Cold crucible technology makes it possible to reach temperatures above 1,200°C, thereby enabling vitrification of a wider variety of radioactive waste and a higher production rate. In addition, wall cooling increases equipment lifetime.
– By Stephen Heiser –
Speaking from the AREVA La Hague recycling facility, Anne Lauvergeon, AREVA's Chief Executive Officer, inaugurated the cold crucible, a world first for vitrification(1) of high-level radioactive waste.
In the presence of regional and CEA representatives, Anne Lauvergeon paid tribute to “the industrial and technological prowess represented by the cold crucible, made possible by the knowledge and competence of the AREVA teams.”
Cold crucible technology(2) makes it possible to reach temperatures above 1,200°C, thereby enabling vitrification of a wider variety of radioactive waste and a higher production rate. In addition, wall cooling increases equipment lifetime. The entry into operation of the cold crucible is the end result of close collaboration between the CEA (Atomic Energy Commission) and AREVA for more than 25 years.
Anne Lauvergeon emphasized that “the cold crucible is an illustration of AREVA's intention to continue and reinforce its research and development policy in order to continue to make innovation available to its customers.”
AREVA's La Hague plant located in the Manche region provides the first stage in the recycling of spent nuclear fuels. This industrial operation meets a raft of energy and environmental considerations. The facility has the industrial capacity necessary for the annual processing of spent fuel from 80 to 100 nuclear reactors, amounting to 1700 tons. This makes AREVA the biggest operator in the world in the processing of nuclear fuel.
Once discharged from the reactor, the spent fuel contains:
96% recyclable material: 95% uranium and 1% plutonium, which will be reused to produce electricity.
Just 4% waste (fission products and minor actinides).
Processing, the first step in recycling, is a high quality service. Throughout the process, the nuclear materials in the spent fuel remain the property of AREVA's customers.
AREVA La Hague receives spent fuel sent by french and foreign electricity companies.
In accordance with French law:
The recyclable materials and end waste taken from spent fuel from foreign electricity companies are returned to their country of origin after processing.
French waste is temporarily stored onsite pending a permanent storage facility.
The recycling of recovered materials (uranium and plutonium) enables:
Savings of up to 25% in natural uranium needs,
Reductions in the volume and toxicity of end waste, to a large extent, through processing and conditioning designed to suit each type of waste.
(1) Vitrification allows safe and stable long-term conditioning of high-level radioactive waste.
(2) The principle of the cold crucible is to induce electric currents directly in the glass to raise its temperature without heating the crucible.
AREVA provides its customers with solutions for carbon-free power generation in North America and all over the world. As the leader in nuclear energy and a significant, growing player in the renewable energies sector, AREVA combines U.S. and Canadian leadership, access to worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. Sustainable development is a core component of AREVA’s strategy. Its more the 5,000 U.S. and Canadian employees work every day to make AREVA a responsible industrial player helping to supply ever cleaner, safer and more economical energy to the greatest number of people. AREVA Inc. is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.