Abstract
Nuclear power is considered a clean energy because it does not produce the gases responsible for greenhouse effect. However, like all human activities, it is susceptible to the generation of waste. With the increasing demand for energy in Brazil, the use of nuclear power is being expanded. With this, the implementation of proper treatment and disposal have become a necessity in order to ensure the non-contamination of the public or environment and that the exposure doses are lower than the limits determined by legislation. Most of the waste produced in Brazil is classified with low and intermediate radiation levels; consequently, the national repository will be near surface, in accordance with the legislation. Considering the multi-barrier concept for the repository, the radioactive waste product is the first barrier. To have a qualified radioactive waste product, it should be solid or solidified using an inert material. With the intention to standardize the disposal process, all radioactive waste products will be placed in concrete containers. These containers will be settled in a concrete cell, which is the final engineered barrier of the repository. The state of the art is the first part of the study of the concrete containers and its specific criteria acceptation. Tests still need to be performed in order to ensure the stability and resistance of the material, since the repository’s operational and surveillance period is 60 and 300 years respectively.
Highlights
Since the generation capacity of nuclear power is superior to other thermic sources, and the fact that it does not produce the gases responsible for greenhouse effect, it has become one of the most important technologies to the future of the energy industry
This paper presents a review of the different concrete containers used for radioactive waste disposal in operating facilities in some locations of the world
Using concrete containers in repositories to compose the multi-barrier system for near surface repositories is a system already applied in several countries
Summary
Since the generation capacity of nuclear power is superior to other thermic sources, and the fact that it does not produce the gases responsible for greenhouse effect, it has become one of the most important technologies to the future of the energy industry. It was established that the increase of nuclear power will be achieved by the construction of 4 to 8 new nuclear plants, by the end of 2030, located in Northeast and Southeast [6] Even though it is considered a clean energy and a better substitute for non-nuclear techniques when applicable, its use is not exempt from the generation of waste, which comes from the nuclear fuel cycle, medical, research and industrial activities, involving radioactive materials and from the decommissioning of nuclear facilities [8]. Radioactive wastes are classified differently according to each country, but most of them are divided by the half-life (short, intermediate and long), radionuclide concentration (low, intermediate, high) and decay type (alpha, beta, gamma or neutrons) [8]. For this type of waste (low/intermediate level) the recommended repository, and in accordance with legislation, is the near surface one [10], with multiple barriers, being the waste product the first one [13]
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