Control of high level radioactive waste-glass melters
Abstract
Slurry Fed Melters (SFM) are being developed in the United States, Europe and Japan for the conversion of high-level radioactive waste to borosilicate glass for permanent disposal. The high transition metal, noble metal, nitrate, organic, and sulfate contents of these wastes lead to unique melter redox control requirements. Pilot waste-glass melter operations have indicated the possibility of nickel sulfide or noble-metal fission-product accumulation on melter floors, which can lead to distortion of electric heating patterns, and decrease melter life. Sulfide formation is prevented by control of the redox chemistry of the melter feed. The redox state of waste-glass melters is determined by balance between the reducing potential of organic compounds in the feed, and the oxidizing potential of gases above the melt, and nitrates and polyvalent elements in the waste. Semiquantitative models predicting limitations of organic content have been developed based on crucible testing. Computerized thermodynamic computations are being developed to predict the sequence and products of redox reactions and is assessing process variations. Continuous melter test results have been compared to improved computer staged-thermodynamic-models of redox behavior. Feed chemistry control to prevent sulfide and moderate noble metal accumulations are discussed. 17 refs., 3 figs.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5789801
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-MS-91-101; CONF-9104256-11-Pt.5
ON: DE92009533
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Symposium on nuclear waste management, Cincinnati, OH (United States), 28 Apr - 2 May 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; VITRIFICATION; MELTING; THERMODYNAMIC MODEL; REDOX REACTIONS; BOROSILICATE GLASS; COMPUTER CALCULATIONS; EVAPORATORS; NICKEL SULFIDES; SLURRIES; CHALCOGENIDES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DISPERSIONS; GLASS; MATERIALS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; MIXTURES; NICKEL COMPOUNDS; PARTICLE MODELS; PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; STATISTICAL MODELS; SULFIDES; SULFUR COMPOUNDS; SUSPENSIONS; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; WASTES; 052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing; 400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
Citation Formats
Bickford, D F, and Choi, A S. Control of high level radioactive waste-glass melters. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Bickford, D F, & Choi, A S. Control of high level radioactive waste-glass melters. United States.
Bickford, D F, and Choi, A S. 1991.
"Control of high level radioactive waste-glass melters". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5789801.
@article{osti_5789801,
title = {Control of high level radioactive waste-glass melters},
author = {Bickford, D F and Choi, A S},
abstractNote = {Slurry Fed Melters (SFM) are being developed in the United States, Europe and Japan for the conversion of high-level radioactive waste to borosilicate glass for permanent disposal. The high transition metal, noble metal, nitrate, organic, and sulfate contents of these wastes lead to unique melter redox control requirements. Pilot waste-glass melter operations have indicated the possibility of nickel sulfide or noble-metal fission-product accumulation on melter floors, which can lead to distortion of electric heating patterns, and decrease melter life. Sulfide formation is prevented by control of the redox chemistry of the melter feed. The redox state of waste-glass melters is determined by balance between the reducing potential of organic compounds in the feed, and the oxidizing potential of gases above the melt, and nitrates and polyvalent elements in the waste. Semiquantitative models predicting limitations of organic content have been developed based on crucible testing. Computerized thermodynamic computations are being developed to predict the sequence and products of redox reactions and is assessing process variations. Continuous melter test results have been compared to improved computer staged-thermodynamic-models of redox behavior. Feed chemistry control to prevent sulfide and moderate noble metal accumulations are discussed. 17 refs., 3 figs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5789801},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}