Dismantling and decontamination processes

This teaching unit will address the different possible techniques for dismantling and decontaminating nuclear facilities. After having described the stakes and the operations related to the dismantling of the installations and then the available measurement tools (imagers, gamma spectrometers, ...), the available decontamination processes will be presented according to the nature of the objects to be decontaminated (traditional decontamination processes or by complex fluids). Several innovative techniques for decontamination of contaminated surfaces will be presented (classical decontamination processes, micellar solutions, gels, foams, supercritical fluids).

Hourly volumes* :

            CM : 12h

            TD : 8h

The objective of this teaching unit is to address the issues and operations related to the dismantling of nuclear facilities and to present the measurement tools used (imagers, gamma spectrometers, ...). In addition, it will also describe the innovative processes available to undertake the various stages of decontamination depending on the nature of the objects to be decontaminated (classical decontamination processes, micellar solutions, gels, foams, supercritical fluids).

Fuel cycle: from mining to waste management

Final test

• Dismantling of nuclear facilities
  • Introduction, history, actors, terminology
  • Protection of workers and the public: exposure regulations, radiation protection zoning, static and dynamic containment
  • Phases in the life of a nuclear facility: bases of French regulations (classification of facilities - different decrees), preparatory operations for shutdown, dismantling levels
  • Waste management: nuclear waste categories (existing channels), waste studies (definition of waste zoning - reference zoning, operational zoning)
  • INBs to be decommissioned in France and abroad: reactors and fuel cycle laboratories and plants; dismantling strategies
  • Experience feedback: completed projects
• Cutting tools for dismantling :
  • Characterization of tools, families and examples of tools
  • Comparison and synthesis
  • Concrete cutting
• Characterization and radiological inventory tools applied to dismantling
  • Reminders on radioactivity and radiation/matter interactions
  • Imagers: gamma camera, alpha camera, R&D projects
  • Gamma spectrometry measurement (CdTe probes - Projects - R&D)
  • Surface controls: applications
  • Calculation codes (codes used - associated characterization methods
• Micellar solutions, gels and foams: innovative processes for the radiological decontamination of solids
  • Introduction: radiological decontamination, objectives and definitions
  • Objectives of solids decontamination and general principles
  • Decontamination processes for conventional solids
  • New decontamination processes using complex fluids
• Micellar solutions for metal degreasing
• ASPIGELS gels: self-drying and fracturing gels for large flat surfaces (metals, concrete, etc.)
• GELIFOAM foams: static gel foams for volume decontamination of large volumes of complex shape, flotation foams for decontamination of C''s earth MONA foam for sodium destruction.
• Perspectives

Administrative contact(s): Secretariat Master Chemistry

master-chimie @ umontpellier.fr (master-chimie @ umontpellier.fr)