A mathematical model is presented of the electrochemical reduction of the main components of oxidized spent nuclear fuel for studying the performance and development of process monitoring and control systems. The main thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of the reduction of target components to metal are described. The mathematical description is based on the equations of material-and-heat balance as well as the balance of stresses assuming that electrochemical and chemical reactions occur in the kinetic region. Requirements for the model are formulated and assumptions are made. The information structure and mathematical description of the model were developed. Computational experiments were performed on the model, showing its efficacy and the possibility of using it to develop process monitoring and control systems.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
A. Merwin, M. Williamson, J. Willit, and D. Chidambaram, “Metallic lithium and the reduction of actinide oxides,” J. Electrochem. Soc., 164, No. 8, H5236–H5246 (2017).
M. Kolodney, Production of Plutonium by Electrolysis, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report No. LA-148 (1944).
Eun-Young Choi, Jong-Kook Kim, Hun-Suk Im, et al., “Effect of the UO2 form on the electrochemical reduction rate in a LiCl–Li2O molten salt,” J. Nucl. Mater., 437, No. 1–3, 178–187 (2013).
Chung Seok Seo, Sung Bin Park, Byung Heung Park, et al., “Electrochemical study on the reduction mechanism of uranium oxide in a LiCl–Li2O molten salt,” J. Nucl. Sci. Technol., 43, No. 5, 587–595 (2006).
T. Usami, M. Kurata, T. Inoue, et al., “Pyrochemical reduction of uranium dioxide and plutonium dioxide by lithium metal,” J. Nucl. Mater., 300, 15–26 (2012).
F. H. Driggs and W. C. Lilliendahl, “Preparation of metal powders by electrolysis of fused salts: I – ductile uranium,” Ind. Eng. Chem., 22, No. 5, 516–519 (1930).
R. Guillaumont, Update on the Chemical Thermodynamics of Uranium, Neptunium, Plutonium, Americium and Technetium, IPN Orsay, France.
G. B. Naumov, B. N. Ryzhenko, and I. L. Khodakovskyii, Handbook of Thermodynamic Quantities, Atomizdat, Moscow (1971).
A. G. Stromberg (ed.) and D. P. Semchenko, Physical Chemistry: Textbook, Vysshaya Shkola, Moscow (1999).
A. N. Dyachenko and I. V. Shagalov, Chemical Kinetics of Heterogeneous Processes: Teach. Aid, Izd. TPU, Tomsk (2014).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 131, No. 1, pp. 16–20, July, 2021.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Emelyanov, A.M., Egorova, O.V., Liventsov, S.N. et al. Voloxidated Spent Nuclear Fuel Metallization: Mathematical Model. At Energy 131, 11–16 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-022-00829-9
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-022-00829-9