Pyroprocessing of IFR Metal Fuel
Conference
·
OSTI ID:141158
- Argonne National Laboratory, IL (United States)
The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) fuel cycle features the use of an innovative reprocessing method, known as {open_quotes}pyroprocessing{close_quotes} featuring fused-salt electrofining of the spent fuel. Electrofining of IFR spent fuel involves uranium recovery by electro-transport to a solid steel cathode. The thermodynamics of the system preclude plutonium recovery in the same way, so a liquid cadmium cathode located in the electrolyte salt phase is utilized. The deposition of Pu, Am, Np, and Cm takes place at the liquid cadmium cathode in the form of cadmium intermetallic compounds (e.g, PuCd{sub 6}), and uranium deposits as the pure metal when cadmium saturation is reached. A small amount of rare earth fission products deposit together with the heavy metals at both the solid and liquid cadmium cathodes, providing a significant degree of self-protection. A full scope demonstration of the IFR fuel cycle will begin in 1993, using fuel irradiated in EBR-II.
- OSTI ID:
- 141158
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930304--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
IFR fuel cycle--pyroprocess development
IFR fuel cycle--pyroprocess development
Development of IFR pyroprocessing technology
Conference
·
Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1991
·
OSTI ID:6883526
IFR fuel cycle--pyroprocess development
Conference
·
Sat Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1992
·
OSTI ID:10107638
Development of IFR pyroprocessing technology
Conference
·
Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993
·
OSTI ID:10185588