Decommissioning experience with Whiteshell Reactor 1
- Whiteshell Labs., Pinawa, Manitoba (Canada). Whiteshell Operations Branch
Whiteshell Reactor 1 (WR-1) is an organic-cooled heavy-water-moderated research reactor that operated from 1965 to 1985. The reactor is owned by AECL, and is located at Whiteshell Laboratories at Pinawa, Manitoba. The reactor was shut down in 1985. Fuel was removed from the reactor and placed in the fuel storage bays, system fluids were removed or transferred to drain tanks, and some selective dismantling and refurbishment of space has take place as part of the post-operational cleanup. An overall decommissioning plan was prepared, and formal decommissioning operations commenced in 1989. The first-phase work essentially completes Stage 2 decommissioning as defined by IAEA guidelines. To optimize use of the reactor building by the Whiteshell site during a proposed deferment period of 50 a, dismantling and decontamination of premium space consistent with Stage 2 criteria is included in Phase 1. The primary objective of Phase 1 is to complete shutdown and cleanup activities and to secure the reactor and contaminated process systems to reduce the monitoring and surveillance requirements during the deferment period. This paper addresses the actual operations carried out to date. It includes the work techniques and emphasizes the manner in which these apply specifically to a research reactor. The end state for the Phase 1 work will be documented to describe the building and facility condition in support of a license for the reactor in a mothballed state. End-state documentation includes procedures for meeting monitoring and surveillance requirements. The overall decommissioning plan will be maintained and updated, as required by the regulator, throughout the deferment period.
- OSTI ID:
- 106246
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930906-; ISBN 0-7918-0691-X; TRN: 95:020726
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: `93 international conference on nuclear waste management and environmental remediation, Prague (Czech Republic), 5-11 Sep 1993; Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 1993 international conference on nuclear waste management and environmental remediation. Volume 2: High level radioactive waste and spent fuel management; Ahlstroem, P.E.; Chapman, C.C.; Kohout, R.; Marek, J. [eds.]; PB: 853 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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