Filterability device, designed for high radioactive product studied in glove box
Abstract
In the Generation IV reactor framework, the fuel reprocessing involves a solid / liquid separation step to recover minor and major actinides solid compounds before oxide conversion at high temperature. Here, the industrial separator choice is based on technical aspect as criticality and reliability. But, it must also takes into account the actinides filterability behavior to obtain a good solid dewatering. This last performance is a mix between the more efficient separator device and the slurry filterability. Previous studies showed the interest of using a small filter cartridge with 1cm inner diameter with a specific laboratory filterability test cell. This significant reduction in the size of this experimental device does not alter the consistency of filtration data. This is an advantage for investigating toxic and hazardous products such as actinides precipitates. A modification of the lab filterability test was undertaken to study plutonium precipitate in a glove box of Atalante nuclear facility, at the CEA Marcoule. This specific design allows filterability test from 1 to 6 bar. It gives compressibility results on high radioactive and harmful products. This is the very first filterability results obtained on plutonium oxalate product. It will give keys on the choice of future solid/liquid separator equipment for Gen. IV reprocessing plant.