Tests on the Project “Creation of a facility for release of materials from regulatory control …” have commenced at Chornobyl NPP. Overall purpose of this Project is to improve a level of safety and economic efficiency in managing all types of radioactive materials in Ukraine, and to implement all possible actions for reduction of waste amount and implementation of long-term tasks on the safe final disposal.
The Project is funded by the European Union within the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation Program 2011, Part II. The Project works are performed by the Contractor – VF a.s. from the Czech Republic.
Use of the facility for release of materials from regulatory control is the final stage of radioactive materials (RM) management process. Materials, which are meant for the release from regulatory control, will be delivered to the facility only following decontamination and other activities envisaged by the process. Using spectrometric measurements, this facility will enable to justify the possibility of RM release from regulatory control and their return to national economy.
Representatives of ChNPP departments, production activity of which is connected with RM management, radiation monitoring, equipment dismantling, health and safety, took part in the tests during the first day. Besides, the tests were attended by specialists of the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) and the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (SSTC for NRS). Representatives of the Regulator (SNRIU) will be present on the site during the whole period of testing.
Read more: Radioactive Material Management
Also a special interest in participation in these tests was shown by representatives of the State Enterprise “National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom” (SE NNEGC “Energoatom”), as the experience gained by the ChNPP in the field of RM release from regulatory control has practical benefits also for enterprises subordinated to the SE NNEGC “Energoatom” which is planning to create the similar facilities on the sites of its separate subdivisions.
Industrial capacity of this facility is 10 tons a day. However, the equipment will reach this capacity only after a period of its pilot-industrial operation.
According to a representative from the Czech side, Project Manager Lucas Dzbanek, five tests from the approved general program were carried out during the first testing day. All tests passed successfully. Complaints to the equipment and software operation were not recorded.
FYI
Results of laboratory analysis of RM representative samples, measurements and calculations are used to justify RM release from regulatory control in compliance with the clearance levels. For measurement of specific activity of radionuclides in RM batches the most optimum are spectrometric methods, as software of spectrometric units enables to optimize the measurement parameters and automate the calculations.
The main process equipment of this facility is a stationary high purity germanium gamma-spectrometric measuring system (FRM-03). It will enable operations on determining specific activity of material, gross activity of contents of a measured container, and minimum detectable activity. Automated transportation of a measured container and its weighing, and log records management with formation of measurement reports will be ensured. All processes at the facility will be performed automatically.
Nowadays, radioactive materials in Ukraine are released in relatively small volumes. However, in future it is planned to significantly extend this activity. In particular, this is connected with decommissioning of Chornobyl NPP Units No. 1-3.
