Objective
The object of the underlying work programme is the dismantling of the B205 Fuel Reprocessing Pilot Plant. The plant was operated from 1957 to 1965. It processed uranium metal, totalling several hundred kilograms of fuel (typically 4,000 MWD/te). The product purification, solvent wash and sampling facilities were dismantled in the early 1970's leaving the MA cell nearly empty and the suite of HA cells untouched.
The aim of the project is to remove all of the contaminated structures from the laboratory (including the plinths that the cells are standing upon). It is ultimately intended to reuse the laboratory. This project will be used as a development project to demonstrate the techniques for dismantling this type of facility.
The contract covers dismantling work of the New Dissolver Cell, of the original HA Cell and of the Metal Cutting Cell. Information on the dismantling of the MA Cell (working period: August 1991 - March 1992) and of the New Primary Separation Cell (working period: July 1994 -September 1995 ) will be made available to the CEC.
This decommissioning project provides scope for testing a full range of techniques: for visual/radiometric inspection; remote handling; containment and shielding; decontamination of stainless steel, lead, concrete/brickwork; waste categorization, segregation, monitoring and size reduction. Residual metal fuel, fuel cladding and historic dissolver liquor spillages provide authentic decontamination problems.
Estimated mean dose rates vary between less than 1E-2 mSv/h for the laboratory and 200 mSv/h for the cutting cell with hot spots in the latter area of up to 470 mSv/h.
Lessons to be learnt include operational effectiveness, reliability, "user-friendliness", secondary waste arisings, manpower needs, dose-uptake, etc. The data sought is fundamental to the evaluation of future large-scale decommissioning projects and invaluable feedback into technique development programmes. It is planned to effect industrial-scale evaluation of decommissioning techniques, thereby providing data to assist planning, cost estimation and implementation of subsequent major projects.
The work programme will complement, and involve cooperation with the parallel Danish project at Riso National Laboratory.
The aim of the project is to remove all of the contaminated structures from the laboratory (including the plinths that the cells are standing upon). It is ultimately intended to reuse the laboratory. This project will be used as a development project to demonstrate the techniques for dismantling this type of facility.
The removal and decontamination of redundant service lines, shielded liquor transfer line, fame hoods, internal walls, etc was carried out.
During demolition of the medium active cell additional contaminated vessels, pipework and lead shield material was uncovered which increased the volume of alpha contaminated waste and significantly increased the demolition programme timescale.
A design specification for remote handling equipment, maintenance facilities, containment structures and waste export equipment was prepared and issued for competitive tender.
To date waste metals were decontaminated and disposed as low level waste (LLW) or sent for recovery at Sellafield's own lead recovery facilities. Nondecontaminable material were consigned as LLW or plutonium contaminated material (PCM) if above the LLW disposal criteria.
Dose uptake levels for demolition of the medium active cell have been relatively low, in the region of 1 milli-sievert/man month.
WORK PROGRAMME
1. Preparatory work including assessment and/or backfitting and installation of auxiliary equipment and access routes.
1.1. Removal and decontamination of redundant service lines, shielded liquor transfer line, fume hoods, internal wall etc.
1.2. Refurbishment of the cell ventilation/filtration system,
1.3. Establishment of waste decontamination facilities,
1.4. Establishment of waste handling/export facilities for LLW, ILW and PCM waste,
1.5. Installation of new lifting beams to support manipulators and of other new equipment where required.
2. Dismantling of the New Dissolver Cell
2.1. Installation and commissioning of the manipulator
2.2. Removal of all supplementary shielding as far as possible and construction of a modular containment for working area and manipulator maintenance area.
2.3. Removal of concrete panels and dismantling of the inner stainless steel skin by using the manipulator
2.4. Removal of all process plant equipment and the remainder of the cladding, .SP 0 2.5. Clean-up/scabbling of all inside faces of the cell using the manipulator,
2.6. Removal of the remaining structure.
3. Dismantling of the Original High Active Cell
3.1. Installation and commissioning of the manipulator
3.2. Removal of all supplementary shielding as far as possible and construction of reusable modular containment, backed by lead brick as necessary, to form a working area and manipulator
3.3. Installation of waste handling arrangements,
3.4. Use of the manipulator to breach the lead brick wall and gain access,
3.5. Retrieval of the existing hoist from the cell to the maintenance area to be removed manually,
3.6. Dismantling and removal of all process plant using the manipulator,
3.7. Clean-up/scabbling of inside faces using the manipulator,
3.8. Removal of remaining walls and plinth.
4. Dismantling of the Metal Cutting Cell
5. Generation of specific data
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
WA3 6AS WARRINGTON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.