20 YEARS OF RADWASTE INCINERATION IN AUSTRIA

摘要

At the Austrian Research Center Seibersdorf the incineration plant for treating burnable radioactive waste went in operation in 1980. The plant is part of a centralised facility for treatment, conditioning and storing of institutional low- and intermediate level radioactive waste. The first years of operation were marked by a process of learning in order to understand safety aspects, the operational features of the equipment, the efficiencies and deficiencies. A number of parts originally included in the plant had to be replaced by equipment operating more efficient. Especially the off-gas cleaning system has been upgraded several times over the years. A project treating of about thousand tons of ion-exchanges resins was successfully carried out and relevant experience obtained. In total more then 5800 m{sup}3 of low level radioactive wastes were treated by the end of 1999. The sources of low- and intermediate level waste are medicine, industry and R&D facilities. Waste treatment by incineration offers high volume reduction. The resulting ashes are chemically inert. Conditioned ashes are therefore very suitable for interim storage and final repositories. A total volume reduction comparing row waste to conditioned ashes including operational waste of 16:1 was obtained during 20 years of incinerator operation. Thermal treatment of waste including incineration is an excellent option to reduce hazards of chemical and biological material. A plant with modern equipment is a sound and clean technology for treating burnable waste -with or without radioactive content.