Consolidation of simulated nuclear metallic waste by vacuum coreless induction melting.
Vacuum coreless induction melting with bottom pouring has exceeded expectations for simplicity, reliability, and versatility when melting the zirconium and iron eutectic alloy. The melting tests have established that: the eutectic mixture of oxidized Zircaloy 4 hulls mixed with Type 316 stainless steel hulls can be melted at 41 kg/h at 40 kW with a power consumption of 1.03 kWh/kg and a melting temperature of 1260/sup 0/C; the life of a graphite crucible can be expected to be longer by a factor of 4 than was previously projected; the bottom-pour water-cooled copper freeze plug was 100% reliable; a 24-in.-tall stainless steel canister with 1/4-in.-thick walls (6-in. inside diameter) was satisfactory in every respect; an ingot formed from 4 consecutive heats poured into a stainless steel canister appeared to be approx. 99% dense after sectioning; preplaced scrap in the canister can be encapsulated with molten metal to about 99% density; large pieces of Zircaloy 4 and stainless steel scrap can be melted, but have differing melting parameters; the pouring nozzle requires further development to prevent solidified drops from forming at the hole exit after a pour. It is recommended that a large-scale cold mock-up facility be established to refine and test a full-scale vacuum coreless induction melting system. Other options might include further scaled-down experiments to test other alloys and crucible materials under different atmospheric conditions (i.e., air melting). 1 reference, 18 figures, 1 table.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6158290
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-5254; ON: DE85003666
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
MELTING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
STAINLESS STEEL-316
ZIRCALOY 4
EUTECTICS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ALLOYS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
DATA
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
TIN ALLOYS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing