Optimised Management of Orphan Wastes in the UK

Transcription

1 Optimised Management of Orphan Wastes in the UK ICEM13, Brussels, Belgium 9 th September 2013 Slimane Doudou, Jennifer McTeer, Stephen Wickham (Galson Sciences Ltd) Rob Thied, Richard Woodcock (Nuclear Technologies) Tom Turner, Clive Hamblin (AREVA RMC) Ciara Walsh, Matt Buckley (Radioactive Waste Management Directorate, NDA)

2 Definition of Orphan Wastes Orphan waste definition in this project Wastes with properties preventing their management by existing or currently planned routes on the site of arising Wastes lacking characterisation of provenance that makes their management uncertain First UK-wide survey of orphan wastes. Earlier (smaller) studies: Magnox study on orphan wastes and Wastes Requiring Additional Treatments (WRATS) Low Level Waste Repository study on LLW orphans 2

3 Outline Upstream Optioneering Project Objectives and Benefits of Orphan Wastes Study Outline of Study Tasks: Data Gathering Identification of Treatment Technologies Orphan Waste Database Wiring Diagrams Outcomes and Recommendations Contact Information 3

4 Upstream Optioneering The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) recognises that UK Higher Activity Waste (HAW) management not yet optimised The Upstream Optioneering work package aims to realise HAW management opportunities (one of which concerns orphan wastes) Managed by the Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) RWMD s mission is to deliver geological disposal and provide waste management solutions RWMD endorses waste management proposals through a disposability assessment process resulting in issue of a Letter of Compliance (LoC) Other Talks on Tuesday and Thursday relating to the Upstream Optioneering project (Stephen Wickham - general, Jenny Morris robust shielded containers) 4

5 Objectives of Orphan Waste Study Objective To identify opportunities for optimised management of orphan wastes within the UK Potential benefits Reduce hazards Reduce costs Fewer waste processing facilities Reduced waste volume Free up resources Development of centres of excellence for certain types of waste 5

6 Study Tasks Gather information on orphan wastes present at each site and develop generic orphan waste groups Review waste treatment technologies, available and in development, for application to generic orphan types Develop a database to capture all information and map orphan groups to treatment technologies Develop waste-led wiring diagrams to illustrate treatment options available 6

7 Sites Covered NDA estate Sellafield, Dounreay, Research Sites (Harwell and Winfrith), Magnox Reactor Sites, LLWR, Springfields Other sites EdF, MoD, GE Healthcare, Atomic Weapons Establishment, Culham, Urenco UK (Capenhurst) 7

8 Data Gathering Data was gathered by contacting appropriate people at each organisation Definition of orphan waste varies project definition is deliberately broad Initial list of typical orphan waste types was taken from UKRWI and derived inventory The list was extended, as necessary, after all sites provided information on their orphan wastes Final generic list has 35 groups and each site waste stream was mapped to one (or more) of these groups 8

9 Orphan Waste Groups Liquid Wastes: oils, tritiated oils, solvents, zinc bromide Solid wastes: ventilation filters, batteries, graphite, asbestos Sludge Lead Mercury ILW fuel Fines and particulates Radium-contaminated waste Tritium-contaminated waste Ion exchange resins 9

10 Orphan Waste Database Repository for all information gathered in the study Database contains a table for each organisation outlining information provided Queries map each site waste stream to the generic waste groups and relevant treatment technologies User can use database to find answer to questions such as: What types of orphan wastes does each UK nuclear site licensee own? Which UK sites have orphan Asbestos waste? Which orphan waste types can the vitrification process treat? What is the volumetric distribution of Sludge waste across UK sites? 10

11 Database Front-end 11

12 Treatment Technologies Three lines of enquiry were used to obtain information on treatment technologies Direct engagement with waste producers and nuclear licensed sites Literature searches and use of information from other orphan waste studies Direct engagement with the supply chain Twelve supply chain companies offering different types of treatment technology were interviewed 12

13 Technology Table Information on each technology provided includes: Summary Description; Applicability; Examples of Applicability; Advantages and Disadvantages; and Stage of Development. There are: 29 chemical treatment technologies 14 physical treatment technologies 8 high-temperature treatment technologies 8 immobilisation treatment technologies 3 other technologies 13

14 Technology Table Vitrification Description: vitrification involves combining feedstock materials with glass forming compounds at high temperature, usually to produce a solution of radionuclides in a glass matrix which is poured into a container and allowed to cool to form a monolithic block Applicability: Contaminated bulk oil, graphite, ion exchange material, putrescible waste, reactive metals, sludge, solvents Applicability example: GEOMELT vitrification process has been used to treat various materials, including asbestos, in the US Pros and cons: + The high temperature destroys any organic or reactive species - Uses complex and expensive technology Stage of development: Not available in the UK for ILW treatment 14

15 Technology Matrix Maps the applicability of treatment technologies against the generic orphan waste groups Indicates where a waste type can potentially be treated at an existing UK facility 15

16 Wiring Diagrams Comprehensive and clear illustration of the generic waste management process for each orphan waste type The diagrams are led by the waste management requirements and make use of a nodal approach 16

17 Wiring Diagram Sealed Sources 17

18 Ranking Waste Types by Volume 18

19 Suggested approach to Orphan Waste Management 19

20 Orphan Waste Management Recommendations Improved characterisation Improved sorting and segregation Centralised treatment Information sharing Collaboration with Low Level Waste Repository Orphan waste service arrangements Engagement with RWMD Mobile treatment plants Encourage flexible treatments Avoid orphan creation Intersite transfer of waste Consider use of Robust Shielded Containers 20

21 Acknowledgments Funding from NDA RWMD Waste producers for collaboration: AWE, Culham, DSRL, EdF Energy, GE Healthcare, LLWR, Magnox Ltd, MoD, RSRL, Sellafield, Springfields, Urenco UK Other contributors: Matt Buckley, Ciara Walsh, Martin Constable, Steve Arden, Newton Bowmer, Rebecca Ferris, Chris Howard, Carwyn Jones, Glyn Davies, Paul Hooker, Jenny Kent (née Morris), Roger Wilmot 21

22 Contact Information Tel: +44 (0) Upstream Optioneering Webpage: Upstream Optioneering 22

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24 Specific Management Opportunities Classificati on Orphan Waste Group Orphan Management Opportunity High Hazard High Volume / High Hazard Fines and Particulates Oils Solvents Sludge Tritium Contaminated Consider potential to replicate the Harwell (clay beads) process for immobilising fines elsewhere Facilitate a consolidated approach to the treatment of oils and oily wastes Sellafield could evaluate Solvent Treatment Plant capability to treat Dounreay solvents Develop a consolidated approach to characterisation, remobilisation and recovery of sludge wastes Facilitate sharing expertise between sites. Update relevant waste package specification guidance document Multi-Site High Fissile Facilitate better characterisation of inventories. Share LoC experience, and look at possibility of increasing package limits Ventilation Filters Characterise UK inventory and consider an integrated approach and establish site to lead on filter management 24

25 Specific Management Opportunities Classification Waste Hierarchy Quick Wins Lead Orphan Waste Group Mercury Radium / Thorium Sealed Sources Orphan Management Opportunity Sellafield/LLWR develop holistic lead management strategy Characterise UK inventory, expand existing treatments, and establish site lead Facilitate shared learning, input to store and GDF operational safety, consider near-surface and geological disposal long-term safety implications Facilitate sharing experience on pre-treatment, treatment and packaging 25