The 12th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events

Session 27-28 Abstracts
5) BPEO/BPM IN RECYCLING OF LOW LEVEL WASTE METAL IN THE UK - 16210
Joe Robinson, Kevin Dodd, Maria Lindberg, Simon Dickson; Mike McMullen, Studsvik (UK)
Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) and Best Practicable Means (BPM) are concepts well established in the nuclear
industry to help guide and inform waste management decision making. <strong>The</strong> recycling of contaminated metal waste in the UK is not
well established, with the majority of waste disposed of at the low level waste repository at Drigg.
This paper presents an overview of the Strategic BPEO study completed by Studsvik examining the options for low level metal
waste management and a subsequent BPM study completed in support of a proposed metals recycling service. <strong>The</strong> environmental
benefits of recycling metals overseas is further examined through the application of lifecycle analysis to the metals recycling
process.
<strong>The</strong> methodologies used for both studies are discussed and the findings of these studies presented. <strong>The</strong>se indicate that recycling
contaminated metal is the preferred option, using overseas facilities until UK facilities are available. <strong>The</strong> BPM for metals
recycling is discussed in detail and indicates that a tool box for processing metal waste is required to ensure BPM is applied on a
case by case basis. This is supported by effective management of waste transport and waste acceptance criteria. Whilst the transport
of contaminated metal overseas for treatment adds to the environmental burden of metals recycling, this when compared with
the production of virgin metal, is shown to remain beneficial.
<strong>The</strong> results of the Studsvik studies demonstrate the benefits of recycling metals, the options available for such a service and
challenges that remain.
6) EXTERNAL DISPOSAL OF 4 STEAM GENERATORS OUT OF THE DECOMMISSIONING
OF THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT STADE (KKS) - 16045
Martin Beverungen, GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH (Germany)
This paper describes the procedure for the qualification of large components (Steam Generators) as an IP-2 package, the ship
transport abroad to Sweden and the external treatment of this components to disburden the Nuclear Power Plant from this task, to
assure an accelerated the deconstruction phase and to minimize the amount of waste.
7) FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PERFORMANCE AND LIFETIME OF FIBROUS
GLASS AND METAL MEDIA HEPA FILTERS - 16285
Charles Waggoner, Michael Parsons, Mississippi State University (USA)
High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are used in a variety of nuclear applications as final air treatment units. <strong>The</strong> design
of air filtration systems in nuclear facilities that will function well requires a significant amount of knowledge about the challenge
conditions that these filters will be exposed to. Additionally, risk assessments conducted as a review of these systems need also to
be based on knowledge of filter challenge parameters during upset conditions that may be used as design basis conditions.
This paper presents a summary of findings of factors that influence the performance lifetime of conventional fibrous glass
media HEPA filters. <strong>The</strong>se factors include aerosol challenge (particle size distributions and mass concentrations), media velocities,
wetting conditions, and changes in gas density. <strong>The</strong>se data are correlated to design considerations for new systems and to process
upset conditions used in risk assessments, particularly those involving fires. Data from filter testing activities are also compared to
filter loading models and to literature information regarding aerosol emission rates from combustion of various materials.
Additional data are provided relating the performance of metal media HEPA filters under conditions that exceed maximum
ranges for fibrous glass filters. <strong>The</strong>se discussions focus on selection factors between these two categories of filter units.
8) INTERNATIONAL RADIOACTIVE METALS RECOVERY, TRANS-FRONTIER
SHIPMENT AND PROCESSING FOR BENEFICIAL REUSE - 16303
Al Johnson, Magnox South (UK)
<strong>The</strong> recycling of Low Level Waste (LLW) contaminated metals resulting from UK decommissioning activities present a number
of technical, political and project management issues. Moreover, the recovery and management of metals that exhibit higher
levels of surface radioactive contamination, encroaching on Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) criteria, represent additional challenges
to both consignors and processors alike. Beneficial re-use is being developed as an alternative means to more conventional
radioactive metals decontamination for clearance and recycling routes in the UK.
This presentation provides an update to a multi-year, multi-site Magnox decommissioning project involving approximately
2000 radioactively contaminated metal pond skips. To date, more than half of these pond skips have been removed, prepared, packaged
and shipped for processing and beneficial reuse in the United States. EnergySolutions and its partners have undertaken metal
melting projects for customers in both North America and Europe, supplying products for beneficial re-usein the nuclear industry
(as opposed to general recycling) to minimize the potential and perceived risk to the public and to maximise the benefit to the
nuclear industry.
SESSION 28 - REPOSITORY PROGRAMS: SITE SELECTION & CHARACTERIZATION,
URL, ENG. & GEOLOGICAL BARRIERS
1) GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS IN MULTINATIONAL INITIATIVES AT THE BACK END
OF THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE -16294
Charles McCombie, Neil A. Chapman, Arius Association (Switzerland); Tom Isaacs, LLNL/Stanford University (USA)
Interest in expanding nuclear power globally continues to grow and various studies are underway to examine all issues associated
with much expanded nuclear programmes. <strong>The</strong> most open questions today are related to the security and non-proliferation
implications and to the disposal of radioactive wastes. <strong>The</strong> security and proliferation concerns have been almost entirely focussed
on enrichment technology at the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle and on reprocessing. Although these are the highest risk areas,
it is also important that the potential security problems associated with waste management (in particular with the storage and dis-
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