EDF Technical Operations - UTO, France
Background
EDF's nuclear power plants (NPPs) have dedicated outdoor storage areas for containers of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) and tools. EDF had to find a solution to clear these areas, which were reaching saturation point. These containers were stored in dedicated areas for potential contaminated tools (ACT) or for VLLW. They needed to be inspected without mobilising the controlled areas (hot workshops) of the NPPs, before transportation for treatment or final repository.
Cyclife France was commissioned by EDF UTO to design a mobile machine for on-site inventory and/or reconditioning of the contents of each container to be transported. These operations take place directly on the VLLW area and ACT, under similar conditions compliant with nuclear regulation.
Challenge
- Design a machine that complies with working conditions in nuclear zones
- Safe inventory of contents directly on the VLLW area and ACT, and packaging for safe transport
- A machine enable to move from site to site
Our Proposal
Cyclife France has designed, developed and commissioned the UMIS, an easy-to-use machine incorporating a hot and cold changing room, a hot cell and a filtration system adapted to the nuclear environment. This unit can be transported to all nuclear sites on standard trailers. Packaging, which involves bringing the unit up to current transport standards, can also include sorting, wedging/stowing, light maintenance on containers, etc.
Key steps
- Beginning of studies in 2016
- Start of works in 2017
- Industrial commissioning and first campaign at EDF Blayais NPP at the beginning of 2018
UMIS, Mobile Unit for Safe Nuclear Intervention, at your service
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Customer Benefits
- Availability of NPPs controlled areas, since activities take place directly on external storage areas
- Pooling of operations in a single location, allowing optimisation of human activities and dosimetry, as well as better cost control
- Legacy waste treated during the operation of NPPs contribute to improve the dismantling phases
- Greater safety for dismantling workers thanks to a more reliable inventory
Results
- Cyclife France can handle an average of one 20-foot ISO container per day on site
- On average, nearly 100 containers are processed each year on customer sites