Vacuum arc with a distributed cathode spot as a plasma source for plasma separation of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste

Journal Article · Thu Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X15100013· OSTI ID:22472102

Vorona, N. A.; Gavrikov, A. V.; Lizyakin, G. D.; Polishchuk, V. P.; Samoilov, I. S.; Smirnov, V. P.; Usmanov, R. A.; Yartsev, I. M. ^[1]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, Joint Institute for High Temperatures (Russian Federation)

Results from experimental studies of a vacuum arc with a distributed cathode spot on the heated cathode are presented. Such an arc can be used as a plasma source for plasma separation of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. The experiments were performed with a gadolinium cathode, the properties of which are similar to those of an uranium arc cathode. The heat flux from the plasma to the cathode (and its volt equivalent) at discharge voltages of 4-15 V and discharge currents of 44-81 A, the radial distribution of the emission intensity of gadolinium atoms and singly charged ions in the arc channel at a voltage of 4.3 V, and the plasma electron temperature behind the anode were measured. The average charge of plasma ions at arc voltages of 3.5-8 V and a discharge current of 52 A and the average rate of gadolinium evaporation in the discharge were also determined.

• OSTI ID: 22472102
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 41; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ANODES
ATOMS
CATHODES
ELECTRIC ARCS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EMISSION
GADOLINIUM
HEAT FLUX
PLASMA
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPENT FUELS
URANIUM