Abstract: A process and apparatus for solidifying radioactive waste liquid containing dissolved and/or suspended solids is disclosed. The process includes chemically treating for pH adjustement and precipitation of solids, concentrating solids with a thin-film evaporator to provide liquid concentrate containing about 50% solids, and drying the concentrate with heated mixing apparatus. The heated mixing apparatus includes a heated wall and working means for shearing dried concentrate from internal surfaces and subdividing dry concentrate into dry, powdery particles. The working means includes a rotor and helical means for positively advancing the concentrate and resulting dry particles from inlet to outlet of the mixing apparatus. The dry particles may also be encapsulated in a matrix material. Entrained particles in the vapor stream from the evaporator and mixer are removed in an integral particle separator and the vapor is subsequently condensed and may be recycled upstream of the thin-film evaporator.

Abstract: There is described a method for sodium-deactivating and/or stocking irradiated nuclear fuel elements, said elements being contacted with a fluid, in which use is made as fluid, of a molten salt mixture which is uncorrosive for the element stainless steels, inert relative to uranium and plutonium oxides by the deactivating temperature and reactive with sodium metal without producing a detonating gas.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing improved nuclear fuel pellets, including compacting ceramic powder in the Compaction chamber of a pelletizing machine with only the lower punch moving on compaction, wherein the walls of the compaction chamber are widened on at least part of their height in the direction of a diameter increase towards the die-bearing table.

Abstract: A fuel assembly for gas-cooled nuclear reactor: a wrapper tube within which are positioned a number of spaced apart beds in a stack, with each bed containing spherical coated particles of fuel; each of the beds has a perforated top and bottom plate; gaseous coolant passes successively through each of the beds; through each of the beds also passes a bypass tube; part of the gas travels through the bed and part passes through the bypass tube; the gas coolant which passes through both the bed and the bypass tube mixes in the space on the outlet side of the bed before entering the next bed.