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Division Spotlight
Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Oklo completes end-to-end demonstration of advanced fuel recycling
Oklo Inc. has announced that it has completed the first end-to-end demonstration of its advanced fuel recycling process as part of an ongoing $5 million project in collaboration with Argonne and Idaho National Laboratories. Oklo’s goal: scaling up its fuel recycling capabilities to deploy a commercial-scale recycling facility that would increase advanced reactor fuel supplies and enhance fuel cost effectiveness for its planned sodium fast reactors.
James A. Ritter, John R. Zamecnik, Chia-Lin W. Hsu
Nuclear Technology | Volume 104 | Number 3 | December 1993 | Pages 330-342
Technical Paper | Special Issue on Waste Management / Radioactive Waste Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT93-A34894
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Integrated Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) Melter System (IDMS), operated by the Savannah River Technology Center, is a one-fifth scale pilot facility used in support of the startup and operation of the U.S. Department of Energy’s DWPF. Seven IDMS runs examined the effect of noble metals in simulated high-level radioactive waste (HLW) and important process variables on the generation of H2 during the preparation of melter feed with formic acid. The results showed that due to the noble metals in actual HLW, the lower flammable limit of H2 in air (4 vol%) could be exceeded in D WPF vessels, depending on such factors as off gas generation and air inleakage. A small but detectable quantity of H2 was generated even in the absence of noble metals. The results also verified that the most important process variable that affected the H2 generation rate was the amount of formic acid added to the system. Forced air purge systems with H2 monitoring instruments were installed in the DWPF to control the concentration of H2 in the offgas by fuel dilution during melter feed preparation. The design-basis forced air purge flow rate required in the DWPF during radioactive operations was based on the peak H2 generation rate observed during an IDMS run operated with 25% excess formic acid. This amount of excess formic acid was deemed a credible deviation from nominal operating conditions; therefore, a margin of safety was included in the design basis.