Nuclear entombment

The Secure inclusion is a term used in nuclear engineering and refers to a variant of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Concept

For the safe enclosure of the area of ​​the nuclear power plant, the main radioactive components ( reactor pressure vessel (RPV ), steam generators ) contains (usually the security container ) after the shutdown in a safe state leads: the fuel and all other radioactive media, coolant, auxiliaries, gases, etc., as well as all fire loads are removed. Subsequently, all located outside of the range the radioactive components (such as pumps, pipes, etc. ) into this area and the area can be effectively sealed.

The rest of the system is - by some security measures (alarm system, air drying system, etc.) apart - taken out of service.

In this state, the system is (usually several decades ) left until the final restoration for a longer, depending on the type of system time; during this time only minor maintenance measures are necessary.

The aim of this measure is to facilitate through a radioactive decay subsequent elimination of the system and possibly to use interim technical progress. These advantages are contrary to the operating costs of the safe enclosure system and the loss of the familiar with the peculiarities of the plant workforce.

Practice

Examples of the safe enclosure of decommissioned nuclear plants in Germany are now dismantled and removed nuclear power plant low (KKN ), the nuclear power plant THTR -300 at Hamm- Uentrop and the research reactor Neuherberg in Oberschleißheim near Munich.

Special importance was given to this concept that the trial of the impact of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster mitigation: there two of the four reactor units were put into a multipart concrete shell that was called the sarcophagus. When Chernobyl sarcophagus is not, however, a safe enclosure as a phase of the parent decommissioning of a nuclear facility, but a precautionary measure after a disaster. The efficacy and safety of the local enclosure is, however, partly in doubt, ongoing operations for the renewal / upgrading of the sarcophagus.

The alternative to the safe enclosure is the direct elimination without decay.

Criticism

Opponents of nuclear power denote the term safe enclosure as a euphemism. Result of the existing risks of damage to the hull or otherwise release of radioactivity to the containment is not completely secure.

• Nuclear safety
• Radioactive waste