METHOD AND FURNACE FOR PROCESSING RADIOACTIVE METAL WASTES Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: recovery of radioactive metal and liquid wastes. SUBSTANCE: metal wastes are melted in the environment of refined slag and dipped in melt. Method also involves discharge and cleaning of exit gases. Melt is blown down in furnace to form gas lift and downcoming flows of molten slag. Wastes are charged to downcoming flow of melt. Wastes located on bottom are melted under bed of flow of slag reheated in gas-lift flow and intensively circulating above it. Gas accumulated in charging zone is evacuated separately from other exit gases of process. Liquid radioactive wastes are admitted to furnace through draft units. Metal waste processing furnace has working chamber, charging facility, air draft unit, and gas outlets. Working chamber is divided by partitions into melting chamber, gas-lift chamber with draft unit, and gas-separating chamber with gas outlet all intercommunicating on top and at bottom because partitions do not reach crown nor bottom of working chamber. Charging facility is, essentially, sluice chamber. Gas-lift chamber has guide barrier on its bottom, near partition that separates melting and gas-lift chambers, below it. Melting chamber is provided with individual gas outlet. Partition between melting and gas-lift chambers is provided with drain lip. Crown partition located above it forms overflow port between them. Volume ratios of melting and gas-lift chambers is maintained within 0.25-0.8. EFFECT: improved efficiency and productivity, reduced number of process operations, reduced power requirement and maintenance charges. 7 cl, 1 dwg