Review of innovative technologies of radioactive waste treatment Michael I. Ojovan Waste Technology Section, Department of Nuclear Energy, IAEA

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1 Review of innovative technologies of radioactive waste treatment Michael I. Ojovan Waste Technology Section, Department of Nuclear Energy, IAEA CEG Workshop on topical issues of legacy RW and SNF management in North West and Far East Russia, International Atomic Energy Agency Bergen, Norway, 15 and 16 May 2014

2 Contents I. Background II. Gaseous radioactive waste III. Aqueous radioactive waste IV. Solid radioactive waste V. Problematic waste: i-graphite and DSRS VI. Conclusions VII. Scientific Forum International Atomic Energy Agency 2

3 Background It is important for Member States to adopt a mix of radioactive waste processing technologies which is optimally suited to the country-specific types and quantities of wastes generated. Treatment = Operations intended to benefit safety and/or economy by changing the characteristics of the waste. Three basic treatment objectives are: (i) volume reduction, (ii) removal of radionuclides from the waste and (iii) change of composition. Treatment may result in an appropriate waste form. Radioactive waste management Predisposal Disposal Storage for decay Environment or landfill depending on the physical Waste Generation Any or all of the operations prior to waste treatment such as: -Collection -Characterisation -Segregation -Adjustment -Decontamination International Atomic Energy Agency form of waste repository repository 3 Cleared waste Candidate for clearance Reuse, recycling Short-lived waste (< 30 years) Volume reduction, removal of radionuclides, changes in composition Solidification, embedding, encapsulation followed by packaging Placement of waste in nuclear facility where human control and retrievability are ensured Near surface Radioactive waste Transfer of waste packages Deep underground Long-lived waste (> 30 years) Pretreatment Transportation to a centralised storage facility may be involved Treatment Conditioning Transportation to a centralised storage facility may be involved Interim storage Transport Disposal Emplacement of waste in a licensed facility without intention of retrieval

4 Main WTS Activities WTS Networks: o o o o o o o International Decommissioning Network (IDN), Network for Environmental Management and Remediation (ENVIRONET), Network for Underground Research Laboratories for Geological Disposal of HLW (URF), Near-surface Disposal Network (DISPONET), Waste Characterization Network (LABONET), CONNECT - Connecting the Network of Networks for Enhanced Communications and Training in RWM, D&ER. We investigate the feasibility of a new network for radioactive waste predisposal management IMMONET Technical Publications; Coordinated Research Projects; International Peer Review Services. International Atomic Energy Agency 4

5 International Atomic Energy Agency 5

6 WATEC-2014, International Radioactive Waste Technical Committee (WATEC) WATEC strongly recommends that the IAEA ensure long-term sustainability of the networks. International Atomic Energy Agency 6

7 Coordinated Research Projects CRP on Planning, Management and Organizational Aspects in Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities ( ), IAEA-TECDOC published in 2013; CRP on Innovative and Adaptive Technologies in Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities ( ), IAEA-TECDOC-1602 published in 2008; Performance and Behaviour of Cementitious Materials in Long Term Storage and Disposal of Radioactive Waste ( ), IAEA-TECDOC-1701 published in 2013; Treatment of Irradiated Graphite to Meet Waste Acceptance Criteria for Disposal ( ); Processing Technologies for High Level Waste, Formulation of Matrices and Characterization of Waste Forms ( ). International Atomic Energy Agency 7

8 Peer Reviews International Peer Review of UK Magnox Decommissioning Programme ( ) final report handed over to Magnox representatives at the IAEA in February Korea: Geological disposal programme with emphasis on suitability for pyro- processed waste (2012); UK, NDA: Peer Review of Interim Storage of Higher Activity Waste Packages-Industry Guidance (2012); Russia: International Peer Review on the application of international safety standards to the liquid RWM practices in the Russian Federation (2013); The Follow-up International Mission on remediation of large contaminated areas off-site the Fukushima Daiichi NPP (2 EM s 2013). Review of Hungarian waste management framework is in preparation. International Atomic Energy Agency 8

