Numerical simulations in the development of the French radioactive waste vitrification processes using induction furnace

E. Sauvage (1) , P. Brun (1) , A. Bonnetier (1) , G. Barbarossa (1) , R. Didierlaurent (1)

1 CEA-DES (ex-DEN) - CEA-Direction des Energies (ex-Direction de l'Energie Nucléaire)

For many years, the CEA (Commissariat a l'energie Atomique et aux energies Alternatives) Marcoule France has developed various processes dedicated to radioactive waste confinement, especially vitrification. For 15 years now, induction heating, fluid mechanics and thermal simulations take part of all new RetD projects. The contribution to such simulations is, first, the enhancement of the working knowledge of existing processes. Those data are very useful to define optimisation choices. Second, the simulations are used at the conception stage of new processes as a tool allowing wide ranges parametric tests. This has been extensively used in the design of the cold crucible inductive melter (CCIM) commissioned in 2010 at AREVA La Hague plant. Whatever the purpose, potential benefits of reliability, output capacity and life time can be obtained.

Domaines: Physique Nucléaire Expérimentale [nucl-ex]; Physique Nucléaire Théorique [nucl-th]

E. Sauvage, P. Brun, A. Bonnetier, G. Barbarossa, R. Didierlaurent. Numerical simulations in the development of the French radioactive waste vitrification processes using induction furnace. Joint ICTP-IAEA Workshop on Fundamentals of Vitrification and Vitreous Materials for Nuclear Waste Immobilization, ICTP; IAEA, Oct 2017, Trieste, Italy. ⟨cea-02338864⟩