Fuel Cave Dismantling

The irradiated fuel cave at PFR became operational during the 1970s and is now under going decommissioning activities. 

It had three main functions:

  • the means of transfer for fuel sub assemblies and reactor components in and out of the reactor.
  • preparation area for irradiated sub assemblies for reprocessing elsewhere on site.
  • examination facility for components and fuel sub assemblies after irradiation. Such examinations provided scientists with information on the effects of radiation.

The equipment stored in the cave will be size reduced, packaged into containers and transferred to a store on site to allow decommissioning of the cave to continue.  This work is carried out remotely using manipulators and cameras to protect workers from radiation hazards.

Throughout the operational days of the reactor and cave, sodium liquid metal was used as a coolant.  The bulk sodium that was used in the cave to assist the cooling of irradiated items in storage has now been removed and processed but a coating of sodium residue remains on the components, cave equipment and in the bottom of the storage tanks and this needs to be cleaned up.


Fuel

Fuel removed from the reactor is kept in secure storage at Dounreay.

Irradiated Fuel Buffer Store

During operational days, fuel that was cleaned of sodium and prepared for reprocessing through the IFC was placed into special containers and transferred to a buffer store within PFR.

The buffer store consists of a solid matrix cast in cement and flooded with water to provide a pond area.  The containers were stored underwater in the pond until they were transferred to the reprocessing plants in the Fuel Cycle Area. Decommissioning this area is an integral part of PFR decommissioning.

Decontamination Hall

The decontamination hall deals with historic waste generated during decommissioning operations.  Part of the work involves the reinstatement of the large decontamination vessel, previously used to support reactor operations.

A size-reduction facility will be built in the decontamination hall to support reactor decommissioning projects.

Many items that were removed from the reactor were too radioactive to process immediately.  These items have remained stored for a number of years to allow the radiation levels to decrease naturally.  These items will be retrieved from their storage positions and will be processed through the decontamination hall.

 

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Image: Operating Face of Irradiated Fuel Caves 1978

Operating Face of Irradiated Fuel Caves 1978