Implementation of the new radioactive liquid effluent treatment system (Radwaste)
Status: completed
Duration: 2014-2021
The drainage of the floors of classified areas, the laundries used for radiation protection equipment, and the activities provided for in the surveillance procedures generate radioactive liquid effluents that must be appropriately controlled and treated in order to be discharged in compliance with the limits imposed by the nuclear regulations according to the discharge formula authorised by the decommissioning decree for the plant.
To replace the system that was in place during the plant's operation, a new radioactive liquid effluent treatment system has been designed and will be implemented.
Work on the new system, now underway, involved the preliminary and preparatory demolition and remediation of the premises housing the old radwaste and the systems and components of the old plant.
The new system for the treatment of liquid effluents includes a mechanism for the drying and evaporation of liquid waste, which minimises the production of secondary waste from the radioactive liquid purification process. It also produces a high volume reduction of primary radioactive waste.
The drying/evaporation plant, together with the new storage tanks for liquid effluents to be treated and discharged after the evaporation process, have been built and installed in the specially refurbished premises of the facility, while work is in progress to set up the auxiliary and control systems for this facility.
Construction was completed in 2022.
Once the installation and testing of the plant was completed, the authorisation for commissioning was obtained from the Italian National Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ISIN) in its capacity as a regulatory body.
The new RadWaste system allowed to start the sludge remediation on the three tanks (T12, T13 and T26) of the old RadWaste system. This activity will be completed in 2023.