Nuclear autoclaves

UF₆ sampling and transfer autoclaves.

Containment autoclaves that heat, sample, transfer, and sublimate UF₆ in 30B to 48Y cylinders, built to the highest safety and quality standards.

Explore the components

Why nuclear facilities choose ASC

Decades of pressure vessel and thermal processing experience

Every ASC nuclear autoclave is engineered for durability, regulatory compliance, and long-term performance in demanding nuclear processing environments.

ASME-certified pressure vessel design and manufacturing
Compliance with nuclear quality assurance programs, including NQA-1
Custom configurations for facility layouts and cylinder sizes
Engineered safety systems and containment for UF₆ handling
Robust construction for decades of reliable operation
Factory testing, installation support, and commissioning
Long-term service and technical support from ASC engineers

Sampling

UF₆ sampling autoclaves

Sampling autoclaves safely melt the UF₆ inside a cylinder so representative samples can be drawn for analytical verification. Once the UF₆ is melted, the cylinder and autoclave tilt precisely to transfer a controlled quantity into sampling bottles, with full containment.

Precision tilting for accurate, repeatable sampling
Accepts 30B, 30C, and 48-series cylinders
Uniform heating for a controlled phase change
Heating, sampling, resolidification, and containment in one system
Integrated safety interlocks and monitoring

An ASC UF₆ autoclave with its door open and control panel on the vessel

Transfer

UF₆ transfer autoclaves

Transfer autoclaves heat solid UF₆ until it vaporizes, so it can be moved safely from storage cylinders into enrichment or downstream systems, with the consistent thermal environment efficient sublimation requires.

Precise temperature and pressure control
Compatible with 30B, 48F, and 48Y cylinders
Engineered containment to prevent UF₆ release
Integrated instrumentation and process monitoring
Designed to integrate with enrichment and downstream systems

An ASC UF₆ autoclave on its skid beside its control cabinets

Sublimation

Solid to gas, without melting

A UF₆ autoclave can also sublimate the UF₆ in a cylinder. Below its triple point, about 64 °C (147 °F) and 1.5 atm, uranium hexafluoride passes straight from solid to gas. Heating the cylinder while vapor is drawn off at low pressure turns the solid directly to gas, with no liquid UF₆ in the cylinder.

The same vessel then serves for melting and sampling, vapor transfer, and sublimation, with full containment for each.

Lower cylinder pressure than liquid transfer
Controlled heating rate and cylinder temperature
Containment and interlocks throughout

Sublimation hot boxes

An ASC UF₆ autoclave tilted forward on its skid, with its chiller and control cabinets

Applications

Across the nuclear fuel cycle

Heating UF₆ cylinders before enrichment processing
Vapor transfer of UF₆ from storage cylinders to process systems
Sublimating UF₆ straight from solid to gas, without melting
Sampling to verify enrichment levels and material quality
Controlled melting and resolidification of UF₆ cylinders
Laboratory sampling and material verification

FAQ

Nuclear autoclave questions

What is a UF₆ sampling autoclave?

A UF₆ sampling autoclave melts the uranium hexafluoride inside a cylinder so a representative sample can be drawn for analysis of enrichment and product quality. The cylinder and autoclave tilt to transfer a controlled quantity into sampling bottles while maintaining full containment.

What is a UF₆ transfer autoclave?

A transfer autoclave heats solid UF₆ until it vaporizes, so the material can move safely from a storage cylinder into enrichment or downstream processing systems.

Can a UF₆ autoclave sublimate UF₆ without melting it?

Yes. With the cylinder held below UF₆'s triple point, about 64 °C and 1.5 atm, heated solid UF₆ turns directly to gas. The same autoclave that melts UF₆ for sampling can feed vapor this way, with the cylinder at low pressure and fully contained.

Which UF₆ cylinders can ASC autoclaves accept?

ASC designs for common industry cylinders, including 30B, 30C, 48F, 48Y, and other 48-series cylinders, and configures each system for the facility's cylinder sizes and layout.