Design and development of a package prototype for intermediate level solid waste (ILW)

The principal objective of the job will concern the planning and the qualification of packages for intermediate level solid waste ILW (according to the new classification of the Ministerial Decree of August 7th 2015, ILW according to GSG-01 IAEA). The radioactive waste is the material containing radionuclide to superior levels to the so-called levels of leaving and for which their re-use is not foreseen. This category includes, for instance, part of the metals activated coming from the dismantlement of the primary circuits, as well as the graphite used as moderators/reflectors and other components from nuclear power plants (NPPs) under decommissioning, the radioactive waste from industrial activity, health and medical research. The project has the intention to develop a new concept - at national level - for the disposal of the intermediate level solid waste (ILW). The product is a dual-purpose package, that is qualified both for the transport and for the storage. The waste packages integrity is a crucial point for the safe disposal, storage and transport of radioactive waste. For qualification purposes, the manufacturers need to demonstrate that the waste packages can withstand loads that could occur during operation and accident conditions. The work will be divided into three phases: PHASE I: definition of the constructive characteristics of the package; PHASE II: realization of the packages prototypes; PHASE III: qualification tests B(U) type. The requirements must meet the needs for the Italian nuclear activities, currently based on the decommissioning of NPPs, the research activities and residual industrial activities. There is also a need to maintain a very high level of safety during the life of the packages. All over the world, in analogous way to what happens in our Country, the management of the radioactive waste is increasingly a remarkable practice. All States have radioactive residues that are produced by various activities, as the production of electricity in electric nuclear powers, the management of fittings of the nuclear fuel’s cycle, a series of applications of the radioisotopes in medical, industrial, agricultural, research and education field. It is of utmost importance for the aforesaid category of waste, to study and to plan some packages, that maintain very elevated level of safety during their useful life, that is expected around 100 years.