Ultra-high power laser for vitrification of borosilicate glass

Abstract

The glass solidification technology has been studied by many researchers for decades to handle the trouble of high-level liquid waste (HLLW). However, the widely used joule-heated ceramic melter technology also has disadvantages such as complicated processes, easy deposition of heavy metals, and low thermal efficiency. To deal with these problems, we proposed a new glass solidification device based on ultra-high power laser heating to handle HLLW. HLLW was mixed with borosilicate glass, and melting, clarifying, and annealing processes were carried out in a crucible using laser heat. We test the properties of the borosilicate glass solidified body and then analyze it. The results show that the borosilicate glass beads were completely melted and other indicators are in line with the requirements. As a result, the new device that is heated by an ultra-high laser is feasible for vitrification of HLLW and has the potential to overcome the disadvantages of traditional solidification technology. This research is helpful to explore new glass solidification processes.