Joule heated ceramic melter for vitrification of high level liquid waste mastering the technology. Contributed Paper IT-04

In the course of operations in Nuclear Fuel Cycle, various types of liquid wastes are generated. Power and Research Reactors generate large quantities of low level liquid waste. India has opted for closed loop fuel cycle i.e. reprocessing of spent fuel to power energy security. Reprocessing of spent fuel/generates small volumes of High Level Liquid Wastes (HLLWs) and slightly more Intermediate Level Liquid Wastes (ILLWs). This High Level Liquid Waste (HLLW) contains more than 99% of long lived radioactivity encountered in the entire fuel cycle. Vitrification has been the accepted technology for management of HLLW throughout the world. This vitrification is a very complex process involving extensive multi disciplinary efforts, that is, the chemistry of glass which will survive millions of years and the chemical engineering to meet the stringent quality requirements. Also the power electronics of induction and joule heating and robotics/remotisation. Presently, India has mastered both these technologies. Hundreds of Vitrified Waste products Canisters (VWP) containing millions of Curies have been produced by these processes