COVER STORY | IRRADIATED GRAPHITE
the CRP. This was held at the Ignalina NPP training centre in Lithuania. The results of the CRP were published as an IAEA TECDOC in 2016, “Processing of Irradiated Graphite to Meet Acceptance Criteria for Waste Disposal”. The IAEA then established Project GRAPA (International
Project on Irradiated Graphite Processing Approaches), which included representatives from Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Romania, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom, with direct responsibilities for various parts of the decommissioning and graphite-disposal process in a variety of reactor designs. Interest was also expressed by colleagues from Sweden and Japan. The project ran from 2016 to 2018 but the network has remained in place. GRAPA dealt with a comprehensive, wide range of
Above: The challenges faced in dealing with radioactive graphite and its final disposal are numerous and complex
● To investigate direct chemical or physical treatment of graphite leading to its disposal in an alternative form to solid graphite, with economic and long-term radiological benefits.
● To investigate the pre-treatment of graphite ahead of other disposal or innovative treatment, to reduce the radio-nuclide content and facilitate the economics and radiological safety of the following process operations.
● To research the treatment of the products of innovative process to improve radiological safety or for economic improvement.
In defining these objectives, the IAEA Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Waste Technology noted the apparently diverse and differing criteria for graphite waste disposal applying in different member states and recognised that there is no ‘single solution’ to the graphite disposal problem. In March 2013, the final meeting of Carbowaste participants took place alongside an informal meeting of most participants in
characterisation and treatment approaches, Karina Lange, Radioactive Waste Disposal Specialist from the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle & Waste Technology at the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy. However, after treatment and conditioning comes disposal “and not many Member States documented their approach to graphite disposal at that time [of GRAPA],” said Kilochytska, adding: “So, the IAEA established a group of Member States with graphite – including France, Russian Federation, UK and USA – as well countries that in the future might include graphite as a moderator in their designs.” She explained that dealing with smaller amounts is
easier. “Spain has shown what to do with smaller amounts by meeting the waste acceptance criteria for the El Cabril facility. This is still being explored in other countries depending on the graphite, the activity, and the volume. Disposal can range from an existing near surface facility all the way to a deep geological repository, and this publication covers that range quite nicely.” In September 2021, the IAEA, and Electricité de France’s
Decommissioning & Waste Management Directorate (EDF DP2D) agreed to work together to help countries to strengthen technology and human resources development for decommissioning graphite reactors. The agreement, valid until 2025, designates EDF-DP2D’s Graphite Reactor Decommissioning Demonstrator as an IAEA Collaborating Centre. The Demonstrator is being constructed near Chinon in central France and will be used to test, improve and optimise innovative robotic and remote handling technologies, physical tests on representative full-scale mock-ups as well as simulators and associated digital models. These technologies will subsequently be made available
to experts from the IAEA member states, Kilochytska said. The IAEA is happy to co-operate with EDF DP2D in using the demonstrator. “It will be a big mock-up facility like a real reactor to develop the dismantling scenarios and techniques and to train the staff who will be involved in dismantling graphite reactors.” Clearly, the challenges faced in dealing with radioactive
Above: Chicago Pile-1 (CP-1), was built under the direction of Enrico Fermi in 1942. It was the world’s first nuclear reactor and was graphite moderated
20 | February 2024 |
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graphite and its final disposal are numerous and complex requiring extensive further research and investigation. Ans as Lange says: “When you have all the countries sharing their work, the hope is that by coming together there will be strength in helping each other to take one more step. We promote this kind of international collaboration”. The key to further progress must be to maintain and increase the valuable international co-operation, which is already under way. ■
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