Facilities
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Managing low and intermediate level institutional radioactive waste
The task of this facility is to manage and dispose non-nuclear power plant origin, so-called institutional radioactive waste. Such waste has been generated alongside the utilization of isotope technologies since the 50's in Hungary, primarily in industrial, agricultural, medical, research, and training industries. The institutes of the listed industries generate significantly less radioactive waste, than the nuclear power plant. Presently approximately 3-15 m3 low and intermediate level radioactive waste and about 300 depleted sources as well as 1000 sources removed from smoke detectors are generated annually. The most common isotopes are Co-60, Cs-137, Sr-90, C-14 and H-3.
The Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility (RWTDF)
The facility is located in between Kisnémedi and Püspökszilágy. The location was selected due to its geological advantages, the area is on high ground, the soil is clay-loess, therefore ground water is at a depth of 20 metres, which ensures, that no isotopes will contaminate the sub-surface waters. The radiation controlled area in the facility consists of near-surface reinforced concrete vaults (types A and C), as well as carbon steel and stainless steel storage wells (types B and D). There are sixty 70 m3 and six 140 m3 A type; eight 1.5 m3 C type storage vaults; thirty-two B type and four D type storage wells at the RWTDF. The technology building is used for the reception, treatment, and temporary storage of radioactive waste. The external storage vaults and wells have a capacity of 5040 m3, while the temporary storage within the technological building can store up to 300 m3 waste.
The facility possesses all the necessary regulatory licenses:
national territorial license for the vehicular transport of radioactive materials (waste);
operating license for the Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility in Püspökszilágy;
environmental operating license for the Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility in Püspökszilágy;
water supply, sewage and drainage operating license for the Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility in Püspökszilágy.
The path of radioactive waste
In general, solid radioactive waste is transferred to the site by PURAM by its own vehicle at previously negotiated times. The institute receives the vehicle and the professionals of our company, and hand over the radioactive waste usually packaged in steel drums. In case of used sources, the transport is done in special, shielded containers, in these cases packaging is done by the representatives of RWTDF, who inspects the radiation conditions and the integrity of the packaging; labels the container, then places it in the transport vehicle. After the package is secured and the required documents are filled, the vehicle is marked for transport of hazardous materials, as such transport falls under the regulations of ADR. The vehicle enters the facility via a radiation detection gate, which measures the radioactive content of the transport. The waste is received and unloaded in the technological building. The drums are labelled with a unique identification tag, then in large part are moved to the temporary storage area in steel frames, as most waste requires further treatment before disposal. An industrial drum scanner was put into operation in 2014, which is used to inspect the drums before handling. The scanner provides information on the placement, density of the drum's contents, as well as on the quantity and quality of the radioisotopes within. The first step of treatment is selection, which is done is a selection box refurbished in 2015. The technology allows personnel to separate and classify radioactive waste safely quickly and isolated from the environment. During the selection process the materials are separated based on their characteristics then, if necessary, undergo further treatment, such as compacting, embedding in cement matrix, etc. In order to utilize the available space the most, the preselected materials are compacted with a high-power compactor. Treated waste is packed into standard drums, the drums are marked with unique identification and registered, then are placed in an A type storage vault.
Depleted, enclosed sources require special treatment; however, these arrive in much smaller quantities than waste drums. Depleted sources need to be treated in so-called hot chamber, which is a special and safe closed system with lead shielding and viewing windows. The sources are handled with manipulators that imitate the human hand, allowing precise movements while holding or working with sources. After dismantling and compacting these small sources are placed in corrosion resistant steel canisters, which are welded shut in the hot chamber. The sealed sources are placed in storage wells located in the basement of the technological building, or outside in B or D type storage wells.
RWTDF strictly registers all wastes that are delivered to and disposed at the facility. In 2015 a new waste registry module was implemented, which automatically monitors the movement of all waste packages. Part of the module is an internet site for submitting a waste transport request to serve and support our institutional partners.
Upgrades and modernisations
As the facility is more than 40 years old, it is of high importance, that it fulfills current requirements. Following the establishment of our company, we have started implementing several safety enhancement programmes. Thanks to these investments, the facility now has a temporary storage area in the technological building, which provides storage for such materials that cannot be disposed of at the site (materials contaminated with long half-life isotopes, or nuclear materials, for which a dedicated area was built). The temporary storage also serves as a puffer for times when large volumes of waste are delivered to the site at once.
In 2014 the facility was expanded with a new entry building and dispatcher centre; the laboratory building was refurbished and modernised along with new fencing. Due to these additions, the security systems also required expansion. These safety enhancements also fulfilled safety requirements (aerial intrusion detection, enhanced security) issued by the nuclear regulator.
The Radiation Protection Monitoring System (SER) also needed update to fulfil modern expectations and authority requirements. Measurements were integrated into a comprehensive system, furthermore, the radiation monitoring gates for personnel radiation detection were also modernised. In 2015 the selection box used for the separation of radioactive waste was refurbished, as well as the complete replacement of the ventilation system in the technological building.
Safety Enhancement Programmes
A priority task is the repackaging and disposal of so-called historical waste according to modern standards, as in the 70's and 80's - in accordance with existing regulations - long half-life radioisotopes and radioactive sources had also been placed in the storage containers. The most recent evaluations showed, that in long term, the public may become exposed to such materials (during house or road constructions) and receive higher doses that the regulatory limit. To prevent such occurrences, the historical waste packages are removed from the storage vaults, are reselected, compacted, repackaged and redisposed. The success of the program was confirmed by a demonstration program carried out between 2006-2008, when 220 m3 waste was removed and reselected from four storage vaults. After conditioning and repackaging the waste volume decreased to 200 m3. The 20 m3 that was gained is the volume of waste delivered to the site in 2-5 years. Therefore, the program has benefits not only in regard of safety enhancements, but also in regard of better utilization of storage space.
The next phase of the programme commenced in 2017. The first part of this phase was the construction of a lightweight building to house the containment above the storage vaults, as well as the relating infrastructure. The second phase is the removal and treatment of waste; the third phase shall be the closure of the waste storage vaults.
During the execution of the programme the open vaults must be physically separated from the environment by installing a dual protection system. The covering steel-framed hall provides protection for the containment and its auxiliary equipment. The movable internal structure, the so-called containment, can cover four vaults at one time. This ensures appropriate work conditions for the waste removal process while providing secure separation from the environment. The containment is equipped with a filtering and ventilation system, with pressure below atmospheric pressure, thus air can only be released via the filter system. Entry and waste transport are only possible through the personal and waste transport airlocks. There is a hydraulic lever within the containment that aids the removal and handling of radioactive waste.