Kurion Opens New Modular Vitrification System Test Facility

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kurion, Inc., an innovator in nuclear waste management, held a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 11 to formally open its new Modular Vitrification System (MVS^®) test facility in Richland, Wash. The event follows the relocation of the company’s original MVS test facility from Rolla, Mo., to Richland in July and construction completion of the key elements of its engineering scale MVS pilot system. The engineering scale system will be used to mature and commercially demonstrate its MVS technology. Kurion has been building successively larger systems to mature its technology to assist with waste cleanup at U.S. Department of Energy sites and nuclear plants worldwide.

Kurion’s MVS is a proprietary in-container, hot-walled induction process that the company is developing to deliver scalable and low-cost vitrification (a volume reduction and stabilization process that immobilizes waste in a leach-resistant glass matrix that is regarded by regulators to provide the ultimate assurance of long-term environmental isolation).

Eighteen months of experience gained over more than 75 test runs using its lab scale system at the Rolla MVS test facility confirmed the efficacy of the underlying technology and ability to produce high-quality vitrified waste forms. A Technology Readiness Assessment – a procurement tool for emerging technologies used by the U.S. Department of Energy – confirmed a Technology Readiness Level of three (i.e., proof of concept) for the lab scale MVS over a range of targeted waste streams and various glass formulations (e.g., borosilicate, iron phosphate).

Progressing to higher Technology Readiness Levels requires further testing on the targeted waste streams using radioactive and non-radioactive simulants (i.e., relevant environments), as well as technology scale-up and a higher level of fidelity relative to the envisioned final design. To achieve these metrics Kurion embarked on parallel radioactive and non-radioactive demonstration paths. Kurion aims to confirm the efficacy of its vitrification technology in relevant radioactive environments through its MVS lab scale testing program at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Radiochemical Processing Laboratory. The company has scaled its MVS technology with the design and construction of the much larger engineering scale system at the Richland MVS test facility for testing on non-radioactive waste simulants. Results from the parallel testing programs can then be used to justify a Technology Readiness Level of six for targeted waste streams. A Technology Readiness Level of six demonstrates the ability to deliver a commercially viable technology and is the threshold government organizations use to procure new technologies (i.e., prototype demonstrations in the relevant environment).

ABOUT KURION

KURION PROVIDES INNOVATIVE, EASILY DEPLOYABLE TECHNOLOGIES TO ACCELERATE PROJECT PERFORMANCE AND COMPLIANCE AND SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE CUSTOMER RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT LIFE-CYCLE COSTS. FOUNDED IN 2008, KURION IS BACKED BY LEADING ENERGY INVESTORS LUX CAPITAL, FIRELAKE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND ACADIA WOODS PARTNERS. HEADQUARTERED IN IRVINE, CALIF., KURION OPERATES A TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT ITS RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS LICENSED FACILITY IN OAK RIDGE, TENN., TWO FACILITIES IN RICHLAND, WASH. FOR EQUIPMENT STORAGE, ENGINEERING AND “COLD” NON-RADIOACTIVE TESTING AND PERFORMS “HOT” RADIOACTIVE TESTING AT PNNL IN RICHLAND, WASH. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.KURION.COM.