Experimental observations on the role of the cadmium pool in Mark-IV ER
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) has developed and demonstrated an electrometallurgical process for the Department of Energy (DOE) to treat sodium bonded spent nuclear fuel. One of the key steps in the demonstration was electrorefining the spent fuel in a molten LiCl-KCl-UCl{sub 3}/liquid cadmium system using a pilot scale electrorefiner (Mark-IV ER). This article summarizes experimental observations and engineering aspects for the roles of the liquid cadmium during electrorefining spent fuel in the Mark-IV ER. It was found that the liquid cadmium pool acted as an intermediate electrode during the electrorefining process. The cadmium level was gradually decreased due to its high vapor pressure and vaporization rate at the ER operational temperature. The low cadmium level caused the anode assembly to electrically short with the ER vessel hardware, which resulted in the difficulties to determine the endpoint of uranium dissolution from the anode baskets and reducing the current efficiency. A reflux cadmium vapor trap was installed and has successfully prevented the cadmium level from decreasing.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 752904
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/NT/CP-101394; TRN: US0003129
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ANS 4th Topical Meeting - DOE Spent Nuclear Fuel and Fissile Material Management, San Diego, CA (US), 06/04/2000--06/08/2000; Other Information: PBD: 20 Mar 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Experimental observations on electrorefining spent nuclear fuel in molten LiCl-KCl/liquid cadmium system.
Experimental observations to the electrical field for electrorefining of spent nuclear fuel in the Mark-IV electrorefiner.