Study on criteria of flushing phenomena in boiling transition by microwave heating

Yamaki, Tatsunori*; Abe, Yutaka*; Kaneko, Akiko*; Segawa, Tomoomi ; Kawaguchi, Koichi  ; Yamada, Yoshikazu 

Uranium and plutonium mixed nitrate solution of the spent nuclear fuel is converted to uranium and plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) powder by the microwave heating direct denitration method in co-conversion process of the nuclear fuel cycle. The cylindrical denitration vessel can be expected to realize high-speed and high-capacity processing against traditional shallow vessel. However, flushing and overflow phenomena of solution have been confirmed in cylindrical vessel. Thus, It is required to be clarified that the generation condition and generation mechanism of flushing phenomena during microwave heating for the safety of the operating condition and the optimum design of the equipment. The craiteria of flushing phenomena and the relationship between the released power by evaporation and the absorbed power in water is confirmed by the experimental results from the microwave heating. It is found that the flow structure is changed and the outer surface is heated according to the increase of the concentration of KCl by the microwave heating experiment with using the KCl solution and KCl jelly as a simulated solution of the uranium and plutonium mixed nitrate solution.