GASEOUS RADIOACTIVE WASTE SYSTEM

The CANDU 3 incorporates comprehensive systems for the management, technical and storage of solid, liquid, and gaseous radioactive wastes. 

Gaseous Radioactive Wastes - the Environment Report, section 3.2 of the Environment Report (reference 15.6) summarises the sources of gaseous radioactive waste, the gaseous radwaste system (WGS), and a BAT assessment for the chosen design options. 

The equipment in treatment systems for solid, liquid and gaseous radioactive waste may contain radioactive material in high concentrations, and radiation protection from this material should be provided for site personnel. An estimate should be made of the expected radionuclide content in treated waste, and of the consequent maximum radiation level that can arise in each area of the waste treatment system. Consideration should be given to the sources that give rise to the highest radiation levels (such as ion exchange... 

Although the sources of gaseous radioactive waste differ according to the type of reactor, possible sources include leakage from the coolant, the moderator systems... 

Gaseous radioactive waste should be classified for treatment purposes into waste arising directly from the primary coolant systems of the reactor and waste arising from the ventilation of plant areas. 

In the operation of treatment systems for gaseous radioactive waste, consideration should be given to the amount of gas to be treated the activity the radionuchdes contained in the gas the concentrations of particulates the chemical composition the humidity the toxicity and the possible presence of corrosive or explosive substances. 

The plasma energy recycle and conversion (PERC) process is an indirectly heated ex situ thermal recycling and conversion technology. According to the vendor, it treats hazardous waste, mixed radioactive waste, medical waste, municipal solid waste, radioactive waste, environmental restoration wastes, and incinerator ash in gaseous, hquid, slurry, or solid form. The technology uses an induction-coupled plasma (ICP) torch as its heat source coupled to a reaction chamber system to destroy hazardous materials. 

Waste Management. The facility s radioactive waste management systems shall include equipment necessary to collect, store, sample, and treat gaseous, liquid, or solid radioactive material and prepare them for reuse or disposal. 

The radioactive waste management system of the QP300 consists of gaseous waste treatment system, liquid waste treatment system, solid waste treatment and storage system and radioactive waste solidification system. 

The radioactive waste treatment systems provides all equipment necessary to coUect, process, monitor, and dispose of radioactive gaseous, liquid, and solid wastes that are produced during reactor operation. 

The direct discharge of liquid and gaseous effluents from a nuclear facility and their subsequent dilution and dispersion is permitted by regulatory agencies provided that releases are controlled to ensure that human health and the environment are protected. But as alternatives to containment and isolation of most types of radioactive waste, dilution and dispersion generally are not viable disposal options. It should be noted, however, that dilution and dispersion have an important role in geological disposal concepts. They are a safety factor in any system that cannot guarantee "zero release", which is to say that they are a factor in any system that must function over many thousands of years. 

The treatment systems for gaseous and liquid radioactive waste result in authorised discharges to atmosphere and controlled waters. Progressive reductions in discharges consistent with the UK National Strategy are expected as the AP 1000 is operated over time by applying plant operational experience and lessons learned from the individual AP 1000 plants, AP 1000 plants as an operating... 

The APIOOO radioactive waste (radwaste) management systems control the handling and treatment of liquid, gaseous, and solid radwaste produced within the Nuclear Island ... 

Systems for the containment of highly radioactive waste in gaseous, vapour, liquid and/or solid form. 

Solid radioactive waste results from the operation and maintenance of the nuclear power plant and its associated processing systems for gaseous and liquid radioactive waste. The nature of such waste varies considerably from plant to plant, as do the associated levels of activity. Sohd radioactive waste may consist of spent ion exchange resins (both bead and powder) cartridge filters and pre-coat filter cake particulate filters from ventilation systems charcoal beds tools contaminated metal scrap core components debris from fuel assemblies or in-reactor components and contaminated rags, clothing, paper and plastic. 

This section should provide relevant information on the radioactive waste treatment systems as described in paras 3.65-3.70. It should include the design features of the plant that safely control, collect, handle, process, store and dispose of solid, liquid and gaseous forms of radioactive waste arising from all activities on the site throughout the lifetime of the plant. This should include the structures, systems and components provided for these purposes and also the instrumentation incorporated to monitor for possible leaks or escapes of radioactive waste. The potential for radioactive waste to be adsorbed and/or absorbed should be considered in deciding on the measures necessary to deal with this hazard. Further discussion on matters to be covered in this section of the SAR is provided in Ref. [32]. 

Written records should be maintained of the amounts involved in each of these processes, and it should be possible to account fornearly aUofthe material from the time it is received until disposedofas waste. Some uncertainty is certain to be introduced during actual experimentation, especially if there is a gaseous metabolic or combustion product released through the exhaust from a hood. There also will be small quantities that will be retained on the interior of vessels containing radioactive liquids that wUl escape into the sanitary system when the container is washed. However, it should be possible to estimate these types of losses with reasonable accuracy. 

Release of radioactive material from a subsystan or component overheating of or damage to used fuel in transit or storage break in a gaseous or liquid waste treatment system. 

The gaseous waste treatment system prowdes storage of radioactive effluent until it decays down to a value allowable for discharge to the environment through the HEPA filter and iodine filter into the plant stack. 

Separation of the reactor installation from the environment (no discharges of radioactive liquid and gaseous wastes throughout the whole service life, including accidents no systems for such discharges) ... 

The APIOOO gaseous radwaste system is a once-through ambient temperature activated earbon delay system that collects and processes gaseous wastes originating from the reactor coolant system that are radioactive, to prevent an imcontrolled atmospheric release. The system includes a gas cooler, a moisture separator, an activated carbon-filled guard bed and two activated carbon-filled delay beds. Also included in the system are an oxygen analyser and a gas sampler. 

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