Handling and Conditioning Techniques of Activated Swarfs for the Decommissioning of the E. Fermi Nuclear Power Plant

In this paper, a new technique to handle solid radioactive materials inside a liquid matrix is presented. The conceptual design of the device profits of the experience and know-how gained in decontamination procedures. The proposed system makes use of an ejector for the suction of a water-highly radioactive swarf mixture from the purifier pool of the Italian E. Fermi nuclear power plant (NPP) and moving it in a suitable container for the subsequent conditioning. A dedicated circuit with an ejector to demonstrate the feasibility of the method was realized. A minimum inlet flow rate was found to have swarf suction. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated, even if it is required to homogenize the inlet mixture to avoid swarf packing conditions inside the ejector.