METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: nuclear engineering; recovery of nuclear fuel, fluorination, and chlorination. SUBSTANCE: method includes recovery of spent nuclear fuel by chemical means. Used as source reagents are chemically active gases. Spent nuclear fuel such as fuel assemblies to be recovered are shifted towards each other inside auxiliary reactor along common longitudinal axis until process clearance is formed between butt- end surfaces of fuel assemblies. Electric arcing is set up in these clearances to initiate process reactions. Laser radiation is used for additional initiation of such reactors and simultaneous recovery of any other radioactive materials and wastes including shapeless ones, in common auxiliary reactor. Device for recovering spent nuclear fuel has external shielding shell and process sections, as well as system for feeding initial chemical agents and discharging materials produced. Pressurized shell of auxiliary reactor is provided with two axially disposed opposing process circuits for controlled supply of fuel assemblies to be recovered in opposite direction. Each process circuit incorporates current supply, cooling, and fuel-assembly butt-welding sections, and sluice system with transport mechanisms. Reactor shell is provided with laser beam input units incorporating provision for their scanning. Bottom part of auxiliary reactor shell is provided with container inlet unit disposed under main process area. These containers are filled with any radioactive materials and wastes to be recovered which are admitted through additional vertical-type sluice system specially mounted for the purpose. EFFECT: enhanced environmental friendliness, efficiency, and nuclear safety of radioactive wastes recovery process. 10 cl, 5 dwg