Project description
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
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineeringnuclear waste management
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata science
- humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistory
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesphysical geographycartography
- natural scienceschemical sciencesnuclear chemistryradiation chemistry
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
75015 PARIS 15
France
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Participants (17)
1160 Bruxelles / Brussel
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TW11 0LW Middlesex
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77210 AVON
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
03148 Kyiv
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
75011 Paris
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
48940 Leioa
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13009 MARSEILLE
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1049 Bruxelles / Brussel
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75724 Paris
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1121 Budapest
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76131 Karlsruhe
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01328 Dresden
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5232 Villigen Psi
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75008 Paris
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63800 BRNO
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52080 AACHEN
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participation ended
52428 Julich
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