The 13th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events

Abstracts
<strong>The</strong> paper will illustrate why this event is a major milestone in vitrification and how the “Vitrification 2010” project
succeeds in record time and without any impact on the La Hague Plant production.
7) 40265 – Adaptation of CCIM technology for HLW treatment. Results of research and development
Vladimir Lebedev, Alexander Kobelev, Fyodor Lifanov, Sergey Dmitriev, SIA Radon (Russia)
Results of research of possibility of Cold Crucible Inductive Melter (CCIM) technology application for HLW
treatment (on examples of Savannah River (USA) HLW and PA “Mayak” (Russia) HLW), carried out in Moscow SIA
RADON, and also results of development of new perspective facility for appliance in lab scale and then for real HLW
treatment, are shown in this report. From 2003 till 2010 the research of possibility of different HLW treatment with
CCIM technology are carried out. <strong>The</strong> principal possibility of vitrification of wastes with different compositions in the
cold crucible was shown. <strong>The</strong> features of appliance of various materials, natural and industrially produced, as glass
forming and modifying additions were explored. Charge compositions, made with using each researched sample of HLW
imitator, were formulated and maximal HLW containing in charge was determined. <strong>The</strong>n the samples of glass obtained
were explored. <strong>The</strong> main technological features of melting process were determined and principals of organization and
control of the process were formulated. <strong>The</strong> pattern of cold crucible for HLW imitators treatment being included in
experimental stand in PA “Mayak” was created. Also the System of Automatic Control for crucible was created. <strong>The</strong>
tests and research of equipment work were carried out. On the base of analysis of data gained earlier and newly obtained
the main requirements to designing of inductive melters and additional equipment, intended for real HLW treatment,
were worked out. <strong>The</strong>se requirements seem like a part of Task for designing of experimental-industrial HLW treatment
plant, that is contemplated to built in PA “Mayak” in nearest time.
SESSION H3: Panel "Radwaste Human Resource Development to Support the Nuclear Renaissance"
Abstract Not Required
SESSION D1 : National and <strong>International</strong> D&D Programs
1) 40003 – Westinghouse PWR and BWR Reactor Vessel Segmentation Experience in Using Mechanical
Cutting Process
Joseph Boucau, Stefan Fallström, Per Segerud, Paul Kreitman, Westinghouse Electric Belgium (Belgium)
Some commercial nuclear power plants have been permanently shut down to date and decommissioned using
dismantling methods. Other operating plants have decided to undergo an upgrade process that includes replacement of
reactor internals. In both cases, there is a need to perform a segmentation of the reactor vessel internals with proven
methods for long term waste disposal. Westinghouse has developed several concepts to dismantle reactor internals based
on safe and reliable techniques, including plasma arc cutting (PAC), abrasive waterjet cutting (AWJC), metal
disintegration machining (MDM), or mechanical cutting. Mechanical cutting has been used by Westinghouse since 1999
for both PWR’s and BWR’s and its process has been continuously improved over the years. This paper will describe the
sequential steps required to segment, separate, and package each individual component, based on this mechanical cutting
method. Detailed planning is essential to a successful project, and typically a “Segmentation and Packaging Plan” is
prepared to document the effort. <strong>The</strong> usual method is to start at the end of the process, by evaluating the waste disposal
requirements imposed by the waste disposal agency, what type and size of containers are available for the different
disposal options, and working backwards to select the best cutting tools and finally the cut geometry required. <strong>The</strong>se
plans are made utilizing advanced 3-D CAD software to model the process. Another area where the modeling has proven
invaluable is in determining the logistics of component placement and movement in the reactor cavity, which is typically
very congested when all the internals are out of the reactor vessel in various stages of segmentation. <strong>The</strong> main objective
of the segmentation and packaging plan is to determine the strategy for separating the highly activated components from
the less activated material, so that they can be disposed of in the most cost effective manner. Usually, highly activated
components cannot be shipped off-site, so they must be packaged such that they can be dry stored with the spent fuel in
an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). Less activated components can be shipped to an off-site disposal
site depending on space availability. Several of the plants dismantled to date in the US have repackaged the less activated
waste back into the reactor vessel and shipped the entire assembly to the disposal site. Decisions like these can be driven
by many factors such as disposal costs, transportation logistics, licensing fees, etc., but will have a significant impact on
the segmentation and packaging plan so they must be considered early in the planning phase. All segmentation tools are
remotely controlled since the mechanical segmentation projects that Westinghouse has executed, so far, have been
performed under water due to the high radiation levels. ALARA and personal safety is the number one priority during the
site work. <strong>The</strong> complexity of the work requires well designed and reliable tools. Westinghouse has optimized the
technologies from its experiences accumulated over the years. Its main focus has always been to improve tool handling
and cutting speed, water cleanliness, fail-safe and safety aspects. Different band saws, disc saws, tube cutters and
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