R4.02/04 S2 - Assistance to Radon, dealing with radwaste in Moscow Region - Lot 1 Equipment for radiological characterisation of incoming & processed waste

Sergiev Posad Department (SPD) is one of two departments of the Moscow Scientific and Industrial Corporation “RADON” (MosNPO RADON). MosNPO RADON has been established to serve disposal (reception, transportation, sorting treatment and long-term storage) of “other” radioactive waste (“radwaste”) produced by industrial, medical, scientific and institutional producers, other than nuclear power plants and nuclear-propelled ships and submarines, in the city of Moscow and in other 9 regions in the central European part of Russia. SPD itself is located 72 k from Moscow, close to Sergiev Posad town.

The waste is transported to SPD in various containers. It is put mostly in 50l PVC barrels, less frequently in 100l and 200l steel barrels (mainly used for the waste output); large special concrete-steel and steel containers (NZK-150-1.5P, KRAD-1.3 and KRAD-2.7) have been also used less frequently.

The waste is generally classified as combustible, compactable, conditionable and unsorted. The way of subsequent treatment depends on the type of waste.

Before the radwaste can be appropriately treated and stored, it therefore needs to be checked (characterised) in the transport containers from both the physical-chemical point of view (e.g. by X-rays system for liquid presence and by metal detectors) and the radiological point of view (i.e. dose rate measurement using various types of ionizing radiation detectors).

As the radiological waste characterization performed by the producers is generally not sufficient, and it is difficult to control it, a proper characterization needs to be done on the RADON site where the radwaste is treated, conditioned and stored.

The radiological characterization of waste is performed for radiation safety and storage inventory purposes in 2 stages of the process: (1) when receiving waste from producers (waste input) and (2) before waste storage after treatment/processing (waste output). The waste characterization is performed by the SPD accounting and control department using various radiological and physical-chemical acceptance criteria and verifying producers’ declarations.
As no adequate characterization system was available at SPD, the EC AIDCO agreed to finance procurement and supply of the necessary equipment. Technical Specification to support the EC tender procedure were prepared by Belgatom and IRE experts in the frame of the TACIS project R4.02/03 (see the Project Summary on 76787 Contract) after visiting the SPD discussing with the facility operators.

This 141378 contract has been related also to other two supply contracts 99677 on hydraulic group of the SPD supercompactor and 145274 on X-ray scanning facility for incoming radwaste characterization.

The objective of the contract has been procurement, delivery, installation, commissioning, and after-sale services of the following equipment for a radiological characterization of waste:

1. Incoming Radwaste radiological characterization installation for various incoming waste packages including
   • Roller conveyor for standard 50l barrels with positioning devices to properly centre each drum onto the conveyor; automatic operation of the conveyor by a measurement unit SW
   • Simple lifting devices for the roller conveyor to be loaded and unloaded with drums
   • Drum weighing unit
   • A mobile SW-operated measurement unit movable alongside surface of the other waste packages to check them
   • Gamma-ray detectors (a high-purity Germanium one) with a cryostat or a cooling system, a shielding and a collimator
   • A gamma spectrometer
   • A spectral data analysis software considering drum geometry, non-homogenous activity in the drums and efficiency calibration
2. Processed radwaste radiological characterization system including
   • A mechanism to rotate the 200l barrels, NZK and KRAD containers while measuring them
   • A mobile measuring unit with vertical scanning mechanism and a gamma-detector similar to the one for the incoming radwaste, including a cooling, shielding and collimator
   • A gamma spectrometer
   • A spectral data analysis software
   • A part of the contract has been also delivery of the related documentation in English and Russian, spare parts and personnel training. The after-sales services were supposed to include: 1-year warranty, 2-year free hotline service and a capability of intervention at SPD within 72 hours if needed.

This contract was concluded with the Envinet a.s., Czech republic. The contract value was €447 860,-.

The contract was signed on 13.12.2007 and the implementation started on 14.12.2007. According to the original contract, the equipment had to be delivered within 8 months, but by the Contract Addendum 2 signed on 27.5.2009, the time limits for delivery was extended to 20 months.

The equipment delivery and installation was completed and equipment was accepted. The Provisional Acceptance Certificate was signed by the supplier, the Beneficiary and the responsible EC official with effective date of 22 May 2009.

The one-year warranty period was completed without incident.