Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) (방사성폐기물학회지)

Korean Radioactive Waste Society (한국방사성폐기물학회)
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Recovery of Residual LiCl-KCl Eutectic Salts in Radioactive Rare Earth Precipitates

방사성 희토류 침전물내 잔류하는 LiCl-KCl 공융염의 회수

  • Received : 2010.06.11
  • Accepted : 2010.09.09
  • Published : 2010.12.31
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Abstract

For the pyrochemical process of spent nuclear fuels, recovery of LiCl-KCl eutectic salts is needed to reduce radioactive waste volume and to recycle resource materials. This paper is about recovery of residual LiCl-KCl eutectic salts in radioactive rare earth precipitates (rare earth oxychlorides or oxides) by using a vacuum distillation process. In the vacuum distillation test apparatus, the salts in the rare earth precipitates were vaporized and were separated effectively. The separated salts were deposited in three positions of the vacuum distillation test apparatus or were collected in the filter and it is difficult to recover them. To resolve the problem, a vacuum distillation and condensation system, which is subjected to the force of a temperature gradient at a reduced pressure, was developed. In a preliminary test of the vacuum distillation/condensation recovery system, it was confirmed that it was possible to condense the vaporized salts only in the salt collector and to recover the condensed salts from the salt collector easily.

사용후핵연료 건식처리공정(pyrochemical process)에서 LiCl-KCl 공융염의 회수는 방사성폐기물 부피감량과 원료물질 회수를 위해 반드시 필요하다. 본 논문은 진공증류공정을 이용하여 희토류 침전물(희토류 산염화물 또는 산화물)내 잔류하는 LiCl-KCl 공융염 회수에 관한 것이다. 진공증류시험장치에서 희토류 침전물내 공융염은 효과적으로 휘발 및 분리되었다. 분리된 공융염은 감압증류시험장내 세 지점에서 침적되거나 필터에 포집되으며, 침적되거나 포집된 공융염을 회수하는 것은 쉽지 않았다. 이 문제점을 해결하기 위해 감압조건에서 온도구배를 이용하여 공융염 거동을 제어할 수 있는 공융염 진공증류/응축회수 시스템을 개발하였으며, 이 장치를 이용하여 휘발된 공융염을 회수용기에서만 응축시켜 쉽게 회수할 수 있음을 확인하였다.

Keywords

References

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