Bulletin 2/2010 - Siempelkamp NIS

Handling of the dismantled storage pool segments
Atomic Energy Act
Nuclear facilities are subject to the
regulations of the Atomic Energy Act.
The act regulates by law the peaceful
use of atomic energy and the pro tection
against its risks. With the increasing use
of nuclear energy in Germany, the
Atomic Energy Act became legally
binding on December 23, 1959. The
dismantling of a plant also takes place
within the framework of the Atomic
Energy Act.
Core removal from the reactor building
In order to close the controlled area of a
building, proof must be provided that the
thresholds for radioactivity, mandated by
law, are maintained.
The proof that all wall and fl oor areas of a
controlled area comply with the allowances
for radiation protection is provided by very
sensitive measurement devices. At the
same time, surveyors, assigned by public
authorities, carry out and check measurements.
For structural reasons the approval of the
VAK reactor building as a complete structure
was not possible. Therefore, the entire
inner concrete structure was dismantled,
treated, and the radiation levels were
measured.
SIEMPELKAMP | NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
The reactor building had an internal diameter
of approximately 14 m (46 ft) and a
height of approx. 42 m (138 ft). The largest
part of the reactor building was built underground.
The base of the building was
approx. 20 m (66 ft) below the surface.
More than 4,000 t (4,409 US tons) of
concrete and steel were dismantled in the
course of this renaturation project.
Only a very small part of the mass described
above, less than 0.1 %, had to be disposed
of as radioactive waste. After the dismantling
of the inner concrete structure and
the required clearance measurements,
the controlled area status of the reactor
building was cancelled.