experiment shows that there is no significant correlation between U and pH. The pH range for U leaching is 7.68~8.41, and $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$ accumulates significantly in this range. There is a positive correlation between U and $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$, with a correlation coefficient of 0.95. The production of $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$ is a key factor affecting the stability of U in neutralization residue. When Ca(OH)2 is added excessively, secondary mineral CaCO3 will be generated in the neutralization residue. As CO2 is fixed, the pH of the neutralization residue decreases, and CaCO3 will partially dissolve and transform into $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$. In the open experimental environment, only the 2.5% Ca(OH)2 experimental group and the 2.5% Mg(OH)2 experimental group maintain extremely low U leaching levels. After neutralization treatment, the pH of the neutralization residue is low, and very little CO2 is fixed in the air. $\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}$ which affects U stabilityis hardly produced.
The casing for in-situ leaching uranium needs to take into account the anti-corrosion performance and pressure resistance. In view of the complex geological conditions of dense sandstone uranium deposits, the performance of casing made of three materials, namely unplasticized polyvinyl chloride(UPVC), carbon steel and glass fiber reinforced plastic(GFRP), had been comparatively investigated. The results show that UPVC casing has good corrosion resistance but poor pressure resistance; carbon steel casing has good pressure resistance but is easy to corrode and has high cost; GFRP casing is excellent in corrosion resistance, pressure resistance and tensile strength. In terms of cementing quality, the cementing strength of GFRP casing, carbon steel casing and UPVC casing with cement is 1.80, 2.91 and 0.32 MPa respectively, and the cementing strength of GFRP casing with cement shows obvious advantages. GFRP casing is the best choice for in-situ leaching uranium in dense sandstone uranium deposits, which can meet the requirements of anti-corrosion performance and pressure resistance, and can guarantee the quality and service life of the drilling.
During the production of nuclear fuel elements, hydrofluoric acid solutions with high concentration of uranium are generated. According to the requirements of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (Guoheanfa 〔2023〕 No. 158), hydrofluoric acid solutions with uranium concentrations below 0.2 mg/L can be released from regulatory control. To meet national regulatory requirements, this study utilized a hydrofluoric acid-resistant resin functionalized with specific groups to investigate its uranium adsorption performance in uranium-containing hydrofluoric acid under static and dynamic conditions. The resin’s resistance to hydrofluoric acid corrosion, saturated adsorption capacity, desorption efficiency, and reusability were systematically evaluated. The results show that the uranium concentration in hydrofluoric acid treated with this resin is reduced to below 0.2 mg/L, meeting the regulatory release criteria. Furthermore, the resin exhibits no significant decline in uranium adsorption capacity after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. These findings provide a foundation for subsequent large-scale engineering applications.
The domestic and international situation of digital mine was introduced. Aiming at the problem of information island, taking an in-situ leaching uranium mine in Inner Mongolia as the research object, following the digital uranium mine architecture of CNUC, the digital integrated management and control platform was designed. By analyzing the technical architecture of systems of the mine, the data interface program was researched and developed independently, which is compatible with WebService, OPC and IEC104 standards. Using the data interface program, the values in the database of OA, DCS and electric power system were got and centralized managed. By the digital integrated management and control platform, the digitalization level of in-situ leaching uranium mine was greatly improved.
A regional mining transportation system optimization model based on complex network planning was constructed to address the characteristics of dispersed mining of uranium deposits, diverse development methods, and complex transportation system networks in the region. Under the conditions of regional mining, a comprehensive planning and development transportation system was developed to enhance the efficiency, economy, and scientific effectiveness of the regional mining transportation system. By analyzing the spatial and geographical relationships of regional mines and the concept of intensive development, a system network diagram was established. Using network flow theory and Grey Wolf Algorithm, the global optimal solution for the regional mining transportation system was obtained. The effectiveness of the model was validated in the Xiangshan uranium mining area, and the optimal regional transportation route and lowest cost plan for the mine were calculated. The results indicate that the model meets the requirements of large-scale and intensive regional mining transportation systems, and has effective planning effects on transportation systems. It provides technical support for the economic and efficient operation of the transportation system in the Xiangshan uranium mining field, and can also provide reference for the intelligent transportation system planning of other uranium mining bases.