9 ARTEMIS The Review Service for managing radioactive waste and spent fuel, control of discharges, decommissioning and remediation is a cross-cutting coordinated activity of NEFW and NSRW. Objective: to provide independent expert opinion and advice on : o radioactive waste and spent fuel management, o assessment of radiological impacts to people and the environment, o management of residues arising from uranium production, o decommissioning and o remediation issues. Based upon the IAEA safety standards and technical guidance, as well as international good practice. International Atomic Energy Agency 9

10 International Atomic Energy Agency 10

11 Sources of information IAEA TECDOC-1527 Application of Thermal Technologies for Processing of Radioactive Waste IAEA TECDOC-draft Treatment of radioactive gaseous waste * IAEA TECDOC-draft Mobile processing systems for radioactive waste management IAEA TECDOC-draft Modular design of processing and storage facilities for small volumes of low and intermediate level radioactive waste including disused radioactive sources IAEA TECDOC-draft Treatment of Irradiated Graphite to Meet Acceptance Criteria for Waste Disposal * IAEA IMMONET web site: M.I. Ojovan, W.E. Lee. An Introduction to Nuclear Waste Immobilisation, 2 nd Edition, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 362 p. (2014). W. E. Lee, M.I. Ojovan, C.M. Jantzen. Radioactive waste management and contaminated site clean-up: Processes, technologies and international experience, Woodhead, Cambridge, 924 p. (2013). J. Deckers. Incineration and plasma processes and technology for treatment and conditioning of radioactive waste. Chapter 3 in: M.I. Ojovan. Handbook of advanced radioactive waste conditioning technologies. Woodhead, Cambridge, 512 p. (2011). * available on IMMONET International Atomic Energy Agency 11

12 Gaseous radioactive waste International Atomic Energy Agency 12

13 International Atomic Energy Agency 13

14 Mobile off-gas treatment system International Atomic Energy Agency 14

15 International Atomic Energy Agency 15

16 Aqueous radioactive waste "Aqua-Express" FGUP RADON International Atomic Energy Agency 16

17 International Atomic Energy Agency 17

18 International Atomic Energy Agency 18

19 NUclide REmoval System (NURES), Fortum NS International Atomic Energy Agency 19

20 International Atomic Energy Agency 20

21 Oil decontamination system: Kinectrics, Canada o C International Atomic Energy Agency 21

22 International Atomic Energy Agency 22

23 Solid radioactive waste Non-Thermal Thermal International Atomic Energy Agency 23

24 Solid radioactive waste: non-thermal Usage as a pre-treatment unit. Up to 500 kn force. International Atomic Energy Agency 24

25 Mobile supercompactors Skid mounted supercompactor: GNS NUCLECO supercompactor International Atomic Energy Agency 25

26 International Atomic Energy Agency 26

27 International Atomic Energy Agency 27

28 Floor decontamination system: BARC, India International Atomic Energy Agency 28

29 International Atomic Energy Agency 29

30 Cable insulation separation system: GNS, Germany International Atomic Energy Agency 30

31 International Atomic Energy Agency 31

32 Solid radioactive waste: thermal Increasing demands for enhanced efficiency and safety of waste processing technologies has focused attention on thermal technologies, as they provide advantages regarding stabilization of the output waste form and high volume reduction efficiencies. International Atomic Energy Agency 32

33 Waste Metal Melting The final product (ingot, shielding block, centrifugated steel cylinder, etc.) is homogeneous, stable, and has the remaining activity content bound in the metal. Melting can produce a conditioned waste form suitable for direct disposal. Normally, the amount of secondary waste is in the range of 2 to 5 wt.%. International Atomic Energy Agency 33

34 Plasma Treatment Plasma sources provide deep thermal conversion of organic materials and produce an end product in the melted state. Plasma torches use the energy of an electric discharge (electric arc) for heating working gases transmitted through it. International Atomic Energy Agency 34

35 Advantages One single process can treat the un-sorted waste. The final waste form is durable and suitable for long term storage and disposal. Less production of certain flue gasses and the greenhouse gas CO 2. Volume reduction factors range from 6 (typical ZWILAG results) for waste containing mostly metals and debris to 10 for treatment of mixed waste (typical RADON results) and to more than 100 for primarily organic waste. International Atomic Energy Agency 35

36 Plasma shaft furnace loading unit, 2 shaft, 3 hearth, 4 slag receiver, 5 plasma torch, 6 stopper, 7 off gas outlet. International Atomic Energy Agency 36

