Nuclear sites include waste management challenges presented by redundant facilities. At Sellafield, the sludge and sea discharge tanks ceased operation in the 1970s. Waste inventory remaining in the tanks provides the challenge for long-term safe storage solutions. NNL adjusted cement chemistry and increased waste concentration by a factor of two, halving drum numbers for storage.

The accepted route for storing sludge is to mix with cement in a drum. This method results in a solid waste form that can then be stored. Cost of storage is dictated by numbers of drums produced. In order to minimise lifetime costs it is vital that the number of drums produced is minimised. By adjusting cement chemistry, it was possible to increase the concentration of waste put in the drum by a factor of two. In turn, this meant that the number of drums produced was halved from an initial estimate of 12,000 down to a far more manageable 6,000. Sellafield Ltd are now in a position to apply for approvals for the new waste form.

The National Nuclear Laboratory solution, which halved the number of drums requiring storage, will reduce the cost £80 Million.

Commercial Team, 01925 834560