Nuclear Waste Management using Electrometallurgical Technology

The NE system engineering activities involve the conceptual design, through the manufacturing and qualification testing of the Mk-IV and Mk-V electrorefiner and the cathode processor. These first-of-a-kind large scale electrometallurgical process equipment have been installed in the Fuel Conditioning Facility at Idaho National Laboratory and have been operating since 1995.
The prototype cathode was designed, built and installed in Building 308 where experiments are conducted.

A prototype cathode processor, essentially identical to the unit located in the hot cell at Idaho National Laboratory, was built and installed in Building 308 at Argonne. This unit is used for tests which explore different crucibles, crucible coatings, and processing methods. The prototype is well-suited for this task because it is easier to modify than the unit at Idaho National Laboratory and is not constrained by the need to continually process electrorefiner product.

For more information see also:

• Systems and Components Development Expertise
  Division engineers and scientists have developed systems and components from the conceptual design stage through manufacture and qualification testing.
• System Engineering Design
  NE personnel produced electrometallurgical process equipment for Idaho National Laboratory and Argonne.

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Last Modified: Tue, January 25, 2011 4:28 PM