EXISTING REMELTING SOLUTIONS FOR LARGE VOLUMES OF CARBON STEEL SCRAP APPLIED TO TREAT METALS CONTAMINATED WITH RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

The paper proposes an alternative melting method, namely, the decontamination or reduction of metal radioactive waste volume based on the industrial designs of a plasma-arc furnace. It presents promising design options and technical solutions for the development of a purpose-designed plasma-arc furnace enabling the remelting of carbon steel with a low level of radioactive contamination. The paper recommends most promising process flowcharts and units for the removal of surface scale layers during the decontamination of the steel scrap.

 

Keywords: radioactive waste, radioactive contamination, steel decontamination, induction remelting, plasma arc furnace, descaling.