DISSOLUTION OF IRRADIATED CONSOLIDATED EDISON POWER-REACTOR FUEL BY THE SULFEX AND DAREX PROCESSES

Technical Report · Thu Mar 10 04:00:00 EST 1960

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4149167· OSTI ID:4149167

Ewing, R. A.; Brugger, H. B.; Sunderman, D. N.

Losses of fertile and fissile materials during chemical decladding of irradiated prototype Consolidated Edison power-reactor fuel pins by the Sulfex and Darex processes were determined, on a laboratory scale, in all-glass apparatus. For air-fired low-density (-85 per cent of theoretical) fuel cores, minimum losses of uranium, thorium, and plutonium were in the 0.1 to 0.2 per cent range, by either process. These losses increased if the dejacketed cores were allowed to remain in contact with the cladding solution. No selectivity of dissolution of core components was apparent. Comparable losses were obtained with similar unirradiated fuel pins, irradiated core pellets showed a tendency to shatter. When shattered core pellets were present, losses to the cladding solution were excessive. Losses of from 0.5 to 4.5 per cent were observed, depending on the extent of core fragmentation and the time of contact with the cladding solution. No correlation between burnup and extent of shattering was discernible. Core dissolution times were not lengthened by irradiation to the 175 to 300-Mwd/t core level. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-92
• NSA Number: NSA-14-011679
• OSTI ID: 4149167
• Report Number(s): BMI-1427
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BURNUP
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COATING
DAREX PROCESS
DECONTAMINATION
ETHERS
FERTILE MATERIALS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUELS
JACKETS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LOSSES
PELLETS
PLUTONIUM
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR CORE
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
SULFEX PROCESS
THORIUM
URANIUM