Method of dissolving spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

Abstract A NOVEL PROCESS FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF SPENT NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTROLLING THE AMOUNT OF VOLATILE OFF-GASES EVOLVED DURING THE DISSOLUTION COMPRISES THE STEPS OF (A) PASSING SPENT NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL, IN REGULATED AMOUNTS THROUGH A DISSOLVNET SOLUTIONS, (B) CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING THE VOLATILE OFF-GASES WHICH ARE EVOLVED, (C) WITHDRAWING A PORTION OF THE SOLUTION OF SPENT NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL WHEN A PREDETERMINED MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION OF FUEL VALUES IS REACHED IN THE SOLUTION (D) ADDING A COMPENSATING VOLUME OF DISSOLVENT SOLUTION WILE STEP (C) IS BEING CARRIED OUT, (E) CONTINUOUSLY RECIRCULATING THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE SOLUTION OF SPENT NUCLEAR REACTOR FUEL TO THE DISSOLUTION STEP, (F) DISCONTINUING STEPS (C) AND (D) WHEN A PREDETERMINED MINIMUM CONCENTRATION OF FUEL VALUES IS REACHED IN THE SOLUTION, AND (G) REPEATING STEPTS (C)-(F) AS THE PREDETERMINED MIXINUM AND MININUM FUEL VALUES ARE REPEATEDLY OBTAINED IN THE SOLUTION. IN A PREFERRED MODE OF OPERATION TWO DISSOLVER SYSTEMS ARE EMPLOYED AND FUEL TO BE DISSOLVED IS FED TO ONE DISSOLVER SYSTEM WHILE THE OTHER DISSOLVER SYSTEM IS BEING WASHED, DISCHARGE AND READIED FOR ANOTHER DISSOLUTION CYCLE.

Inventors

• 👤 A Ayers

Bibliographic Details