Methodology development for volume reduction and safe storage and disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive wastes

低、中水平放射性废物减容、安全储存和处置的方法开发

• 批准号: 519797-2017
• 负责人: Wren, Jungsook
• 金额: $ 7.56万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=692865
• 关键词: Methodology; development; volume; reduction; safe

Canada relies on nuclear power to provide a significant proportion of its clean, non-carbon-emitting energy, and has an enviable record for safe operation of nuclear power plants and storage of the nuclear waste that they produce. Waste is currently stored at the sites where it is generated, but strategies for its long-term storage or disposal are being developed. For low and intermediate level wastes (L & ILW), which do not include spent nuclear fuel, Ontario Power Generation plans to use a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) which will safely store the waste deep underground in impermeable rock. Existing L & ILW wastes will be stored in the repository, as well as new wastes generated from continuing power plant operations and decommissioning and refurbishment of reactors.This project is designed to support the DGR operation by addressing two important aspects: the need to reduce the volumes of waste stored in the DGR, and the need to package the waste so that it can be safely and efficiently transported, and safely held in the DGR in the 60-100 years that it will operate before it is permanently sealed. The first part of the project will explore methods for decontaminating the surfaces of metallic wastes, so that the radioactive surface contaminants can be separated from the bulk metal. The second part of the project will investigate the use of geopolymers for the containment of certain types of wastes. Geopolymers are mechanically tough composites that can be produced from existing industrial waste materials, and are expected to contain the radioactive waste in a way that minimizes the leaching out of radioactive components, and the generation of gases that can cause the materials to swell or fracture. This project will produce new scientific knowledge that will allow the volumes of wastes stored in the DGR to be reduced, and ensure certain types of waste are more safely contained. This research will therefore allow the costs of the DGR project to be minimized, and the short, medium, and long-term safety of the project to be augmented.

加拿大依靠核电提供其清洁、无碳排放能源的很大一部分，并且在核电站的安全运行和所产生的核废料的储存方面拥有令人羡慕的记录。 目前废物储存在其产生地，但其长期储存或处置策略正在制定中。对于不包括乏核燃料的低放废物和中放废物（L＆ILW），安大略发电公司计划使用深层地质储存库（DGR），将废物安全地储存在地下深处的不渗透岩石中。 现有的 L 和 ILW 废物以及因持续发电厂运营以及反应堆退役和翻新而产生的新废物将存储在储存库中。该项目旨在通过解决两个重要方面来支持 DGR 运行：需要减少DGR 中储存的废物量，以及对废物进行包装的需要，以便能够安全、高效地运输废物，并在 DGR 永久运行之前的 60-100 年内安全地保存在 DGR 中密封的。该项目的第一部分将探索净化金属废物表面的方法，以便将放射性表面污染物与大块金属分离。该项目的第二部分将研究地质聚合物用于遏制某些类型废物的用途。地质聚合物是一种机械坚韧的复合材料，可以用现有的工业废料生产，并且有望以最大限度地减少放射性成分浸出以及可能导致材料膨胀或破裂的气体产生的方式容纳放射性废物。该项目将产生新的科学知识，从而减少 DGR 中储存的废物量，并确保更安全地容纳某些类型的废物。因此，这项研究将使 DGR 项目的成本最小化，并增强项目的短期、中期和长期安全性。