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Design and Commissioning of a Continuous Transferred ARC Plasma Melter for the Vitrification of Nuclear Waste

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

R. J. Munz  and
G. Q. Chen
R. J. Munz
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2A7
G. Q. Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2A7
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Abstract

A 40-kW transferred arc plasma melter has been designed and constructed to test the potential of this type of system for the vitrification of high level nuclear waste. Present technology relies on joule or induction heaters which are limited in operating temperature and are characterized by large liquid holdup and long residence times. The use of a plasma melter will allow the production of higher melting glasses and glass ceramics which are more durable and leach resistant in underground storage. The use of a plasma greatly decreases residence times in the heater and may even reduce the loss of volatiles by control of the melting atmosphere and continuous removal of the product as a solid ingot. Standard borosilicate glass has been melted with continuous withdrawal of product in a series of commissioning runs.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 98: Symposium K – Plasma Processing and Synthesis of Materials II , 1987 , 417
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1987

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References

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