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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Furnace System Development for the Plutonium Immobilization Program

Conference ·
OSTI ID:783022
A furnace system is being developed to meet the requirements for disposition of approximately 13 metric tons of excess weapons useable plutonium. The proposed immobilization form is a titanate based ceramic consisting primarily of a pyrochlore phase. Actinides (or surrogates) are mixed with the ceramic precursors, cold-pressed, and then densified via a reactive sintering process. A number of items must be considered to specify the design, operation and maintenance of a furnace system for the glovebox environment. Furthermore, throughput requirements drive certain design features and dictate the number of furnaces required for the immobilization plant. A test program is ongoing to evaluate these design considerations resulting in the specification of a furnace system for plant operations.
Research Organization:
Savannah River Site (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-96SR18500
OSTI ID:
783022
Report Number(s):
WSRC-MS-2001-00008
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English