According to the national policy of developing green mining and building green mines as an important platforms and means for transforming the development mode of mining, enhancing the overall image of the mining industry, and promoting the safe and sustainable development of the mining industry, as well as the requirements of the State Security Bureau to carry out the "mechanization replaces people, automation reduces people" science and technology strengthen safety special action, the company has completed the "mechanization" transformation and has continued to carry out intelligent mine construction. Based on the pain points of safety in mining, such as high labor intensity, poor working environment, and high safety risks, the company has carried out intelligent mine construction projects, including unmanned driving of electric vehicles, remote control of loaders, remote control of crushers, and automation of ventilation and drainage. Through the transformation and upgrading of "digitalization" and "intelligentization", the company gradually achieves "minimization of personnel" or "unmanned operation" underground, improving the working environment and reducing labor intensity while further enhancing the intrinsic safety of hard rock uranium mining.
The data of mineral resources reserves is the focus of the management of mineral resources reserves, and the national survey of mineral resources is a national and basic survey of mineral resources. Based on the national survey database of mineral resources in Henan Province, it is necessary to study and put forward a method to quickly update the resource reserve data in the mineral resources reserve database to facilitate the efficient use of the mineral resources management department, which is necessary to solve many problems such as data missing, error, redundancy and low timeliness in the reserve database and to better manage the mineral resources. By designing a computer program algorithm, the resource reserve data records in the national survey database of mineral resources and the mineral resource reserve database were automatically compared according to the relevant fields, and the differences were found. According to the differences, different program codes were adopted to update the resource reserve data in the reserve database. Compared with the method of manually updating data in daily reserves management, this method can update the resources and reserves data in the mineral resources and reserves database more comprehensively, quickly, efficiently and accurately.
In-situ leaching uranium has become one of the important techniques in uranium mining and metallurgy of China after more than 40 years of experimental research and industrial application. However, the radioactive wastewater, radioactive waste gas and radioactive solid wastewater produced by long-term in-situ leaching uranium will have impact of different extent on the ecological environment around the mine, which pose adverse effect on public health and environmental safety. In order to understand the radiation environment of in-situ leaching uranium mine, taking an in-situ leaching uranium mine in Xinjiang as the investigation object, radiation environment investigation and research during production and operation period of mine were carried out on the basis of the site investigation and sample analysis. The results show that the radioactivity levels of monitoring media such as ambient air, terrestrial gamma, surface water, groundwater, soil, biological samples, and radon exhalation rate around the in-situ leaching uranium mine are basically within the radioactive background level range of Xinjiang region or the applied standard limits, besides the radiation environmental quality meet the corresponding requirements and the radiation environmental risk is controllable. In the future production and operation period of in-situ leaching mine, mining enterprises should strengthen the awareness of environmental protection, through establishing and improving environmental management and monitoring plans, formulating scientific and effective radiation protection measures, strengthening environmental monitoring and emergency management and other measures to ensure the impact of mining activities on the environment is minimized, public health and environmental safety is guaranteed and development of in-situ leaching uranium mining is further improved.
The well washing process is an important way to increase the well water volume and increase the production capacity in the in-situ leaching uranium mine, but with the continuous improvement of safety and environmental protection requirements, the traditional well washing method alone can no longer meet the needs in recent years. A local leaching uranium mine has further improved the safety and environmental protection of the well washing process and the efficiency of the well washing process by carrying out the optimization and improvement of the safety and environmental protection of the well washing process such as the parallel well washing technology of the air compressor, the improvement of the acid adding method, and the recycling technology of the well washing wastewater, so as to maximize the effect of well washing, and ensure that the safety and environmental protection risks of the well washing process of the in-situ leaching uranium mine are controlled.