During the operation period of the plant, the primary circuit transferred the heat of the nuclear fission reaction to the boilers and generated steam. The steam was later transformed in electric energy through three 70-Megawatt turbo-alternators.
Before dismantling, the external insulation of boilers and the primary pipes for carbon dioxide circulation were removed.
This process produced several cubic metres of insulating material, later treated and disposed between 2015 and 2016.
Slightly radioactive insulating material was, instead, collected and it is currently stored in the premises of the reactor building designated as temporary buffer.
The operations have involved both selection and radiological characterisation of materials. The contaminated part of material was stored in 220-litre drums, super-compacted and then repacked in 47 “overpack” 380-litre drums, with a reduction value > 3. Overpacks are currently stored in the plant interim storage facility for low-activity waste.
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The operations have involved both selection and radiological characterisation of materials. The contaminated part of material was stored in 220-litre drums, super-compacted and then repacked in 47 “overpack” 380-litre drums, with a reduction value > 3. Overpacks are currently stored in the plant interim storage facility for low-activity waste.
About 16.3 tonnes of non-contaminated insulating material are stored in 7 prismatic containers, before being disposed as traditional asbestos-containing waste.
In 1998, the main and auxiliary rotors with six gas circulators and blowers were disassembled and removed. This process produced about 500 tonnes of metallic material, then sent to recycling facilities.
At the same time, all electric components and lubricating circuits were dismantled and the civil supporting structures of the machines within the blower room were demolished.
In 2004, underground tanks for the storage of lubricating oils were reclaimed and disposed.
Between 2003 and 2006, the principal pipes and by-passes of the reactor primary cooling circuit were disassembled.
More than 90% of the materials removed resulted non-radioactive and was removed from the site as conventional metallic material and sent to recovery and recycling facilities.
The radioactive materials, after being reduced in size, are now packed in specific metallic boxes and stored in the interim facility within the reactor building.
In 2008, the concrete foundations of the blower engines in the primary circuit were demolished, resulting in about 270 tonnes of materials. After the separation of steel and concrete, non-contaminated materials were sent to recovery and recycling facilities, while part of the concrete, which resulted slightly contaminated, was stored in specific containers.