국내 중·저준위 방사성폐기물은 영구적 격리를 위해 처분장에 매립하고 있으며 그 위치는 경주에 있다. 이러한 방 사성폐기물의 영구적인 격리를 위한 처분시설은 공학적 방벽과 자연 방벽으로 구성되어 있으며 자연 방벽을 특성을 파악 하기 위하여 한국원자력환경공단에서는 2006년부터 부지특성조사를 수행하였고, 이후 부지감시 및 조사계획에 따른 감시 를 수행하여 부지특성의 변화를 지속적으로 확인하고 있다. 중저준위 방폐장의 수리지화학적 환경은 자연 방벽의 평가를 위해 중요한 요소로 손꼽히고 있으나 동해와 가까운 경주의 지역적 특성상 해수의 영향을 반드시 고려해야 한다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 처분 부지의 지하수 관정 7개 및 관정의 심도별 수질 자료를 취합해 지하수 자료 총 30개를 해수 2개소와 비교 분석하여 수리지화학적 환경을 해석하였다. 분석 자료는 수질 10개 항목(온도, EC, HCO3, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4, SiO2)을 2017년 3분기부터 2022년 3분기까지 총 5년간 20회의 자료를 활용하였다. 특히, EC, HCO3, Na, Cl의 농도 변화 를 통해 연구 지역의 배경 농도 및 관정의 구간별 해수의 영향을 파악하였으며, 시계열 군집 분석을 통해 담수, 기수, 해 수의 분류를 시도하였다. 그 결과, 기존의 모니터링 방법으로는 확인하지 못한 부지내 수리지화학적 변화를 제시하였다.

In Korea, extensive industry-academia-research research has already established many facilities and technologies for materials and chemical experiments on non-radioactive substances. However, few facilities have been built to analyze the physical and chemical properties of substances irradiated through neutron irradiation. Korea is planning to decommission Kori-1 and Wolsong-1 in 2027. Extensive analysis of low-level and intermediate-level materials is required to begin decommissioning these nuclear power plants. The material’s composition and level can be identified by analyzing the structure’s characteristics, and a cutting and decontamination plan can be established based on this. In addition, by conducting a nuclide analysis on the waste generated after cutting, suitability for disposal can be secured, and stable treatment can be performed. Accordingly, the Korea Decommissioning Research Institute (KRID) plans to secure infrastructure (hot cells) to analyze the characteristics of intermediate-level decommissioning waste. The goal is to secure high-dose/high-radiation decommissioning waste processing technology through Korea’s first intermediate-level hot cell, support domestic nuclear power plant decommissioning projects, and secure and verify procedures related to nuclide analysis of intermediate-level using hot cells. In addition, by possessing these material properties and nuclide analysis technology, KRID can have a foundation to conduct continuous research on low- and intermediate-level radioactive materials and decommissioning. The purpose of KRID’s establishment is to use this foundation in the future to improve the technological level of the nuclear industry as a whole through linkage between industry, academia, and research institutes.

In Korea, many characteristic component facilities and technologies in general experimental areas for non-radiative materials are owned by industry-academia research. Still, no characteristic analysis test technology has been developed for large, intermediate-level decommissioning waste emitted by neutron irradiation. Since Korea plans to decommission nuclear power plants in 2027, securing analysis technology for intermediate-level decommissioning waste is essential. Accordingly, the Korea Research Institute of Decommissioning (KRID) plans to secure an infrastructure (hot cell) to analyze the characteristics of intermediate-level dismantled waste. Afterward, we intend to stably dispose of the waste generated while decommissioning the current Gori Unit 1/Wolseong Unit 1 using the intermediatelevel dedicated hot cell. It aims to secure high-dose/high-radiation decommissioning waste handling technology through intermediate-level hot cells for the first time in Korea, supports domestic nucleardecommissioning projects, and secure and validate procedures related to material characteristics and nuclide analysis of intermediate-level waste. Furthermore, research on intermediate-level radioactive materials is expected to be carried out in cooperation with schools and research institutes.

