Decommissioning of reactors after accidents
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L. Ackermann
Abstract
The decommissioning is the final phase in the life cycle of a nuclear reactor. In case of finishing the operation after the foreseen lifetime the decommissioning is planned long-dated with regard to the options “immediate dismantling”, “safe enclosure” and “entombment”. In case of an accident the operational phase was mostly finished immediately depending from the possible options for managing the damaged facility. With regard to the accidents in the nuclear power plants Three Mile Island Unit 2 (USA), Lucens Experimental Reactor (Switzerland), A-1 (Slovakia) and Chernobyl-4 (Ukraine) this article presents a short description of these accidents and of the related decommissioning projects. The examples demonstrate that in principle these projects represent variations of the above mentioned options. It has, however, to be noted that the realisation of the entombment of the destroyed unit Chernobyl-4 is unique with regard to the essential high complexity related to the first and the second Sarcophagus.
Kurzfassung
Für Kernreaktoren ist die Stilllegung die letzte Phase in ihrem Lebenszyklus. Einer Stilllegung nach Vollendung der vorgesehenen Betriebsdauer geht eine langfristige Planung voraus, wobei die Optionen “Unmittelbarer Rückbau”, “Sicherer Einschluss” und “Teilabbau und Sicherer Einschluss der verbleibenden Anlagenteile” (“Entombment”) zur Anwendung kommen. Nach einem größeren Störfall wurde bisher in den meisten Fällen die Betriebsphase in Abhängigkeit von den Störfallauswirkungen unverzüglich beendet. Mit Bezug auf die Kernkraftwerke Three Mile Island Block 2 (USA), Lucens (Schweiz), A-1 (Slowakei) und Tschernobyl-4 (Ukraine) beschreibt der vorliegende Artikel die jeweiligen Stör- bzw. Unfälle und charakterisiert die zugehörigen Stilllegungsprojekte. Anhand der Beispiele wird demonstriert, dass diese Projekte grundsätzlich Variationen der o. g. Optionen darstellen. Dabei ist zu berücksichtigen, dass die Realisierung des Entombments des zerstörten Blockes Tschernobyl-4 und die dabei auftretenden Probleme bisher ohne Beispiel sind.
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© 2005, Carl Hanser Verlag, München
Articles in the same Issue
- Contents/Inhalt
- Contents
- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Summaries
- Editorial
- Decommissioning of nuclear facilities
- Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
- Regulation of nuclear decommissioning
- Survey of decommissioning projects
- Decommissioning strategy selection
- Decommissioning technologies, including recent developments and special features of the dismantling of nuclear research and prototype facilities
- The role of clearance in Germany – release of materials, buildings and sites
- The decommissioning of light water reactors – experience
- Decommissioning of gas-cooled reactors
- Decommissioning of reactors after accidents
- Decommissioning and dismantling of the Siemens fuel cycle facilities
- Decommissioning of back-end nuclear facilities
- Decommissioning and rehabilitation of uranium and thorium production facilities
- German assistance for the dismantling of nuclear submarines in Russia
Articles in the same Issue
- Contents/Inhalt
- Contents
- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Summaries
- Editorial
- Decommissioning of nuclear facilities
- Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
- Regulation of nuclear decommissioning
- Survey of decommissioning projects
- Decommissioning strategy selection
- Decommissioning technologies, including recent developments and special features of the dismantling of nuclear research and prototype facilities
- The role of clearance in Germany – release of materials, buildings and sites
- The decommissioning of light water reactors – experience
- Decommissioning of gas-cooled reactors
- Decommissioning of reactors after accidents
- Decommissioning and dismantling of the Siemens fuel cycle facilities
- Decommissioning of back-end nuclear facilities
- Decommissioning and rehabilitation of uranium and thorium production facilities
- German assistance for the dismantling of nuclear submarines in Russia