Preliminary experience with vitrification inactive pilot plant in Italy

The applied process is based on the pot vitrification concept. The simulated HLW solution is fed to the pot at 10/20 1/hr of average feeding rate. A 250 mm in diameter and 1.70 meter long vessel is employed. With 1 meter filling height, fifty liters glass block can be produced per batch. The glass forming additives may be fed to the reaction vessel in liquid phase as well as in solid form. A five zone induction heated furnace is employed, providing net 30 kw/zone, at 1,000 HZ frequency. The off gas clean p system, which is also fully tested, includes condensation, scrubbing and Ru filtering. Four preliminary runs have so far been carried out, showing that a production of fifty litres glass block is achievable with liquid feeding rate ranging from 15 to 20 liters per hour. Feeding rate as high as 30 l/h can also be maintained with minor liquid hold up in the canister. A heating mode based on differential power delivery to the zones has been tested. (orig./DG)