Pilot plant for the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels

Abstract

The present report describes the small pilot plant the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission has built at the Ezelza Atomic Center near Buenos Aires. The installation, equipment and flow-sheets are b rie fly detailed. The objectives in mind for designing this plant were the following: 1) Obtaining experience in the chemical process and remote operation techniques needed for the reprocessing of irradiated fuels; 2) Formation of personnel with the necessary preparation to design future plants on a larger scale; 3) Reprocessing the spent fuel elements from the first core of the RA 1 reactor. The Installation cost of this plant could be kept very low without jeopardizing the security of the process due to the low activity of the fuel elements and the limited objectives mentioned.