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Vitrocerus: An alternative for processing MTR spent fuel from research reactors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2012

P.A Arboleda ,
D.S Rodríguez  and
M.O Prado
P.A Arboleda
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Avda. Rivadavia 1917, CP 1033 AAJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina Instituto Balseiro. U de Cuyo. Av E Bustillo 9500, S.C de Bariloche. Argentina
D.S Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA). Centro Atómico Bariloche (CAB) - Av.E.Bustillo 9500 - (8400) - S. C. de Bariloche - (RN). Argentina Instituto Balseiro. U de Cuyo. Av E Bustillo 9500, S.C de Bariloche. Argentina
M.O Prado
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Avda. Rivadavia 1917, CP 1033 AAJ, Buenos Aires, Argentina Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA). Centro Atómico Bariloche (CAB) - Av.E.Bustillo 9500 - (8400) - S. C. de Bariloche - (RN). Argentina Instituto Balseiro. U de Cuyo. Av E Bustillo 9500, S.C de Bariloche. Argentina
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Abstract

Research reactors spent fuels disposal is a problematic area that conduces to the quest of feasible solutions for ensure safe destination of the spent fuels. In this work, a new method for processing spent fuel from MTR reactors is presenting. The main objective of this process, is the immobilization of principal radioactive elements that are present in the spent fuel, in order to achieve a suitable material which could be temporally stored safely. The Vitrocerus method involves ordinary physical procedures performed in a hot cell. It differs from conventional vitrification because there is a reduction in volume of glass material added.

The process propose the ceramization of a mixture of spent fuel plates (wich were milled and calcined previously) with natural uranium oxide (U3O8) to obtain the desired isotopic dilution (to low the U235 enrichment). At the same time, a small fraction of VG98/12 glass [1] was added to enhance low temperature sintering. The treatment and conditioning tasks proposed in Vitrocerus were tested on MTR fuel miniplates that simulate a real U3Si2 dispersed in Al fuel, which were successfully transformed into ceramic sintered pellets [2,3] with low enrichment, structural integrity, outstanding mechanical properties and water corrosion resistance. Eventually these pellets could be stored safely in an interim dry storage facility.

Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1475: Symposium NW – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXV , 2012 , imrc11-1475-nw35-p07
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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