• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.339-347
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• 2016

The world's first underground repository for low- and intermediate- level radioactive waste (SFR1) has been in operation since 1988. SFR1 can accommodate $1,000m^3$ of radioactive waste per year with 4 chambers and 1 silo with a total capacity of $63,000m^3$ of radioactive waste. With extended operation time of 10 of the 12 nuclear power reactors and dismantling of the other 2 nuclear reactors, more nuclear waste need to be disposed in the future. Therefore, Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) submitted a license application for a repository extension (SFR3) that consists of 6 additional rock chambers with a capacity of $108,000m^3$ of radioactive waste and for accommodating 9 boiling water reactor tanks. In this study, plans for the extension SFR3 are presented with the geological, geomechanical and hydrogeological issues to be considered.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 2016

To meet nuclear regulatory requirements, more than 95% individual radionuclides in the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste inventory have to be identified. In this study, the radionuclide inventory has been estimated by taking the long-term radioactive waste generation, the development plan of disposal facility, and the new radioactive waste classification into account. The state of radioactive waste cumulated from 2014 was analyzed for various radioactive sources and future prospects for predicting the long-term radioactive waste generation. The predicted radionuclide inventory results are expected to contribute to secure the development of waste disposal facility and to deploy the safety case for its long-term safety assessment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.13-27
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• 2017

Purpose In the procedure of domestic medical radioactive self-disposal, there are many requests of supplementation and difficulties on the screening process. In this regard, presentation of basic guideline will improve the work processing efficiency of medical institution radioactive waste. From 2015 to 2016, We reviewed and compared a supplementary requests of domestic fifteen medical institution radioactive self-disposal Plan & Procedure manual. In connection with this, we derive the details of the radioactive waste document based on the relative regulation of nuclear safety Act. The representative supplementary requests of Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety are disposal method of non-flammability radioactive waste, storage method of scheduled self-disposal waste, the legitimacy of self-disposal and pre-treatment of self-disposal, reference radioactivity of disused filter and output of storage period, attachment the evidential matter of measurement efficiency when using a gamma counter. Through establishing a medical radioactive waste guideline, we can clearly suggest a classification standard of radioactive nuclide and the type of occurrence. As a result, we can confirm the reduction of examination processing period while preparing a self-disposal document and there is no spending expenses for business agency. Also, the storage efficiency of facility will better and reduce the economic expenses. On the basis of this guideline, we will expect a contribution to the improvement of work efficiency for officials who has a working-level difficulty of radioactive waste self-disposal.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2022

Purpose Recently, in the process of examining the self-disposal of radioactive waste by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, it is difficult to reach the final approval process for self-disposal. In connection with this, we intend to increase the processing efficiency of self-disposal and strengthen safety by analyzing cases of recent supplementary matters. Materials and Methods From 2018 to 2021, we compare and review a supplementary requests that preparing the procedures and plans for the self-disposal of radioactive waste by 20 institutions. In this regard, based on the provisions of the Atomic Energy Safety Act, we derive a detailed proposals for the self-disposal of radioactive waste by arranging the review processing period calculation and supplementary requests that occurred during the review process. Results The representative supplementary requests of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety are the calculation of the storage period by type and nuclide of radioactive waste, the contents of the packaging container, the RASIS reporting method, the planned storage method for self-disposal, confirmation of the final disposal company, and the storage period of the waste filter Calculation, radioactive labeling, etc. And it is emphasized as important. Conclusion The expected effects of the guidelines reflecting the latest supplements include reduction of the time required for document preparation and increase of work processing efficiency, improvement of storage efficiency in the radioactive waste storage room, and economic cost reduction. If the radioactive waste self-disposal guideline presented in this study is applied to the field, it is thought that it will be helpful in improving the work efficiency of those who are experiencing difficulties.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.840-846
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• 2016

Great amounts of solid radioactive waste (second waste) and waste solution are generated from the remediation of uranium-contaminated soil. To reduce these, we investigated washing with a less acidic solution and recycling the waste solution after removal of the dominant elements and uranium. Increasing the pH of the washing solution from 0.5 to 1.5 would be beneficial in terms of economics. A high content of calcium in the waste solution was precipitated by adding sulfuric acid. The second waste can be significantly reduced by using sorption and desorption techniques on ampholyte resin S-950 prior to the precipitation of uranium at pH 3.0.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.465-479
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• 2020

