Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities


Book Description




Organization and Management for Decommissioning of Large Nuclear Facilities


Book Description

Provides information on the management of the decommissioning of large nuclear facilities with an emphasis on organisational aspects. The report identifies the general issues to be addressed and provides an overview of the organisational activities necessary to manage a decommissioning project in a safe, timely and cost effective manner.




Nuclear Decommissioning


Book Description

Once a nuclear installation has reached the end of its safe and economical operational lifetime, the need for its decommissioning arises. Different strategies can be employed for nuclear decommissioning, based on the evaluation of particular hazards and their attendant risks, as well as on the analysis of costs of clean-up and waste management. This allows for decommissioning either soon after permanent shutdown, or perhaps a long time later, the latter course allowing for radioactivity levels to drop in any activated or contaminated components. It is crucial for clear processes and best practices to be applied in decommissioning such installations and sites, particular where any significant health and environmental risks exist.This book critically reviews the nuclear decommissioning processes and technologies applicable to nuclear power plants and other civilian nuclear facilities. Part one focuses on the fundamental planning issues in starting a nuclear decommissioning process, from principles and safety regulations, to financing and project management. Part two covers the execution phase of nuclear decommissioning projects, detailing processes and technologies such as dismantling, decontamination, and radioactive waste management, as well as environmental remediation, site clearance and reuse. Finally, part three details international experience in the decommissioning of nuclear applications, including the main nuclear reactor types and nuclear fuel cycle facilities, as well as small nuclear facilities and legacy nuclear waste sites. - Critically reviews nuclear decommissioning processes and technologies applicable to nuclear power plants and other civilian nuclear facilities - Discusses the fundamental planning issues in starting a nuclear decommissioning process - Considers the execution phase of nuclear decommissioning projects, including dismantling, decontamination, and radioactive waste management, as well as environmental remediation, site clearance and reuse




Nuclear Energy Basic Principles


Book Description

Describes the rationale and vision for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The publication identifies the basic principles that nuclear energy systems must satisfy to fulfil their promise of meeting growing global energy demands.




Decommissioning of Small Medical, Industrial and Research Facilities


Book Description

"Decommissioning activities for zero-power reactors, radio-diagnostic and radiotherapy hospital departments and laboratories and factories using radioactive material may be erroneously perceived as trivial and of low priority. This publication provides practical information, experience and assistance aimed at a broad spectrum of practitioners who are faced with decommissioning of such small nuclear facilities. Particular consideration is given to the financial and scientific resources, and early planning, which are all factors essential to efficient and effective decommissioning. It is written as a simplified, stepwise approach for guidance to nuclear operators who may have little or no experience in decommissioning. An accompanying CD contains practical information in two Annexes, including descriptions of decommissioning projects problems encountered, solutions and analyses, and lessons learned"--Provided by publisher.




Management of Nuclear Power Plant Projects


Book Description

Member States intending to introduce a nuclear power programme will need to pass through several phases during the implementation. Experience shows that careful planning of the objectives, roles, responsibilities, interfaces and tasks to be carried out in different phases of a nuclear project is important for success. This publication presents a harmonized approach that may be used to structure the owner/operator management system and establish and manage nuclear projects and their development activities irrespective of the adopted approach. It has been developed from shared management practices and consolidated experiences provided by nuclear project management specialists through a series of workshops and working groups organized by the IAEA. The resultant publication presents a useful framework for the management of nuclear projects from initiation to closeout and captures international best practices.




Disarmament and Decommissioning in the Nuclear Domain


Book Description

Following the acquisition of the atomic bomb by five states, the United Nations began drafting several treaties to limit nuclear proliferation. These efforts failed, as four more states also acquired nuclear weapons. In a similar vein, an attempt to limit atomic weapons - primarily within the two superpowers - was initiated. While the number of weapons has decreased, the new bombs now being manufactured are more powerful and more precise, negating any reduction in numbers. In the field of civil nuclear use, all nuclear facilities (reactors, factories, etc.) have a limited lifespan. Once a plant is permanently shut down, these facilities must be decommissioned and dismantled. These operations are difficult, time-consuming and costly. In addition, decommissioning generates large volumes of radioactive waste of various categories, including long-lived and high-activity waste. Risks to the environment and to health are not negligible during decommissioning. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have produced numerous publications with recommendations. Each state has its own decommissioning strategy (immediate or delayed) and final plan for the site - whether it be returning it to greenfield status or obtaining a nuclear site license with centuries-long monitoring.




Handbook for Regulatory Inspectors of Nuclear Power Plants


Book Description

This publication addresses inspection basics, concepts and methods on how to plan inspection activities, perform inspections of safety related structures, systems and components, evaluate the safety significance of inspection findings, and document the results. It presents high level considerations for the inspection of selected programmatic areas including plant operations, radiation protection, fire protection and maintenance activities at nuclear power plants (NPPs). The publication focuses on the regulatory inspection of operating NPPs and, when applicable, describes how the same inspection techniques can be applied to facilities undergoing construction, preoperational testing, and decommissioning. The general techniques described may be also used in the inspection of other types of nuclear facilities.




Integrated Approach to Planning the Remediation of Sites Undergoing Decommissioning


Book Description

Investigates the potential synergies between decommissioning and site remediation in order to allow for the implementation of both processes in an integrated and cost effective way. The publication reviews the planning procedures for, and operational constraints on, partial remediation of sites.




Managing the Unexpected in Decommissioning


Book Description

This publication explores the implications of decommissioning in the light of unexpected events and the trade-off between activities to reduce them and factors militating against any such extra work. It classifies and sets out some instances where unexpected findings in a decommissioning programme led to a need to either stop, or reconsider the work, re-think the options, or move forward on a different path. It provides practical guidance in planning and management of decommissioning taking into account unexpected events. This guidance includes an evaluation of the experience and lessons learned in tackling decommissioning that is often neglected. Thus it will enable future decommissioning teams to adopt the relevant lessons to reduce additional costs, time delays and radiation exposures.