Development of continuous ingot casting process for uranium dendrites in pyroprocess

Abstract

A continuous ingot casting process was developed to improve the productivity of ingot fabrication. A supplemental charge method in which uranium dendrites were additionally added into molten uranium was introduced for the first time, and a tilting system of a melting crucible to mold was developed. The feasibility of these processes was confirmed by a uranium melting test at the laboratory scale, successfully obtaining a uranium ingot in about 4.6 kg. Based on the results, we scaled up the ingot casting processes at the engineering scale. A rotating continuous feeder was installed for the ceaseless feeding of the dendrites into molten uranium. The tilting system and eight mold crucibles on a turn-table were adopted. The operability of the continuous ingot casting process at the engineering scale was successfully confirmed by a melting test of copper. We consider that the engineering scale equipment can cast above a 50 kg U/batch with the continuous casting processes.