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LCV vitrification facility

Located at CEA Marcoule, the LCV joint vitrification facility, which is managed jointly by the waste Treatment and Conditioning Research Department (DTCD) and AREVA, is a hot laboratory dedicated to the development of innovative processes for high-level radioactive waste vitrification and the treatment and conditioning of intermediate or low-level waste by high-temperature processes. This facility is also used to study alternative conditioning matrices such as ceramics or glass-ceramics. The primary activities performed in this facility include basic research, such as experimental studies and models, the development of simulation tools, mock-ups and process studies, and industrial scale operations:

• glass formulation: matrix formulation, basic studies on vitreous materials and industrial support. Means and equipment include: different types of furnaces, characterization tools to measure physical properties (viscosity, thermal conductivity, resistivity, density, IR measurements, DSC, TG-DTA…) and microstructural properties (heating stage SEM, FE-SEM, temperature XRD);

• hot cell facilities: high activity level liquids analysis and solid waste elaboration and characterization, glass sample preparation, water leaching experiments in static and dynamic conditions;

• long-term behavior studies: glass water alteration mechanisms in repository conditions, operational models development;

• mock-ups and process studies: high-temperature process engineering studies dedicated to calcination, melting processes and dust recycling (various mock-ups available: calciner, dust recycler, furnace);

• simulation and modeling tools: knowledge support, process development and design work, molecular dynamics for self-irradiation in glass studies, coupled electromagnetic and thermal hydraulics codes for properties evolution of molten glasses;

• industrial scale prototypes and facilities: round-the-clock operations on industrial-scale facilities and prototypes (PEV) management. The PEV consists of a calciner and a melter (cold crucible or hot metal pot). This facility supports R&D programs for La Hague industrial plant.