Vitrification Facility
Vitrification is a high-temperature process of fixation of liquid RAW, originally used for cooling of fuel elements after their removal from reactor of A1 NPP into a glass matrix. From the point of view of long-term safe storage, the vitrification product exhibits high chemical resistance, long-term stability and low level of maceration of the fixed radioactive nuclides.
Vitrification line VICHR is located in the former main generation unit of A1 NPP, in areas made free after dismounting of original facilities of the power plant. It is denoted for processing and treatment of water phase of chrompik with volume beta, gamma activity max. 1x1011 Bq/dm3, which is stored in manipulation and storing reservoir.
Operation of vitrification line VICHR is discontinuous (charging), that means that chrompik II., III. is processed in batches. Processing length of one charge is 24 hours. During this period approximately 50 dm3 of chrompik is processed and treated. The whole technological process is composed of individual mutually consequential activities.
Concentration of liquid radioactive waste takes place in evaporator of a boiler type. Vitrification of mixture of glass melt and radioactive concentrate is performed in middle-frequency induction furnace. Liquid vitrificate is retained into metallic shell - cartridge, and it is transported in transport container to intermediary storage. Intermediary Storage of Vitrification Product MPV - 296 and so called Short Storage are used for intermediate storing of vitrificate. They are located in the former main generating unit building of A1 NPP. As for design, the storages are designed as closed systems. Their fundamental elements are the steel construction and shielding board with shielding plugs.
