先进后处理技术研究进展

Research Progress of Advanced Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Technology

  • 摘要: 本文系统综述了国内外核燃料后处理技术的最新进展,重点剖析了水法与干法后处理的技术特点、面临的挑战及未来发展趋势。水法后处理以Purex 流程为核心技术,目前已实现工业化应用,但在处理高燃耗燃料时仍存在能力不足的问题,同时还面临溶剂辐解、废物最小化等技术挑战。干法后处理凭借耐辐照、适配快堆金属燃料等显著优势,成为当前的研究焦点。美国、俄罗斯、韩国、日本等国家已开展工程验证,相关技术成熟度已达到 7 级。在我国,水法后处理领域提出了新一代先进无盐二循环流程(APOR),该流程采用二甲基羟胺为还原剂,有效提升了钚分离的效率与安全性;同时在首端环节研发高温氧化挥发、激光剪切等技术,可实现氚的高效捕集及包壳的精准分离。干法后处理领域确定了熔盐电解技术路线,建立了主工艺概念流程,成功实施了铀钚物料的电解分离、蒸馏纯化、废盐处理等关键技术验证。未来需进一步增强技术对高燃耗燃料的适应性,推动 APOR 流程的工程化应用,加快干法后处理热实验及工程化设备研发进程,并积极探索人工智能在工艺优化中的应用,为我国“热堆-快堆-聚变堆”的核能“三步走”战略提供有力支撑。

     

    Abstract: This paper provides a systematic review of recent advances in spent nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies both domestically and internationally, with a focused analysis on the technical characteristics, challenges, and future development trends of hydrometallurgical and pyrochemical reprocessing methods. The hydrometallurgical approach, which centers on the Purex process, has achieved industrial-scale application. However, it still exhibits limitations in processing high-burnup fuels and faces technical challenges such as solvent radiolysis and waste minimization. In contrast, pyrochemical reprocessing has garnered significant research attention due to its notable advantages, including high radiation tolerance and compatibility with metallic fuels for fast reactors. Countries such as the United States, Russia, South Korea, and Japan have initiated engineering validation efforts, with the relevant technologies having reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7. In China, the field of hydrometallurgical reprocessing has seen the proposal of a novel Advanced Salt-Free Two-Cycle Process (APOR), which utilizes dimethylhydroxylamine as a reductant to enhance the efficiency and safety of plutonium separation. Concurrently, front-end technologies such as high-temperature oxidative volatilization and laser cutting have been developed to achieve efficient tritium capture and precise cladding separation. In the area of pyrochemical reprocessing, a technical route based on molten salt electrolysis has been established, along with a conceptual flowsheet for the main process. Key technological verifications have been successfully conducted, including electrolytic separation of uranium and plutonium, distillation purification, and treatment of waste salts. Future efforts should focus on improving the adaptability of these technologies to high-burnup fuels, promoting the engineering application of the APOR process, accelerating the development of hot testing and engineering-scale equipment for pyrochemical reprocessing, and actively exploring the application of artificial intelligence in process optimization. These advancements will provide robust support for China’s three-step nuclear energy strategy, encompassing “thermal reactor, fast reactor, fusion reactor”.

     

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