Provision of the radiation safety for the decomissioning of the heavy-water research nuclear reactor NRC «Kurchatov Institute» – ITEP

The article provides a brief description of organizational and technical measures aimed at ensuring radiation safety during the decommissioning of the heavy-water research nuclear reactor of Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics after A.I. Alikhanov of National Research Centre «Kurchatov Institute». Information is provided on the history and features of the operation of the reactor, including parameters and characteristics that are significant for planning and conducting work. The peculiarities of legal regulation in the field of ensuring radiation safety are given; regulatory acts and rules accompanying other activities during decommissioning and directly related to radiation safety are also considered. The paper describes the work done in preparation for dismantling, the initial and current state of the installation, forthcoming work with examples of dismantled equipment. Methods for handling radioactive waste arising during decommissioning are considered, including methods for fragmentation of large structural elements (examples of mechanical devices are given), methods for sorting according to different specific activity (high activity, low activity), radionuclide composition and physical properties (solid, metallic, non-metallic, liquid). A special method for handling liquid radioactive waste is described, which includes the collection and temporary storage system. To assess the radiation situation at workplaces during the dismantling of the reactor structures, calculations of radiation transfer were carried out on the running and shutdown reactor, during which it was established that the expected dose to the personnel when performing activities on decommissioning of TBR is much lower than the limit values, established by regulatory documents. In accordance with the estimated radiation doses, rules and instructions for personnel were determined, including the procedure for using personal protective equipment, the necessary measures for surface decontamination, etc. Information is given on the procedure for radiation monitoring at all stages of dismantling and at the final stages of decommissioning including control of premises, personnel, equipment, waste of various types, atmospheric air.

nuclear research facility, decommissioning, radiation safety, radioactive waste, radiation monitoring

1. Kochurov BP, Seliverstov VV. Development of heavy water nuclear reactors. ITEP research and development. Collection of articles «The Formation and Activities of the Institute. Heavy water reactors. Research at low energies». Part 1. NRC «Kurchatov Institute» – ITEP. 2017: 44-62. (in Russian).

2. Outstanding ITEF Scientists. NRC «Kurchatov Institute» – ITEP. 2015: 76 (in Russian).

3. Kruglov AK. How the nuclear industry was created in the USSR – 2nd ed., Rev. Atominform. 1995: 380 (in Russian).

4. Volkov EB, et al. Decommissioning of the ITEP TVR heavy water research reactor. NRC «Kurchatov Institute» – ITEP. 2003: 18 (in Russian).

5. Shvedov OV, et al. Problems of decommissioning the ITEP TVR heavy water research reactor. Reports of the conference «Advanced Heavy Water Reactors». 1997 November 18 – November 20; Moscow: NRC «Kurchatov Institute» – ITEP. 1998: 112-119. (in Russian).

6. Abalkina IL, Linge II. Features of the radioactive waste management for the decommissioning. Radioactive Waste. 2018;3(4): 6-15. (in Russian).

7. Gataullin RM. Perspective technologies for the management of the issues of the safe radioactive waste handling. Yadernaya i radiatsionnaya besopasnost=Nuclear and Radiation Safety Journal. 2008;4(50): 68-75. (in Russian).

8. Environmental impact assessment. Book 1. RAOPROEKT JSC. 2017; 231 (in Russian).

9. Sorokin V.T. Containers for the radioactive waste of the low and average level of activity. Yadernaya i radiatsionnaya besopasnost=Nuclear and Radiation Safety Journal. 2013;2(68): 15-22. (in Russian).