Treatment methods such as interim storage and immobilization are being considered to dispose of intermediate level waste (ILW), but some wastes that have been treated in the past may require repackaging. Re-packaging means to cover repackaging of waste that has already been packaged in a waste container and re-packaging is required for the following reasons: loss of shielding or containment, damage to external handling features, package out-of-specification, insufficient records and external policy. The re-packaging includes various methods such as non-intrusive treatment, overpacking of waste package, external treatment of waste container, repair waste container, injection of stabiliser, disassemble waste package, high temperature process, and dissolve waste package. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the re-packaging possibility for various wastes by identifying the main repackaging methods among the above various re-packaging methods. 1) Disposal outside of the waste container is a viable technique for most packages, as coating with a portable spray gun for low dose rate packages or remotely using a robotic arm for high dose rate packages. 2) Waste container repair is divided into welding repair and patching of waste container according to the degree of damage. Weld repair and patching are important techniques that can be used to add additional shielding, repair damaged areas, and improve the integrity of lifting gears that may not be compliant. 3) In general, disassembly of waste packages has been applied to loose drummed waste. Packages and waste forms are physically disassembled, reduced in size, and placed in different new packages. For practical solution, grouted waste is repackaged by cutting using proprietary equipment such as diamond saws, wire saws, core drilling and rupture techniques. 4) High-temperature process involves cutting the waste package and placing the pieces in a hot bath of inorganic liquid or molten metal, and the process is applicable to all waste types. However, treatment of all gases produced, compliance with waste types and acceptance criteria. Finally, dissolving waste packages, which is generally considered impractical due to the variety of chemicals and radionuclides present in ILW, is a process that is easier to perform on raw ILW than conditioned waste. An example of waste being re-packaged is when old drummed waste is recovered from an old storage facility and the waste needs to be repackaged into a form that meets modern standards for interim storage and disposal.

The treatment of radioactive waste by melting has been mainly discussed with low-level waste (LLW). Considering that a large amount of waste in RV or RVI is intermediate-level waste (ILW), however, it is necessary to examine the possibility of treatment by melting of ILW. Different from LLW, melting of ILW with a high content of long-lived nuclides would lead to no free releasee, but has advantages in volume reduction, homogenization, and delay of release. In this paper, the possibility of melting as an alternative technology for the treatment of ILW in the future is reviewed by analyzing the benefits generated by melting ILW in the following aspects: 1) Similar to melting techniques of LLW, them of ILW are mostly based on well-known techniques, but it is necessary to review the feasibility of performing operations such as removal of solidified melt using remote equipment in abnormal situations such as loss of electricity. 2) It is necessary to specify radiation limits for the melting operation unless the ILW melting operation technique can guarantee that the risk of abnormal occurrence is very low. The main quantified radiation parameter is the ingot dose rate, which of 10 mSv/h is considered more reasonable. 3) Although the treatment of ILW by melting leads to a reduction in volume, the main characteristics of the waste still remain, and no waste can be disposed of for free release. Thus, the main potential benefits are improved long-term safety and reduced waste volume. 4) Reducing the surface-to-volume ratio of the molten material could reduce the amount of corrosive material per unit time and, consequently, increase long-term safety. Its effect on long-term safety is difficult to quantify precisely as it depends on several factors, such as the geometry of the original component or whether radionuclides were distributed on the surface of the original component or the induced radioactivity. 5) The volume reduction of ILW is estimated to be reduced by about 1/4 compared to the generated amount when assuming a disposal volume reduction factor of 3 and considering the dose reduction due to radioactive decay after long-term storage, however, due to the lack of knowledge about non-hazardous facility alternatives, it is difficult to evaluate cost-benefit. This is heavily influenced by both the final volume reduction and the potential to reduce the complexity of the repository’s technical barriers.

Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD), regulatory body and civic groups are calling for an infrastructure system that can more systematically and safely manage data on the results of radioactive waste sampling and nuclide analysis in accordance with radioactive waste disposal standards. To solve this problem, a study has been conducted on the analysis of the nuclide pattern of radioactive waste on the nuclide data contained in low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste. This paper will explain the optimal repackaged algorithm for reducing radioactive waste based on previous research results. The optimal repackaged algorithm for radioactive waste reduction is comprised based on nuclide pattern association indicators, classification by nuclide level of small-packaged waste, and nuclide concentration. Optimization simulation is carried out in the order of deriving nuclide concentration by small-packaged, normalizing drum minimization as a function of purpose, normalizing constraints, and optimization. Two scenarios were applied to the simulation. In Scenario 1 (generating facilities and repackaged by medium classification without optimization), it was assumed that there are 886 low-level drums and 52 very low-level drums. In Scenario 2 (generating facilities and repackaged by medium classification with optimization), 708 and 230 drums were assigned to the low-level and very low-level drums, respectively. As a result of the simulation, when repackaged in consideration of the nuclide concentration and constraints according to the generating facility cluster & middle classification by small package (Scenario 2) the low-level drum had the effect of reducing 178 drums from the baseline value of 886 drums to 708 drums. It was found that the reduced packages were moved to the very low-level drum. The system that manages the full life-cycle of radioactive waste can be operated effectively only when the function of predicting or tracking the occurrence of radioactive waste drums from the source of radioactive waste to the disposal site is secured. If the main factors affecting the concentration and pattern of nuclides are systematically managed through these systems, the system will be used as a useful tool for policy decisions that can prevent human error and drastically reduce the generation of disposable drums.

