Irradiated FA Structural Materials Conditioning by Induction-Slag Remelting in a Cold Crucible

Abstract

A method of managing one type of radwaste forming during BREST-300 reactor operation – the structural materials of FA – is described. In the module developed for reprocessing, the fissile materials losses together with all forms of waste must not exceed 0.1% of the initial amount, in connection with which the maximum admissible content of facade materials and structural materials sent into long-term storage must not exceed 0.001% by weight. Only the plutonium content may reach 0.015% by weight, which makes it necessary to perform additional purification and return fissile materials into the nuclear fuel cycle. A method of reprocessing the structural materials of irradiated fuel elements is proposed on the basis of induction-slag remelting in a cold crucible, which makes it possible to conduct purification to the desired index value. The operating regime of the melting unit and the qualitative composition of the employed flux that make it possible to reach the required level of purification by removal of fissile materials are described.