Nuclear Technology

Chemical engineers Robert Blaskovitz and Andrew Hebden move pyroprocessing equipment remotely in Argonne's engineering-scale electrorefiner development glovebox. This facility is used to support advanced spent fuel pyrochemical process R&D for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative program.

Chemist Laurel Barnes places uranium product collected during electrorefiner test runs into a storage vessel for future evaluation.

Resources DOE Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative DOE Gen IV Program Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Argonne Nuclear Engineering Division

Pyrochemical Process R&D (Pyroprocessing)

The Chemical Engineering Division leads pyrochemical process research, development and demonstration for the Gen IV and AFCI programs. The emphasis of our recent work has been on the treatment of spent nuclear fuel to recover actinides for use in advanced reactor systems and to encapsulate fission products in durable waste forms for storage in a geologic repository.

Throughout process development activities, our focus has centered on the development of commercially viable technologies — technologies that produce a high-quality product, can be scaled up, integrate seamlessly with other fuel processing steps and facilities, and are economic.

Background

There is a growing consensus in the United States and abroad that a significant growth in nuclear energy must occur and that it must be accompanied by the development of advanced fuel cycles that are proliferation-resistant and decrease the amount and long-term hazards of nuclear waste.

This policy direction is reflected in the National Energy Policy, approved by the President in May 2001, which addressses the continued development of an advanced nuclear fuel recycling technology commonly known as pyroprocessing. The Policy specifically states:

. . . United States should reexamine its policies to allow for research, development and deployment of fuel conditioning methods (such as pyroprocessing) that reduce nuclear waste streams and enhance proliferation resistance. In doing so, the United States will continue to discourage accumulation of separated plutonium, worldwide.

The United States should also consider technologies (in collaboration with international partners with highly developed fuel cycles and a record of close cooperation) to develop reprocessing and fuel treatment technologies that are cleaner, more efficient, less waste intensive, and more proliferation resistant.

The National Energy Policy Group goes on to recommend the development of advanced nuclear systems to meet the United States’ projected energy needs over the next several decades, including the growing demand for electricity and production of alternative fuels such as hydrogen.

The U.S. Department of Energy, through its integrated Generation IV (Gen IV) and Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) programs, will develop and demonstrate the next generation of advanced nuclear systems, to meet future needs for safe, economic, sustainable, proliferation-resistant and environmentally responsible fuel cycles and energy production.

For More Information

Mark A. Williamson, Head
Nuclear Technology Department
Chemical Engineering Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, IL 60439
phone: 630-252-9627
fax: 630-252-9917
williamson@cmt.anl.gov