Investigation of Pneumatic-Pulse Removal of Insoluble Fuel-Element Cladding Simulators from RKP-IPT Dissolution Apparatus with a Two-Channel Transport System

The design of a dissolution apparatus giving the most complete extraction of valuable components and newly developed materials as well as efcient removal of the insoluble cladding of fuel assemblies is very important for modernizing the equipment for leaching spent nuclear fuel from different reactors in NPPs [1, 2]. The batch dissolution apparatus RP-2200, RPSK, Moroka, Demon, and Kumir equipped with a pneumatic-pulse system for removing insoluble cladding operates in the RT-1 plant at the Industrial Association Mayak. The latter three models are a modication of RP-2200 (head part) and RPSK (bottom and cylindrical parts). Experience in operating the apparatus has revealed drawbacks of which we call attention to two: limited volume of loaded fragments of fuel-assembly cladding and mechanical wear of the bottom part of the apparatus, viz. the nozzle collector, owing to two-phase ows forming inside the apparatus [3].