SULFEX PROCESS: ENGINEERING SCALE SEMICONTINUOUS DECLADDING OF UNIRRADIATE STAINLESS STEEL-CLAD UO$sub 2$ AND UO$sub 2$-ThO$sub 2$
An engineering-scale demonstration of the Sulfex (4 to 6 M H/sub 2/SO/ sub 4/) process indicated that semicontinuous decladding of unirradiated stainless steel-clad UO/sub 2/-ThO/sub 2/ fuels is feasible. In a long cylindrical dissolver. 4-in. ID by 19-ft high, solution bumping or foaming did not cause serious operational problems. For decladding of prototype Consolidated Edison UO/sub 2/-ThO/sub 2/ fuel assemblies. 2.8 to 4.0 hr was required. Soluble thorium losses to the clad solution varied from 0.022% in the absence of a heel to 0.25% in the presence of a heel. Soluble uranium losses were fairly constant, approximately 0.02%. Clarification of Sulfex clad solutions by gravity sedimentation and centrifugation produced a solid waste equivalent to 1.3 to 2.7% of the weight of the stainless steel dissolved in 4 M H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. Mean particle size ranged from 3 to 7 mu . Complete dissolution of waste solids by common aqueous reagents was not possible. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-015658
- OSTI ID:
- 4034521
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL-3072
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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