Two waste forms, namely cement and geopolymer, were investigated and tested in this study to solidify the corrosive sludge generated from the surface and precipitates of the tubes of steam generators in nuclear power plants. The compressive strength of the cement waste form cured for 28 days was inversely proportional to waste loading (24.4 MPa for 0wt% to 2.7 MPa for 60wt%). The corrosive sludge absorbed the free water in the hydration reaction to decrease the cementation reaction. When the corrosive sludge waste loading increased to 60wt%, the cement waste form showed decreased compressive strength (2.7 MPa), which did not satisfy the acceptance criteria of the repository (3.45 MPa). Meanwhile, the compressive strength of the geopolymer waste form cured for 7 days was proportional to waste loading (23.6 MPa for 0wt% to 31.9 MPa for 40wt%). The corrosive sludge absorbed the free water in the geopolymer when the water content decreased, such that a compact geopolymer structure could be obtained. Consequently, the geopolymer waste forms generally showed higher compressive strengths than cement waste forms.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2_spc
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• pp.291-303
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• 2020

The Kori-Unit 1 nuclear power plant, which is scheduled to be decommissioned after permanent shutdown, is expected to generate large amounts of various types of radioactive waste during the decommissioning process. Among these, nuclear reactors and internal structures have high levels of radioactivity and the dismantled structure must have the proper size and weight on the primary side. During decommissioning, it is important to prepare an appropriate and efficient disposal method through analysis of the disposal status and the legal restrictions on wastes generated from the reactors and internal structures. Nuclear reactors and internal structures generate radioactive wastes of various levels, such as medium, very low, and clearance. A radiation evaluation indicates that wastes in the clearance level are generated in the reactor head and upper head insulation. In this study, a clearance waste safety evaluation was conducted using the RESRAD-RECYCLE code, which is a safety evaluation code, based on the activation evaluation results for the clearance level wastes. The clearance scenario for the target radioactive waste was selected and the maximum individual and collective exposure doses at the time of clearance were calculated to determine whether the clearance criteria limit prescribed by the Nuclear Safety Act was satisfied. The evaluation results indicated that the doses were significantly low, and the clearance criteria were satisfied. Based on the safety assessment results, an appropriate metal recycle and disposal method were suggested for clearance, which are the subject of the deregulation of internal structures of nuclear power plant.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.3745-3748
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• 2012

This study presents a rapid and simple ${\alpha}$ source preparation method for a radioactive waste sample. The recovery of $^{239}Pu$, $^{232}U$ and $^{243}Am$ using a micro-coprecipitation method was over 95%. The ${\alpha}$-peak resolution of Pu and Am isotopes through the micro-coprecipitation method is enough to discriminate the Pu and Am isotopes from other Pu and Am isotopes. The determination of the Pu and Am isotopes using the micro-coprecipitation method was applied to the radioactive waste sample, so that the activity concentrations of the Pu and Am isotopes using the micro-coprecipitation method in the radioactive waste sample were similar to those using the electrodeposition method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.2339-2358
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• 2022

The review discusses various alternative approaches for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) reprocessing in aqueous carbonate media. The main stages, schemes, and methods of the most well-known and well-described processes for reprocessing SNF and some high-level radioactive waste using carbonate systems developed by research groups in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation described and compared. The main advantages of such methods are outlined compared to the SNF reprocessing in nitric acid media. The levels of development and proximity of the designed processes to the industrial implementation are shown. The main principle achievements, prospects, and routes for the refinement of such methods for the technology of SNF reprocessing and handling of high-level radioactive waste formulated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2356-2365
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• 2023

Characterization, dismantling and pre-disposal management of irradiated graphite (i-graphite) have an important role in safe decommissioning of several nuclear facilities which used this material as moderator and reflector. In addition to common radiation protection issues, easily volatizing long-lived radionuclides and stored Wigner energy could be released during imprudent retrieval and processing of i-graphite. With this regard, among all cutting technologies, abrasive waterjet (AWJ) can successfully achieve all of the thermo-mechanical and radiation protection objectives. In this work, factorial experiments were designed and systematically conducted to characterize the AWJ processing parameters and the machining capability. Moreover, the limitation of dust production and secondary waste generation has been addressed since they are important aspects for radiation protection and radioactive waste management. The promising results obtained on non-irradiated nuclear graphite blocks demonstrate the applicability of AWJ as a valid technology for optimizing the retrieval, storage, and disposal of such radioactive waste. These activities would benefit from the points of view of safety, management, and costs.