The application of DEC equipment in recycling treatment of U0₂ with high content of fluorine in dry process

Compared with wet process, recycling treatment of U0₂ with high content of fluorine is more complicated in dry process. Due to differences of two processes, all the U0₂ with high content of fluorine produced in one batch of product needs recycling after the batch is over. Before beginning recycling treatment, temperatures of furnace and reactor chamber have to been reduced; nozzle and related pipes have to been dismantled; recycling equipments (including screw and hopper) have to been installed well; and then the hopper has to been added U0₂ with high content of fluorine to make material sealing, and the U0₂ should be transferred to the appointed place firstly. When sealing test is finished and no leakage is found, the whole production can be started. The method is time consuming and demanding and need dismantle and installment frequently, which lowers the production efficiency. In order to improve this situation, CJNF designed and installed a set of DEC equipment which was used to treat the U0₂ powder with high content of fluorine. Since the operation of DEC, The efficiency of recycling treatment to the U0₂ powder with high content of fluorine has been improved dramatically; contamination risk has been obviously reduced. This method could treat the U0₂ powder with high content of fluorine timely, which significantly improves modernization, efficiency and radiation protection level of the U0₂ production. (authors)