An Integrated Process for Recycling of ThO 2 Based Mixed Oxide Rejected Nuclear Fuel Pellets

G. Singh, P. M. Khot, Pradeep Kumar, Chetan Baghra, R. Bhatt, P. G. Behere
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the process engineering aspects of relevance to the industrial implementation of ThO2 and (Th, U)O2 mixed oxide (MOX) pellet type fuel manufacturing. The paper in particular focuses on the recycling of thoria based fuel production scrap which is an economically important component in the fuel manufacturing process. The thoria based fuels are envisaged for Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) and other reactors important to the Indian Nuclear Power Programme. A process was developed for recycling the chemically clean, off-specification and defective sintered ThO2 and (Th, U)O2 MOX nuclear fuel pellets. ThO2 doesn’t undergo oxidation or reduction and thus, more traditional methods of recycling are impractical. The integrated process was developed by combining three basic approaches of recycling namely mechanical micronisation, air oxidation (for MOX) and microwave dissolution-denitration. A thorough investigation of the influence of several variables as heating method, UO2 content, fluoride and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) addition during microwave dissolution-denitration was recorded on the product characteristics. The suitability evaluation of the recycled powder for re-fabrication of the fuel was carried out by analyzing the particle size, BET specific surface area, phase using XRD, bulk density and impurities. The physical and chemical properties of recycled powder obtained from the sintered (Th1-y, Uy)O2 (y; 0 - 30 wt%) pellets advocate 100% utilisation for fuel re-fabrication. Recycled ThO2 by integrated process showed distinctly high sinterability compared to standard powder evaluated in terms of surface area and particle size.
ThO2基混合氧化物废弃核燃料芯块的综合回收工艺
本文介绍了一项与工业实施ThO2和(Th, U)O2混合氧化物(MOX)颗粒型燃料制造相关的工艺工程方面的研究。本文重点介绍了钍基燃料生产废料的回收利用,这是燃料生产过程中经济上重要的组成部分。钍基燃料预计将用于先进重水反应堆(AHWR)和其他对印度核电计划很重要的反应堆。开发了一种化学清洁、不规范和有缺陷的烧结ThO2和(Th, U)O2 MOX核燃料球团的回收工艺。二氧化钛不经过氧化或还原,因此,更传统的回收方法是不切实际的。综合工艺是通过结合三种基本的回收方法,即机械微粉化,空气氧化(MOX)和微波溶解-脱硝而开发的。研究了微波溶解-脱硝过程中加热方式、UO2含量、氟化物和聚乙烯醇(PVA)添加量等因素对产物特性的影响。通过粒度、BET比表面积、XRD物相、堆积密度、杂质等分析,对再生粉末进行了再制造燃料的适用性评价。(Th1-y, y)O2 (y)烧结制备的再生粉体的物理化学性能;0 - 30 wt%)颗粒提倡100%利用燃料再制造。综合工艺回收的二氧化钛与标准粉末相比,在表面积和粒度方面表现出明显的高烧结性。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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