37 Parameter Pyrolysis Pluton Capacity to solid waste, kg/h Dimensions, m Quantity of plasma torches in a furnace 1 2 Electric power of plasma torches, kw Response time, h Specific energy consumption, kw*h/kg Views of control board, shaft furnace and SRW loading unit of the Pluton plant International Atomic Energy Agency

38 Component Content, wt.% Paper Wood (scobs) 1-5 Wood (fuelwood) 2-20 Textile (rag) 4-7 Plastic (polyethylene, polycarbonate, PVC) 4-8 Glass (domestic and laboratory) 2-8 Rubber (hoses, tires) 2-5 Electric boards, radio components 1-5 Construction waste 4-15 Heat insulating materials 1-5 Metal 3-10 Ion-exchange resins Vegetable materials and berries 2-5 Overall ash content of the waste 7-40 Overall humidity of the waste 5-35 Specific activity to -emitters, within limit of Specific activity to -emitters, within limit of Bq/kg Bq/kg Component Na Cs 239 Pu Leaching rate, g/cm 2 *day (2-3) *10-6 (0.3-5)*10-6 (0,8-2)*10-7 International Atomic Energy Agency 38

39 Heavy metals: cadmium lead mercury Component Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxines and dibenzofurans in terms of toxic equivalent Cancerogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (benzapyrene) Concentration in offgas ng/m 3 9 μg/m μg/m μg/m 3 From 0.02 to 1.12 μg/m 3 The European standard for the discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere 0.1 ng/m 3 50 μg/m μg/m 3 50 μg/m 3 Non-standardized Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) Not detected Non-standardized Significant reduction (1.5 2 times) of the off gas volume as a result of plasma torches usage instead of combustion type heaters International Atomic Energy Agency 39

40 The ZWILAG plant, serves to process combustible solid and liquid wastes, as well as metals and mineral substances (concrete, gravel, etc.). International Atomic Energy Agency 40

41 The maximum capacity of the facility is 200 kg/h of combustible waste and 300 kg/h of fusible waste. Throughput is approximately to kg/yr. International Atomic Energy Agency 41

42 Plasma Melting Facility at Kozloduy NPP: Belgoprocess Ordered to JV IBERDROLA BELGOPROCESS Funded by EBRD (70%) and Bulgaria (30%) Testing beginning 2014 International Atomic Energy Agency 42

43 Plasma Melting Facility at Kozloduy NPP: Belgoprocess International Atomic Energy Agency 43

44 Mobile plasma waste treatment facility: Necsa, SA International Atomic Energy Agency 44

45 International Atomic Energy Agency 45

46 Problematic radioactive waste: i-graphite and DSRS More details on: nefwprojects/immonet/graphitecrp/sitepages/home.aspx France: i-graphite Waste-Management Scenario International Atomic Energy Agency 46

47 Details on: nefwprojects/immonet/graphitecrp/sitepages/home.aspx UK: i-graphite-management Process proposed by Bradtec, Hyder, Studsvik UK and Costain International Atomic Energy Agency 47

48 IAEA Mobile Hot Cell for highly radioactive sources International Atomic Energy Agency 48

49 International Atomic Energy Agency 49

50 International Atomic Energy Agency 50

51 Disused Sealed Radioactive Sources Immobilisation: FGUP RADON International Atomic Energy Agency 51

52 International Atomic Energy Agency 52

53 Conclusions Safe and efficient RWM is an important component of prosperous and peaceful use of nuclear energy and radioactive materials; Technologies for RWM are available and being further developed; IAEA plays an active role in developing and maintaining high standards of RWM in Member States; IAEA is also strongly promoting international cooperation and exchange of information. International Atomic Energy Agency 53

54 2014 IAEA General Conference Scientific Forum Scientific Forum The General Conference is the highest policymaking body of the IAEA. It is composed of representatives of all Member States of the Agency. The 57 th IAEA General Conference held on September 2013 involved more than delegates from 159 IAEA MSs and international organizations. The 2014 GC-58 will be held at IAEA on September At the 58 th General Conference, the theme of the Scientific Forum will be Radioactive Waste: Meeting the Challenge. Registration via: 089/Scientific-Forum International Atomic Energy Agency 54