The HADES Facility for High Activity Decommissioning Engineering & Science: part of the UK National Nuclear User Facility

N C Hyatt,L J Gardner,C L Corkhill,C L Thorpe,R J Hand,M C Stennett

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/818/1/012022

Abstract

Research and innovation is key to delivering UK Government’s civil nuclear energy policy, in particular to accelerate reduction in the hazard, timescale and cost of legacy decommissioning and geological disposal of radioactive wastes. To address this challenge, a national centre of excellence, the HADES Facility, has been established to support research and innovation in High Activity Decommissioning Engineering & Science, as part of the wider network of UK National Nuclear User Facilities. Herein, we describe the development of this user facility, the current status of its capability, and functional equipment specifications. The unique capabilities of the HADES Facility, in the UK academic landscape, are emphasised, including: handling of weighable quantities of 99Tc and transuranics; quantitative electron probe microanalysis of radioactive materials; hot isostatic pressing of radioactive materials; and laboratory-based X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. An example case study of the application of the HADES capability is described, involving thermal treatment of a real radioactive ion exchange resin waste to produce a conceptual vitrified waste form.

Highlights

The UK Government’s civil nuclear policy has the fourfold objectives of: exploiting nuclear power for low carbon, reliable and affordable electricity generation; decommissioning of legacy nuclear fuel cycle activities; clean-up of defence nuclear liabilities; and safe disposal of radioactive wastes [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
We identified a national need for state of the art laboratory research infrastructure and equipment to ensure timely deployment of thermal treatment technology to meet the objectives of Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Strategy and the Nuclear Sector Deal
Case study of thermal treatment research enabled by the HADES Facility In the UK context, spent ion exchange resins (SIERs) are classified as both intermediate and low level waste; some resins are considered to be problematic radioactive waste... which has no defined waste treatment and disposal route available or for which existing routes are suboptimal [14]

Summary

Introduction

The UK Government’s civil nuclear policy has the fourfold objectives of: exploiting nuclear power for low carbon, reliable and affordable electricity generation; decommissioning of legacy nuclear fuel cycle activities; clean-up of defence nuclear liabilities; and safe disposal of radioactive wastes [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. We identified a national need for state of the art laboratory research infrastructure and equipment to ensure timely deployment of thermal treatment technology to meet the objectives of NDA Strategy and the Nuclear Sector Deal.

Results

Conclusion