NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND WASTE SORTING

The objective of the project was the design of a facility for removal of unsorted solid wastes, stored at NPP site, from the storage pits, and sorting the wastes for eventual transport to a conditioning unit.

The project according the TOR addressed the following:

• The feasibility study of the facility;
• The basic design of the facility, in particular of the monitoring and labelling of the packages;
• Site specific aspects of Smolensk and Kalinin NPPs.

Phase 0: Start of the project:

• Distribution of input data and other information in the working group, established;
• Review of the detailed table of content of the documents to be prepared;
• Definition of the methods to be used in the project, including QA;
• Delineation of the working plan of the project;
• Visits to facilities in the contractor’s country.

Phase 1: Feasibility study and conceptual design:

• Collection of available data related to the stored waste;
• Collection and review of the work already performed for Smolensk and Kalinin NPPs;
• Solid waste removal system from the storage pits and transfer system to the sorting facility;
• Sorting of radioactive waste flows according to radioactivity and conditioning properties, with consideration of drying of wet solid items and shredding of large items;
• Filling of sorted wastes in packaging containers, including package monitoring and labelling.

Phase 2: Basic design:

• Definition and collection of input data;
• Preparation of a general flow sheet;
• Description of working steps;
• General drawings and data sheets of the main components;
• Listing of power supply and auxiliary systems;
• Layout of off-gas and drain collecting systems;
• Design of fire protection and radiation protection systems;
• Calculation of the throughput of the facility depending on the given waste quantities;
• Budget evaluation (both Russian and EU supplies).

Phase 3: Extended basic engineering for monitoring and of the packages:

• Development of detailed engineering for the monitoring system;
• Preparation of the technical and administrative procedures for monitoring and systems;
• Development of software application specifications.

Phase 4: Site specific aspects:

• Discussions/decisions about the adaptation of the system at Smolensk and Kalinin NPPs with the counterpart and the beneficiary;
• General layout of the system for Smolensk and Kalinin NPPs.

The results of the project complied in general with the required outputs defined in the TOR.

Phase 1:
The contractor performed a feasibility/conceptual design study based on the data gathered from Kalinin and Smolensk sites. The overall facility description, based on the Western European know-how, suggested in the Phase 1 Report formed a good basis for the next project phases.

Phase 2:
Basic design, as a reasonable synthesis of Western and Russian know-how, suggests separate modules for retrieval and sorting, which reduces the complexity of large and heavy mobile modules. The proposal is also economically feasible, reduces maintenance and fits well together with the future concept of Waste Management at Russian NPPs.

Phase 3:
Results form a basic engineering and technical information on the equipment for monitoring and of the waste packages as used in Western Europe.

Phase 4:
Results are a further development of Phase 2 design suggestions, adapted for use at Kalinin and Smolensk NPPs. They include general plant specific system layouts taking into account operational aspects and set technical requirements for development of the non-catalogue equipment. The evaluation of retrieval, sorting and packaging of unsorted waste at Kalinin and Smolensk sites was also presented, as well as cost estimates and a consolidated budget.

Summary:
The results of the project give, in the form of an economically feasible and technically adequate design proposal, a basis for further steps in the development of systems for retrieval, sorting and packaging of wastes at Russian NPPs.