Comparative study of alternative high-level waste-solidification processes

The followig nine processes were evaluated: in-can glass melting process; joule-heated glass melting process; glass-ceramic process; marbles-in-lead matrix process; coated supercalcine pellets-in-lead matrix process; SYNROC process; titanate process; concrete process; and cermet process. In general, and probably as expected, it can be concluded that the processes with the fewest processing components require the fewest motorized parts and the fewest steps to produce a canister of waste. The requirements for the in-can glass melting, joule-heated glass melting and glass-ceramic processes are lower in all categories when compared to any of the remaining six processes. The average difference in requirements between the in-can glass melting, joule-heated glass melting and glass-ceramic processes and the remaining six processes is about a factor of 1.5 to 2. As previously stated, in-cell and out-of-cell service equipment were not included. Equipment requirements are also likely to change as these processes reach a more advanced state of development. Other equipment will likely be required as process and waste form criteria are established. Although the equipment and process steps identified in this study are of somewhat limited value, they could serve as a basis for more advanced analyses. For example, the reliability of each unit of equipment and each process step identified in this study could be estimated. Repair or replacement times for failed equipment could also be estimated. With reliability and repair or replacement data, it may also be possible to determine the additional equipment requirements, if any, for operating the process at its design rate. With a more complete summary of equipment requirements, other important processing parameters, such as product variability, safety and ease of decontamination, could be estimated