Purex process operation and performance: 1970 thoria campaign
The Hanford Purex Plant has demonstrated suitability for reprocessing irradiated thoria (ThO/sub 2/) target elements on a campaign basis. A 1965 process test and major production campaigns conducted in 1966 and 1970 recovered nitrate solution form products totaling approximately 565 tons of thorium and 820 kilograms of /sup 233/U. The overall recoveries for the 1970 campaign based on reactor input data were 94.9 percent for thorium and 95.2 percent for uranium. The primary function of the Hanford Purex Plant is reprocessing of irradiated uranium fuel elements to separate and purify uranium, plutonium and neptunium. Converting the plant to thoria reprocessing required major process development work and equipment modifications. The operation and performance of the Plant during the 1970 thoria reprocessing campaign is discussed in this report. The discussion includes background information on the process and equipment, problems encountered, and changes recommended for future campaigns.
- Research Organization:
- Atomics International Div., Richland, Wash. (USA). Rockwell Hanford Operations
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-77-C-06-1030
- OSTI ID:
- 5150776
- Report Number(s):
- RHO-SA-37; CONF-780223-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
NITRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NUCLEAR FUELS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PUREX PROCESS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
THORIUM NITRATES
THORIUM OXIDES