METHOD OF REPROCESSING OF SOLID RADIOACTIVE AND TOXIC WASTE Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: processing of solid radioactive and toxic waste, in particular, burning of radioactive waste in an induction furnace and fixation of combustion products in glass matrices. SUBSTANCE: the method consists in loading of glass-forming flux producing an eutetic with the ash of solid radioactive waste in the induction furnace crucible, and the flux is melted down. The melt occupies 30 to 70% of the crucible volume. Oxygen-containing gas in the form of gas flows is supplied to the above-melt zone so that the gas flow guides would intersect the crucible axis in one point on the section limited from the bottom by the melt surface, and from the top - by the level located at a distance of not more than 0.9H, where H - distance between the melt surface and the level of position of the inductor upper turn. Projections of the angles formed by the guides of the nearest gas flows onto the horizontal plane are the same, and the number of gas flows is at least two. After the supply of gas flows a plasma flame is initiated in the point of their intersection. Then the waste is fed to the crucible, burnt up, the formed ash is mixed with the melt, and the obtained melt is cooled down. Gas flows are mainly fed in such a way that they would intersect on the melt surface, and for initiation of the plasma flame use is made of an electric discharge. EFFECT: reduced degree of volatilization of radionuclides, saved power due to the use of the inductor magnetic field for maintaining the plasma flame. 3 cl, 4 dwg