Operating and decommissioning nuclear power plants generates radioactive waste. This radioactive waste can be categorized into several different levels, for example, low, intermediate, and high, according to the regulations. Currently, low and intermediate-level waste are stored in conventional 200-liter drums to be disposed. However, in Korea, the disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste is virtually impossible as there are no available facilities. Furthermore, large-sized intermediate- level radioactive waste, such as reactor internals from decommissioning, need to be segmented into smaller sizes so they can be adequately stored in the conventional drums. This segmentation process requires additional costs and also produces secondary waste. Therefore, this paper suggests repurposing the no-longer-used spent nuclear fuel casks. The casks are larger in size than the conventional drums, thus requiring less segmentation of waste. Furthermore, the safety requirements of the spent nuclear fuel casks are severer than those of the drums. Hence, repurposed spent nuclear fuel casks could better address potential risks such as dropping, submerging, or a fire. In addition, the spent nuclear fuel casks need to be disposed in compliance with the regulations for low level radioactive waste. This cost may be avoided by repurposing the casks.

경주 방폐물 처분시설의 1단계 시설로 건설된 지하 사일로 구조는 2014년에 10만 드럼 규모로 완공되어 현재 운영중에 있다. 지하 사일로 구조는 지름 25m, 높이 50m로써 방폐물을 저장하는 실린더부분과 돔 부분으로 구성되어 있으며, 돔부분은 운영터널과 연결 되는 하부 돔 부분과 상부 돔 부분으로 구분할 수 있다. 지하 사일로 구조의 벽체는 철근콘크리트 라이너이고, 두께는 약 1m이다. 본 논문에서는 지하 사일로 구조의 건설과정 및 운영과정의 단계별 유한요소해석을 수행하였다. SMAP-3D 프로그램을 사용하여 2차원 축대칭 유한요소해석을 수행하였다. 2차원 축대칭 유한요소모델의 신뢰성을 검토하고자 3차원 유한요소해석도 수행하였다. 본 논문 에서는 지하 사일로 구조의 구조거동을 분석하고 구조적 안전성을 검토결과를 제시하였다.

