World’s First Digital Furnace for Vitrification Developed in Russia
The virtual system is designed to enable safer, faster, and more efficient disposal of nuclear waste.
Researchers at the Peredovaya Inzhenernaya Shkola “Tsifrovoy Inzhiniring” (Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering”) of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have unveiled a digital model of a vitrification furnace for high-level radioactive waste.
Liquid radioactive waste around the world is typically treated using vitrification technology, which transforms waste into a solid glass-like substance inside a specialized furnace. This approach not only reduces the volume of hazardous materials by removing liquid components but also immobilizes them in a stable form suitable for long-term storage.
The St. Petersburg engineering team developed a virtual model of the vitrification furnace that allows researchers to “look inside” an operating unit and conduct digital testing. The model accounts for complex physical processes – including heat transfer, hydrodynamics, and electrodynamics – and simulates the movement of molten glass, temperature changes across different zones, and the system’s response to operational adjustments.
Practical Applications
The scientists built the model using finite element and finite volume methods, supplemented with machine-learning algorithms and regression analysis. The performance of the digital model was compared with data from an existing pilot installation, and discrepancies in key parameters were minimal.
Yury Gorsky, head of the Cross-Industry Technologies Department at the Engineering Center, added that the technology makes it possible to shift much of the engineering risk to the development stage. Engineers can test different operating scenarios on the digital platform and implement the most effective one in practice. This reduces lifecycle costs and increases system reliability.
