Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corp. (PNC) has developed the co-conversion process of Pu-U nitrate solution to the mixed oxide powder using the microwave heating direct denitration method and has designed the co-conversion facility at Tokai Works, PNC.
The capacity of this facility is 10kg(Pu+U)/d and the facility is consisted of the following processes: Pu & U receiving, Conversion, Powder treatment, Powder storage, Waste treatment and Analytical laboratory, etc.
To keep personnel exposure as low as practical, main process equipment is designed to be remotely controlled and new type of glove box with shielding materials (lead and polyethylene containing boron) is developed. And other safety consideration, e.g. criticality safety, ventilation system, safeguard for nuclear materials, are taken into account to the facility design.
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