Management of radioactive waste

Solid waste is produced during operation and also during decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities. Reducing the volume and binding the radioactivity is vital for the safe and cost-effective storage of waste. For the purpose of optimising volume reduction, residual material for the appropriate processing procedures is initially sorted manually or by remote control. We provide proven and innovative technologies for all areas from sorting to processing solid waste.

Our solutions:

• Decontamination
  • High pressure water blasting
  • Abrasive dry blasting
  • (Electro) chemical decontamination
• Thermal processes
  • Pyrolysis
  • Incineration
  • Waste gas purification system
• Compaction
  • Filter Press
  • High Force Compactor

Liquid waste is generated both during operation and the decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities. Reducing the volume and binding the radioactivity is vital for the cost-effective and safe storage of waste. To this end, radioactive waste is initially compressed as much as possible and, in subsequent processing procedures, treated and packaged so as to be suitable for storage in final repository. We provide proven and innovative technologies for all areas of processing liquid waste.

Our solutions:

• Concentration
  • Vapour recompression evaporators
  • Natural circulation evaporator
  • Double tube evaporator
• Filtration
  • Reverse osmosis
  • Biological processes
• Solidification
  • NUKEM Conical Mixer
  • In-drum cementation
  • Grouting

Measurement systems are used to determine characteristic parameters such as burn-up or residual activity. Thanks to our long-standing experience in the areas of fuel element handling, treatment of radioactive waste as well as decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear facilities, we have developed various equipment for these purposes. These systems cover the full range of monitoring tasks within the nuclear fuel cycle, from radiation protection to radiological waste characterisation.

Our solutions for:

• Waste packages
  • Drum Measurement System (DMS)
  • Container Measurement System (CMS)
  • Free release measuring facilities for packed waste (MCS)
  • Tracking
• Fissile material
• Fuel Assembly Monitoring System (FAMOS)
• Fissile Element Monitoring System (FEMOS)
• Active neutron measurement (CAMOS)
• Bulk material
  • Gamma monitoring system (RAYMOS)
  • Free release measuring facility for loose waste

Radioactive waste is generated both during operation and the decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities. This waste must be intermediately stored or disposed of safely. National and international laws and regulations as well as local conditions, place extensive requirements on the planning and approval of storage facilities for low, intermediate and high level radioactive waste. Our team can draw on a broad range of disciplines such as safety technology, measurement technology, process and machine technology and has the required know-how. We have successfully carried out national and international projects for design and construction of such storage facilities.

We offer:

• Studies and concepts for the selection of options
• Design of the systems engineering of intermediate storage facilities and repositories
• Production and supply of e.g. facilities such as remote-controlled handling and transport devices as well as monitoring systems
• Compiling documents for the approval in accordance with national (Radiological Protection Ordinance StrlSchV and Atomic Energy Act, AtG) and international regulations,
• Construction of intermediate storage facilities and repositories including test operation and commissioning.

The concept of storage, from design to the operation, is based on the guarantee of safe enclosure, the retention of radioactive substances as well as the necessary shielding of ionising radiation.