Separation of Doel 3 used fuel pool waste begins
The first container has been filled with long-lived low- and intermediate-level waste from the used fuel pools of unit 3 at Belgium's Doel nuclear power plant, which was shut down in September 2022 and is now being decommissioned.
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A project is under way to remove non-fissile components from the used fuel pools that contain part of the intermediate-level radioactive waste from the reactor. The complex process started in 2021 and is expected to be completed by 2027. It includes the cutting of components and the separation of waste into short-lived low- and intermediate-level waste (CAT-A) and long-lived low- and intermediate-level waste (CAT-B) classes.
The CAT-B waste will be removed using high-integrity containers, which will be immobilised and delivered to Belgoprocess, which is the company responsible for the safe processing of radioactive waste produced in Belgium. Meanwhile, the CAT-A waste will be evacuated using 400-litre drums, which will be delivered unconditioned to the WAB (Water and Waste treatment building) at the Doel plant and TDS T2 (Solid Waste treatment building) at the Tihange nuclear power plant.
Belgian engineering firm Tractebel has now announced that, in collaboration with operator Engie Electrabel, it has completed the filling of the first high-integrity containers with CAT-B waste.
Tractebel said its engineers are responsible for performing all radiological characterisation studies to accurately categorise the used fuel pools' waste. In parallel, they oversee the technical follow-up, which includes documentation review and fabrication follow-up of the contractor responsible for delivering the high-integrity containers and executing the on-site works.
The company said it is the first time it is characterising components of used fuel pools that have to be classified as CAT-B waste material. It said its engineers are leveraging Tractebel's extensive experience with fuel and CAT-A containers to design the CAT-B waste containers. Both tasks must be integrated into the qualification files (method, package, and radiological) required by ONDRAF/NIRAS, the Belgian radioactive waste management organisation, to which Electrabel will transfer the property of the filled containers.
"The project represents a significant achievement for Tractebel and Electrabel," said Deborah Van Den Brande, Group Manager DECOM Doel Projects, Tractebel. "The innovative approach to radiologically characterising and managing the spent fuel pool's radioactive waste sets a new standard in nuclear decommissioning. The expertise of our engineers, who have worked in integrated teams with Electrabel, has been crucial in ensuring the project's success."
Doel 3 is the first Belgian nuclear power plant to enter decommissioning.
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