Description: Expert opinion on partitioning and transmutation Concepts for partitioning and transmutation are being discussed and researched internationally. With the help of transmutation, highly radioactive nuclear waste is to be processed in such a way that the radiation decreases more quickly. But so far this is only theory. BASE has commissioned an expert report to examine whether these concepts can be implemented in practice. Transmutation technology promises to process high- level radioactive waste in such a way that that the radiation decreases more quickly. However, this is only possible in theory so far. Even with intensive research, it would probably take several decades for the technology to be ready for use. A final repository for high-level radioactive waste would still be necessary, as only a part of the high-level nuclear waste can be converted. For the foreseeable future, deep geological disposal will be the better alternative: such is the conclusion of a recent expert opinion commissioned by BASE . Partitioning and transmutation require many nuclear facilities to be operated on a long-term basis. Re-entry into a large-scale nuclear programme would be necessary. © BASE BASE has commissioned an expert opinion to examine whether concepts of transmutation can be implemented in practice. Below is a summary of the findings: Concepts for partitioning and transmutation are being discussed and partly researched by scientists worldwide. In theory, some of these technologies are capable of transforming certain radionuclides and reducing the radiation intensity of nuclear waste. The conversion of long-lived atomic nuclei into short-lived ones requires the development of new reactors and reprocessing plants. To date, there are only conceptual ideas for this. It would probably take several decades of development before the necessary technologies would be available. In the event of successful development, the implementation of the programme would take several more decades. Partitioning and transmutation would require a large number of nuclear facilities operating on a long-term basis. The relaunch of a large- scale nuclear programme would thus be necessary. Transmutation cannot replace a repository for high-level radioactive waste. It is expected that not all high-level radioactive waste will be transmutable. Furthermore, new waste would be produced during the P&T process. This, in turn, would mean a considerable delay to the schedule for getting a repository ready to be loaded. Today's problems would thus be imposed on future generations. Separated substances such as plutonium can be used to produce nuclear weapons. There is a risk they might be stolen and used for non-peaceful purposes. With regard to the existing high-level radioactive waste in Germany, a model calculation in the expert report concluded as follows A repository for high-level radioactive waste will be needed in any case. Materials that cannot be transmuted include: Vitrified waste, waste from research reactors, and uranium and fission products present in the remaining fuel assemblies. Even in a best-case scenario, about 30 of 150 remaining tonnes of transuranic materials would still be there after 300 years. The nuclear fission of the transuranic elements would produce new fission products. Some of these fission products have extremely long half-lives (iodine-129: 15.7 million years and caesium-135: 2.3 million years) and are of great importance for the long-term safety of the repository . The operation, decommissioning and dismantling of the required nuclear reactors, reprocessing plants and, if necessary, fuel element factories, would generate considerable quantities of additional low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. These may well be of the same order of magnitude as the quantities planned for emplacement in the Konrad mine repository (303,000 cubic metres). The expert opinion concluded that partitioning and transmutation are to be considered unsuitable with regard to the two objectives stated in the Site Selection Act - ensuring the best possible protection of humans and the environment from the effects of ionising radiation , and avoiding unreasonable burdens for future generations. Expert opinion for download (in German) Sicherheitstechnische Analyse und Risikobewertung von Konzepten zu Partitionierungs- und Transmutationsanlagen für hochradioaktive Abfälle Download (PDF, 3MB, File meet accessibility standards) More on this topic Transmutation of high-level radioactive waste
Origin: /Bund/BASE/Website
Tags: Kernwaffe ? Iod-129 ? Brennelement ? Ionisierende Strahlung ? Plutonium ? Radioaktiver Abfall ? Pflanzensamen ? Transuran ? Uran ? Wiederaufbereitungsanlage ? Zellkern ? Forschungsreaktor ? Endlager ? Kernreaktor ? Kernspaltung ? Kerntechnische Anlage ? Lagerstätte ? Radionuklid ? Szenario ? Tieflagerung ? Umweltbelastung ? Strahlung ? Restabfall ? Standortwahl ? Reaktor ? Stoff ? Modellierung ? Rückbau ? Halbwertszeit ? Abfall ? Gutachten ? Sicherheitsanalyse ? Risiko ? Risikobewertung ? Stilllegung ?
License: all-rights-reserved
Language: Englisch/English
Download
https://www.base.bund.de/shareddocs/downloads/de/berichte/kt/gutachten-partitionierung-und-transmutation.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1 (PDF)Accessed 1 times.