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Noble-metal testing results for the West Valley vitrification system

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)
OSTI ID:5235510
At the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP), the slurry-fed ceramic melter (SFCM) has been in test operation since December 1984 to vitrify simulated waste slurries. Over 4 yr, a moderate range of glass formulations, some containing RuO{sub 2}, have been processed. Since these noble-metal oxides not only have a limited solubility in the melt, and are also electrically conductive, their accumulation in large amounts on the floor of the SFCM poses a potential electrical hazard to the joule-heated SFCM. The design of the WVDP melter cavity and electrode configuration is specifically intended to allow modest noble-metal accumulation without compromise to melter life or performance. In this study, an attempt has been made to estimate the amount of RuO{sub 2} that has accumulated on the floor of the SFCM since initiation of the WVDP vitrification test program. The total amount of RuO{sub 2} that has been processed in the SFCM to date is shown. This preliminary study indicates that the West Valley SFCM displays a good capability for sweeping insoluble noble metals through and for tolerating the remaining fraction on the floor without compromising melter life or performance over the course of the WVDP radioactive vitrification campaign.
OSTI ID:
5235510
Report Number(s):
CONF-890604--
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Journal Volume: 59
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English