SPENT FUEL REPROCESSING METHOD OF FUEL ASSEMBLIES OF NUCLEAR REACTOR Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC G21C19/44 

FIELD: nuclear equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of processing spent fuel of fuel assemblies of a nuclear reactor. Method involves loading of spent nuclear fuel and reducing material into crucibles after holding in storage station together with metal-reducer, filling of crucibles with inert gas and closing them with tight covers. Further, fuel is heated by high-frequency heating in the medium of inert gas, its reduction to metal state and its melting, holding in molten state in crucible in inert gas medium, melt layering into several parts, melt cooling and its freezing, ingots extraction from crucibles and their cutting into at least three parts: containing uranium, transuranium and light elements Then separated from heat-generating elements assemblies, metal end parts, crucibles with fuel assemblies loaded into them are placed into containers installed in dry storage container of spent nuclear fuel, connected to cooling system with inert gas, closing covers of containers and container, heating spent fuel assemblies in crucibles is heated up due to residual heat release of nuclear fuel in assemblies, further melting of fuel assemblies is carried out and further their maintenance in molten state in crucible at temperature higher than fusion temperature of uranium metal. After holding for several days at 1,450–1,500 °C performs several cycles of cooling – fuel heating.

EFFECT: reduced power consumption during processing of nuclear fuel in spent fuel assemblies of nuclear reactor.

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