Vitrification of nuclear power plant waste in a cold crucible melter form R and D to implementation

The idea of using vitrification technologies to process low and intermediate level waste was considered by SGN and KHNP/NETEC (Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., Ltd/ Nuclear Environment Technology Institute) in 1995. The Cold Crucible Melter (CCM) technology has been developed by CEA, AREVA/COGEMA and AREVA/SGN to further increase the performance of vitrification facilities since the beginning of the 1980s. A joint NETEC-AREVA/COGEMA/SGN-CEA- MOBIS program was launched in 1997 to develop the industrial application of the CCM for the incineration/ vitrification of waste produced in the Korean Nuclear Power Plants. The second step of the joint collaboration, completed in October 1999, was devoted to the design and construction of an industrial pilot plant in Daejeon. This pilot facility has been in operation since October 1999. After the completion of the development program, KHNP has decided to implement the process on one of its NPP site:Ulchin in South Korea. A commercial facility is being constructed. This unit will process the wastes produced by the Ulchin 3, 4, 5 and 6 Nuclear Power Plants. The basic design of the facility has been completed by SGN and HD MOBIS. The detailed design is in progress. The main features of the design are presented in the paper