Advanced concepts under development in the United States Breeder-Fuel-Reprocessing Program

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5823419

Burch, W D

Advanced concepts and techniques for the fuel reprocessing step are being developed. These concepts have been incorporated into the conceptual design of a Hot Experimental Facility (HEF), which is intended to demonstrate reprocessing of the first US breeder demonstration reactor. To achieve system reliability and reduce occupational doses, a concept of totally remote operation and maintenance (termed Remotex) has been conceived and is being developed. In this concept, maintenance and mechanical operations are accomplished with remotely operated bilateral force-reflecting electronic master/slave manipulators. Suitable transport systems, coupled with remote closed-circuit television viewing, are provided to extend man's capabilities into the hostile cell environment. New equipment concepts are being developed for the fuel dismantling and shearing step, a high-temperature dry process termed voloxidation to remove tritium, a continuous rotary dissolver, and for an improved centrifugal solvent contractor. Techniques have been developed, using engineering-scale equipment with active tracers for retention of /sup 85/Kr, radioiodine, /sup 14/C, and /sup 3/H.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5823419
• Report Number(s): CONF-811154-1; ON: DE82003965
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
BREEDER REACTORS
CONTROL
DESIGN
DISSOLVERS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
EXTRACTION APPARATUSES
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL ASSEMBLY DISMANTLING
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
HEAD END PROCESSES
HEF
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
REACTORS
REMOTE CONTROL
SAMPLERS
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
VOLOXIDATION PROCESS