Vitrification experience and new technology development in Tokai vitrification facility

Aoshima, Atsushi ; Ueno, Tsutomu; Shiotsuki, Masao

Tokai Vitrification Facility (TVF) started hot operation in 1996 and produced 241 canisters as of June 2007. Through TVF operation, JAEA had much experience and accumulated much technical know-how which indicated that management for noble metal accumulation in a melter was key technology for smooth plant operation. JAEA should continue service operation based on a vitrification contract with the Japanese utilities because there remains about two third of High Active Liquid Waste (HALW) produced in the reprocessing service operation of Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP). TVF melter is designed in condition of five years life time because of very corrosive characteristic of melted glass. Five years design life time is equivalent to 500 canisters production in TVF. Because estimated number of canisters which will be produced in the future is over 500 canisters, exchange of the present melter is necessary. From these situations, JAEA decided basic strategy to increase stability of the existing melter operation and develop an advanced new melter for replacement in future which has largely prolonged life time and high noble metal drain ability. To attain these targets, JAEA extracted necessary key technologies to assemble into a ten years road map and started development. This development has been progressing on schedule.