When the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant begins in earnest, starting with Kori Unit 1, it is necessary to dispose of intermediate-level wastes such as high-dose waste filters and waste resin stored in the power plant, as well as the internal structures of the reactor. However, there are no intermediate-level waste disposal facilities in Korea, and the maintenance of acceptance criteria considering the physical, chemical, and radiological characteristics of intermediate-level waste is insufficient. In this paper, in preparation for the establishment of domestic intermediate-level waste treatment/disposal and acceptance standards, the following major foreign countries’ legal and institutional standards for intermediate-level waste are reviewed, and based on this, factors to be considered when establishing domestic intermediate-level waste treatment/disposal standards were derived. First, although the USA does not define and manage intermediate-level wastes separately, low-level wastes were separated into Class A, B, and C, where land disposal is allowed, and GTCC, which does not allow land disposal. However, it was recently confirmed that the position was changed to recognize the possibility of land disposal of GTCC waste under the condition that the dose to inadvertent intruders does not exceed 5 mSv·yr−1 and a barrier against inadvertent intrusion valid for 500 years is installed. Second, Sweden classifies intermediate-level wastes into short-lived and longlived intermediate-level wastes. The maximum dose rate permitted on packages are different for each vault and a silo of the SFR where short-lived wastes; 100 mSv·h−1 or less is disposed of in BMA, 10 mSV·h−1 or less in BTF, 2 mSv·h−1 or less in BLA and 500 mSv·h−1 or less in silo. Meanwhile, a repository for long-lived low and intermediate level waste, SFL, which could contains significant amounts of nuclides with a half-life greater than 31 years, operations are planned to commence in 2045. Third, France also manages short-lived intermediate-level wastes and long-lived intermediatelevel wastes separately, and the short-lived intermediate-level wastes were disposed of together with short-lived low-level wastes at the La Manche and L’Aube repository. France announced the Cigéo Project, a high- and medium-level long-lived waste plan in 2012, and submitted the creation authorization application for in 2021 with the goal of operating a repository in 2025. Finally, the UK defines intermediate-level waste as “waste whose activity level exceeds the upper limit for low-level waste but does not require heating, which is considered in the design of storage or disposal facilities” and established NIREX to provide deep disposal of intermediate-level radioactive waste. In Finland, wastes with radioactive concentrations of 1 MBq/kg to 10 GBq·kg−1 are classified as intermediatelevel wastes, and a repository was constructed and operated in a bedrock of about 110 m underground. Because the domestic classification standard simply classifies intermediate-level waste as waste exceeding the activity level of low-level waste limit, not high-level wastes, it is necessary to establish treatment and disposal standards by subdividing them by dose rate and long-lived radionuclides concentration to safely and efficiently dispose of intermediate-level waste for. Additionally, there is a need to decide whether or not to reflect safety by inadvertent intruders when evaluating the safety of intermediate-level disposal.

In this study, the well-known non-destructive acoustic emission (AE) and electrical resistivity methods were employed to predict quantitative damage in the silo structure of the Wolsong Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Center (WLDC), Gyeongju, South Korea. Brazilian tensile test was conducted with a fully saturated specimen with a composition identical to that of the WLDC silo concrete. Bi-axial strain gauges, AE sensors, and electrodes were attached to the surface of the specimen to monitor changes. Both the AE hit and electrical resistance values helped in the anticipation of imminent specimen failure, which was further confirmed using a strain gauge. The quantitative damage (or damage variable) was defined according to the AE hits and electrical resistance and analyzed with stress ratio variations. Approximately 75% of the damage occurred when the stress ratio exceeded 0.5. Quantitative damage from AE hits and electrical resistance showed a good correlation (R = 0.988, RMSE = 0.044). This implies that AE and electrical resistivity can be complementarily used for damage assessment of the structure. In future, damage to dry and heated specimens will be examined using AE hits and electrical resistance, and the results will be compared with those from this study.

A safety assessment of radioactive waste repositories is a mandatory requirement process because there are possible radiological hazards owing to radionuclide migration from radioactive waste to the biosphere. For a reliable safety assessment, it is important to establish a parameter database that reflects the site-specific characteristics of the disposal facility and repository site. From this perspective, solubility, a major geochemical parameter, has been chosen as an important parameter for modeling the migration behavior of radionuclides. The solubilities were derived for Am, Ni, Tc, and U, which were major radionuclides in this study, and on-site groundwater data reflecting the operational conditions of the Gyeongju low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) repository were applied to reflect the site-specific characteristics. The radiation dose was derived by applying the solubility and radionuclide inventory data to the RESRAD-OFFSITE code, and sensitivity analysis of the dose according to the solubility variation was performed. As a result, owing to the low amount of radionuclide inventory, the dose variation was insignificant. The derived solubility can be used as the main input data for the safety assessment of the Gyeongju LILW repository in the future.

As an example of research activities in decontamination for decommissioning, new data are presented on the options for corrosion layer dissolution during the decommissioning decontamination, or persulfate regeneration for decontamination solutions re-use. For the management of spent decontamination solutions, new method based on solvent extraction of radionuclides into ionic liquid followed by electrodeposition of the radionuclides has been developed. Fields of applications of composite inorganic-organic absorbers or solid extractants with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) binding matrix for the treatment of liquid radioactive waste are reviewed; a method for americium separation from the boric acid containing NPP evaporator concentrates based on the TODGA-PAN material is discussed in more detail. Performance of a model of radionuclide transport, developed and implemented within the GoldSim programming environment, for the safety studies of the LLW/ILW repository is demonstrated on the specific case of the Richard repository (Czech Republic). Continuation and even broadening of these activities are expected in connection with the approaching end of the lifespan of the first blocks of the Czech NPPs.