Research on nuclear wastes

Do Marie-Christine

Contents

Introduction Research on nuclear wastes Nuclear systems for the future CEA/INSTN Superphénix (1985-1998)

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What is the CEA? CEA is a French

government-funded technological research organisation.

CEA is the French Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique). It is a public body established in October 1945 by General de Gaulle.

Some key figures for the CEA in 2006 :

•  15 332 employees•  9 research centers•  Budget of 3.3 billion euros•  346 licensing patents

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Research on nuclear wastes Resources for radioactive waste

management studies :

Atalante : a large research complex encompassing chemistry and shielded cells laboratories,

Phénix : fast neutron research reactor,

CECER : Centre for the development and the technological demonstration of containment and long term storage systems.

ATALANTE (ATelier Alpha et Laboratoires pour ANalyses, Transuraniens et Etudes de retraitement)

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Visiatome First visitor centre in France

open to the general public which explains radioactivity and offers displays and information more specifically on radioactive waste and the possible long term management routes.

The construction of the VISIATOME was financed 50% by CEA, and 50% by local authorities.

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Nuclear systems for the future The CEA's strategy with regard

to 4th generation systems takes two forms :

Priority to be given to research into systems with fast neutrons and a closed fuel cycle (with sodium or gas coolant),

The development, in close collaboration with industrial partners, of a very high temperature 600 MWth reactor to meet the needs of the electricity market around 2025, and the hydrogen market in the longer term.

gas-cooled reactor

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Nuclear systems for the futureResearch is being conducted

over several installations, including :

The fuel production line at the GAÏA laboratory at Cadarache

Three technological test benches for high temperature helium circuits at Cadarache

A laboratory devoted to

analytical studies for the development of processes for production of hydrogen by thermo-chemical cycles. fuel production in GAÏA laboratory

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CEA/INSTN

Areas of expertise of the National Institute for Nuclear Science and Technology

  Nuclear power, fission-fusion, new energy technologies

  Radiation physics, chemistry, radiochemistry, separative chemistry

  Materials science, micro and nanotechnologies

  Biology, radiobiology, nuclear medicine, radiopharmacy, medical physics

  Risk control : quality management, radiation protection, environment monitoring, conventional and nuclear safety

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Superphénix (1985-1998)

Superphénix or SPX is a nuclear power station on the Rhône River at Creys-Malville in France, close to the border with Switzerland. It was closed as a commercial plant in 1998.

The superphénix power plant21/04/23 9Research on Nuclear Waste

Superphénix (1985-1998) On the night of January 18, 1982 rocket attack was launched

against the unfinished plant by an "eco-pacifist group". The incomplete containment building was damaged by two of the rockets.

A cut-away model of the Superphenix containment.21/04/23 10Research on Nuclear Waste

Conclusion

The CEA conducts fundamental and applied research into many areas, including the design of nuclear reactors, the manufacturing of integrated circuits, the use of radionuclide for medical treatments, seismology and tsunami propagation, and the safety of computerized systems.

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