Commissioning and Cold Test Operation of the German HLLW Vitrification Plant VEK
- Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany)
- Wiederaufarbeitungsanlage Karlsruhe, Ruckbau- und Entsorgungs-GmbH, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen (Germany)
In 2007 the German High Level Liquid Waste (HLLW) vitrification plant VEK (Verglasungseinrichtung Karlsruhe) located at the site of Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK) will be put into radioactive operation. The purpose of VEK is to immobilize in borosilicate glass approximately 8.10{sup 17} Bq of radioactivity contained in about 60 m{sup 3} of HLLW. The process technique used is based on the liquid fed ceramic-lined electric waste glass melter (LFCM) designed for processing of highly noble metals (Ru, Rh, Pd) containing HLLW. By mid of 2006 the melter has been heated up to idling temperature of about 950 deg. C. All major systems of the plant have been tested in 2005/2006. The next steps in the commissioning of the facility before hot operation include the cold test operation of the entire plant while vitrifying about 15 m{sup 3} of HLLW simulant. The paper presents a short description of the VEK vitrification technology, steps of functional testing of process equipment, preparation and performance the cold test operation and an outlook for the forthcoming hot operation of the facility. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21290815
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US--09-WM-07206
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CERAMIC MELTERS
CERAMICS
COMMISSIONING
FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM KARLSRUHE
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
PALLADIUM
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVITY
RHODIUM
RUTHENIUM
VITRIFICATION
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS