202028016

Radioactive Waste Management Of Spent Fuel In

Nuclear Power Plants

Name: Md.Ashiqur Rahman Alif

ID: 202028016
Course Title: Nuclear Fuel Cycle And Radioactive Waste Management
Course Code: NSE-309
Submitted To: Prof. Dr. Abdus Sattar Mollah
 202028016

INTRODUCTION

Nuclear power facilities are an essential element of the national energy system in many
nations. In comparison to most other sources of energy utilized in electricity generation,
nuclear power is both economically competitive and ecologically friendly. It adds to the
security of national electrical supply when used in combination with them. It appears
apparent that an increasing contribution to national energy supply from nuclear energy will
continue to be required in the medium term and beyond if the quality of living in the world's
industrialized countries is to be maintained and the energy demands of emerging countries
are to be satisfied. Some radioactive waste is created as a result of nuclear reactor operating.
However, when compared to the quantity of trash created by coal-fired power plants, these
are far lower in bulk.Nuclear wastes are low in activity, and the radionuclides contained within
them have little radiotoxicity and a short half-life. However, nuclear power plants are the
most numerous of all nuclear installations and generate the most radioactive waste.The kind
and amount of waste produced in a nuclear power plant are determined by the type of
reactor, its unique design characteristics, operating circumstances, and fuel integrity. These
radioactive wastes contain activated radionuclides from structural, moderator, and coolant
components, as well as corrosion products and fission product contamination from the fuel.
The procedures used to treat and condition waste generated at nuclear power plants have
now attained a high level of efficacy and dependability, and they are being improved to
improve the overall safety and economy of the waste management system.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE CLASSIFICATION

The actions associated with the safe management of radioactive waste vary greatly depending
on the kind of waste involved. Because the radiation levels of different forms of radioactive
waste varies substantially, the waste may be classified. National programs classify waste based
on its dangers and available or planned management routes. Here are a few examples of nuclear
waste.

Exempt waste (EW): Waste that meets the criteria for regulatory clearance, exemption, or
exclusion for radiation safety.

Very short-lived waste: Waste that can be held for decay for a limited time of up to a few
years and then removed from regulatory supervision pursuant to regulatory body-approved
procedures for uncontrolled disposal, use, or discharge.

Very low level waste (VLLW): Waste that does not necessarily meet the criteria of EW, but
that does not need a high level of containment and isolation and, therefore, is suitable for
disposal in near surface landfill type facilities with limited regulatory control.

Low level waste (LLW): Waste that is above clearance levels yet contains a small quantity of
long-lived radionuclides. Such waste requires rigorous separation and confinement for periods
of up to a few hundred years and is acceptable for disposal in designed information about
surface facilities.
Intermediate level waste (ILW): Waste that requires more confinement and isolation than
near surface disposal due to its constituents, notably long-lived radionuclides. ILW, on the
other hand, requires no or very moderate heat dissipation during storage and disposal.
 202028016

Intermediate level waste (ILW): Waste that requires more confinement and isolation than
near surface disposal due to its constituents, notably long-lived radionuclides. ILW, on the
other hand, requires no or very moderate dissipation of heat during storage and disposal.

SPENT FUEL

Spent nuclear fuel is exceedingly radioactive, radiates substantial radiation and heat, and is
normally stored for several years in a fuel pool. After this interval (also known as a cooling
phase), the spent fuel can be securely moved to wet or dry storage facilities or reprocessing
facilities. The amount of time expended fuel remains in various methods of storage is
determined by its properties and intended disposal. For example, spent fuel destined for
reprocessing may be stored for only a few years, but spent fuel designed for direct disposal
may be stored for decades. Uranium, fission products, plutonium, and other heavier elements
are found in spent fuel. The precise makeup of spent fuel will be determined by the original
fuel type (uranium, thorium, mixed oxide (MOX), etc.), enrichment (i.e. percentage of fissile
material), and reactor type and operating circumstances (e.g. thermal or fast neutron spectrum,
burnup, etc.). To capitalise on the spent fuel's residual fissile material, several nations have
implemented a complete or partially closed fuel cycle in which spent fuel is reprocessed,
resulting in the extraction and reuse of uranium and plutonium in new fuel, as well as the
separation of waste products.

BASIC NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL POLICIES

There are three major Nuclear Waste Management Concepts. Delay and decay, dilute and
distribute, concentrate and confine are some examples. Delay and decay are appropriate for
short-lived wastes.For liquid waste, dilute and disperse is appropriate. When liquid or gaseous
waste is very radioactive. These wastes are then diluted with water or another liquid. If those
two do not apply to such garbage, we can go on to the next stage.

RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE AT A

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

When no future use is anticipated but that can be withdrawn from regulatory supervision in any
other way, the only long-term sustainable alternative is disposal. As a result, decommissioned
sources without no recycling or repatriation possibilities must be considered radioactive waste
and treated accordingly, in accordance with all relevant international legal documents, safety
requirements, and ethical guidelines. Disposal is the ultimate stage in the management of
obsolete materials that cannot be restored to a provider or reused and cannot be held until they
deteriorate to clearance levels. Some nations, particularly those with a nuclear power program,
may be able to dispose its decommissioned sources in a near surface , geologic disposal site. It
will, however, be necessary to verify that the sources meet the waste acceptance requirements
established for those facilities.
When disposal is not an option, disposal in one or even more boreholes may be an option.
Borehole disposal provides a stable and sound disposal alternative.
 202028016

Fig: A sealed radioactive source's life cycle

WASTE LEVELS & SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT

Spent fuel and high level waste: Elevated radioactive wastes are extremely radioactive
materials created as a consequence of nuclear reactor reactions. High-level wastes can be
classified into two types:

• When spent (used) reactor fuel is accepted for disposal.

• Waste materials left behind after reprocessing used fuel.
 202028016

Spent nuclear fuel is spent fuel from a reactor which is no longer effective in providing power
due to a delayed fission process. It is, however, still thermally hot, extremely radioactive, and
possibly dangerous. Licensees must securely store spent nuclear fuel at their reactors until a
suitable disposal site for spent nuclear fuel is developed.

Intermediate level waste: ILW volumes are generally approximately 5% of total global
volumes when comparable to LLW and VLLW. There are several industrial scale procedures
for the safe processing, packaging, and storage of ILW. Many nations, including France, Japan,
and the United Kingdom, want to build an underground ILW disposal plant alongside an HLW
disposal facility.

Low level waste: The majority of LLW disposal sites are on or near the ground, including
superficial subterranean caves. Surface or near-surface installations can be found in countries
like as Spain, France, and Romania. However, other nations, like Sweden, Hungary, Germany,
and Switzerland, have taken the decision to dispose of this trash in deeper rock caves.

CONCERNS OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

Nuclear power is generally been regarded as an excellent source of energy for lighting and
heating our houses. It really can create power while emitting no greenhouse gases. Yet,
following a number of tragic mishaps at nuclear power plants throughout the world, people
have grown increasingly conscious that, if not handled responsibly, nuclear power offers a huge
risk to our manner of living. Nuclear (radioactive) waste storage has also raised safety and
health issues. Fortunately, in recent years, the safety procedures of operational nuclear power
plants have been increasingly stringent, and they are currently quite safe. Nonetheless, they
continue to create tons of extremely hazardous waste material each year, stuff that is difficult
to dispose of.

CONCLUSIONS

The report provides an overview of the global state of spent fuel and radioactive waste
management, as well as global assessments of the quantities of residual radioactive material
accumulated by nuclear operations. Remarkable progress has been made in the treatment,
conditioning, and storage of spent fuel and radioactive waste, as well as in the development of
national inventories, notably in the previous decades. Radioactive waste and spent fuel are
securely treated all around the world, and significant progress has been achieved in providing
more open and trustworthy information on a worldwide scale.
202028016