Rover fuel processing - A success with lessons learned

A unique process utilizing fluidized-bed combustion followed by ash dissolution for recovering uranium from graphite matrix nuclear rocket fuels was developed and installed at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant. Because the process was unique and only a limited amount of fuel was available for processing, the Rover facility was considered a ''prototype'' or ''demonstration'' process. Overall, the operation of this facility was an unqualified success and significantly exceeded early expectations. From this experience there were some ''lessons learned'' that can be applied to nuclear fuel processing facilities