Experimental observations to the electrical field for electrorefining of spent nuclear fuel in the Mark-IV electrorefiner.

Conference · Wed May 13 04:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:10802

Li, S X

Experimental results from the pilot scale electrorefiner (Mark-IV ER) treating spent nuclear fuel are reported in this article. The electrorefining processes were carried out in a LiCl-KCl-UCl{sub 3} electrolyte. It has been noted that spool of molten cadmium below the electrolyte plays an important role in the electrorefining operations. In addition, formations of electrical shorting path between anode baskets and the electrorefiner vessel were observed, which lessened the uranium dissolution process from anode baskets, however appeared to improve the morphology of cathode deposit. The FIDAP simulation code was used to calculate the electrical potential field distributions and the potential gradient near the cathode. The effect of the electrical shorting between anode baskets and electrorefiner vessel on the morphology of cathode products is discussed.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10802
• Report Number(s): ANL/TD/CP-96452
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ANODES
CADMIUM
CATHODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROREFINING
LIQUID METALS
MOLTEN SALTS
MORPHOLOGY
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PILOT PLANTS
SPENT FUELS
URANIUM