METHOD OF PROCESSING IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC G21F9/30 

FIELD: nuclear energy.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to nuclear power engineering, particularly to processing of irradiated nuclear fuel. Method of processing spent nuclear fuel includes heat treatment by heating fragments of spent nuclear fuel in gas-air mixture containing oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour, with carrying out in two stages with constant or periodic mechanical activation of reaction mixture. Process is carried out by sintering spent nuclear fuel with an alkali metal carbonate alternation of these two stages. One of steps is performed at 400-500 °C, and other at a temperature of 600-800 °C in reaction chamber and heat treatment is performed in a mixture with carbonates of alkali metals.

EFFECT: invention increases technological process stability and eliminates limitations on its implementation.

8 cl, 5 ex