June 12, 2025 | ANS-SR Technical Meeting | Electrolytic Dissolution for Fast Critical Assembly Fuel ... and Beyond

by James Deaton | May 29, 2025

Speaker: Glynn Dyer, Fellow Technical Advisor, Omega Technical Services, Savannah River Site

Title: Electrolytic Dissolution for Fast Critical Assembly Fuel ... and Beyond

Date/Location: June 12, 2025 / North Augusta Community Center, 495 Brookside Drive, North Augusta, SC

Time: 6:00 PM Social/6:30 PM/6:30 PM Buffet Dinner/7:10 PM Announcements and Technical Presentation

Summary: During the 1970s, the Savannah River Site (SRS) H-Canyon operated an electrolytic dissolver to dissolve stainless steel and zirconium research reactor fuel. In 2016, SRS received stainless steel clad Fast Critical Assembly plutonium fuel from Japan. Feasibility Studies were initiated to evaluate the best means to process the fuel. This presentation will discuss the history of electrolytic dissolution in H-Canyon, the choice made for processing the FCA fuel in the electrolytic dissolver, the project to restore the electrolytic dissolver, the Cold Runs performed to demonstrate operation of the dissolver, and the processing of the first batches of FCA fuel. Finally, a look will be made into the future beyond the FCA mission.

About the Speaker: Glynn Dyer is a Fellow Technical Advisor with more than 40 years' experience at the Savannah River Site supporting nuclear fuel processing in F and H Canyons. Mr. Dyer is a recognized Subject Matter Expert for hydrogen generation and radiolysis in process solutions, Accident Analysis support to Documented Safety Analyses, and technical support to H Canyon operations. Glynn has been identified as a Technology Guardian for mixer-settler modelling and operation. In support of electrolytic dissolution in H-Canyon, he led the H-Canyon input on the Feasibility Study teams that recommended electrolytic dissolution for processing the Fast Critical Assembly fuel.

Fat Man's Southern BBQ Buffet Menu: Pulled Pork, Bar-B-Que Chicken and Ribs; Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Pickles, Sliced Tomatoes, White Bread, Hot Sauce and BBQ Sauce, Dessert: 'Nana Pudding.

Refreshments: Iced Tea, Soft Drinks & Water. Note: Non-BBQ, vegetarian meals must be reserved by June 10.

Register through the SurveyMonkey hyperlink by 12:00 PM Wednesday, June 11, 2025. You must register by this deadline to secure a meal.

Registration link - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LNNJ5YV

Cost:

* Nuclear professionals (ANS members & nonmembers) & guests - Cash/Check: $27; Credit/PayPal: $30
* Nuclear professionals (<= 35) ANS members & nonmembers), Educators & guests - Cash/Check: $22; Credit/Pay/Pal: $25

* Full-time Student and Area Interns/Co-op Students - Cash/Check: $15; Credit/PayPal $18

As always, ANS SR dinners and educational outreach events are open to all!