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Improved Nuclear SIte characterization for waste minimization in DD operations under constrained EnviRonment

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

Advanced models and measurements support nuclear plant decommissioning and dismantling

Nuclear power plants operate in 32 countries worldwide. First commercialised in the late 1960s, they were intended to function for 40 years. In July 2022, the mean age of nuclear reactors was 31 years, with over 100 plants in operation longer than their intended lifespan. Decommissioning and dismantling (D&D) operations require decontaminating equipment and the disposal of dangerous waste, a complex process that takes place in multiple phases over decades. The EU-funded INSIDER project will develop advanced statistical processing and models, coupled with analytical and measurement methods for accurate and realistic tailor-made representations of the radiological status of facilities or components. This will support decision-making regarding different D&D options.

Objective

Decommissioning and dismantling (D&D) operations are strongly dependent on the facilities history and the inventory of present radionuclides. The D&D processes are significant source of radioactive waste and their management is a major challenge from technical, economical, financial and societal point of view. This is recognized in a number of reference documents and studies on EU and international level. These challenges are naturally subject for further optimisation and the ambition of INSIDER project is to contribute to it as follows. For constrained environments new methodologies are necessary for more accurate initial estimation of contaminated materials, resulting waste volumes and timely planning. This will be based on advanced statistical processing and modelling, coupled with adapted and innovative analytical and measurement methods, with respect to sustainability and economic objectives. The envisaged project outcomes will enable building of a fit-for-purpose representation of the radiological status of facilities (or components), at a relevant precision level allowing making decisions concerning different D&D scenario options. The overall project methodology is based on common case studies in the form of interlaboratory comparisons on matrix representative reference samples and benchmarking. Industrial partners (selected D&D actors) in close cooperation with major EU R&D organisations will drive comprehensive and realistic conclusions formalised in guidelines, recommendations and elements for pre-standardisation initiatives. These will be validated at different scientific and industrial levels and widely disseminated to the broad D&D community and beyond.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

NFRP-2016-2017

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Sub call

NFRP-2016-2017-1

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
Net EU contribution
€ 811 265,72
Address
Rue leblanc 25
75015 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Other funding
€ 138 729,31

Participants (17)

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Last update: 7 October 2022

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/755554

European Union, 2023