Development of high-level liquid waste vitrification

The vitrification of high-level radioactive liquid waste generated in the reprocessing has been developed by the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation (PNC) according to the government policy. Bolosilicate glass was selected to solidify high-level liquid waste. IHI, under a contract with PNC, has carried out the plant design and development since 1979, with IHI's engineering and manufacturing capability supplementing PNC's achievements in development. IHI designated the design and development of vitrification as one of its high priority projects. As a result, PNC's Tokai Vitrification Facility (TVF) is now under construction by IHI, while the vitrification facility of Japan Nuclear Fuel Service Company, Ltd. (JNFS) is now in the design stage. This paper describes the outline of TVF and the development work. (author)