Conditioning core scrap at the Goesgen nuclear power station

Since the startup in 1979 of the Goesgen nuclear power station (970 MWe PWR), a variety of activated waste, in addition to the fuel elements, has accumulated in the plant's fuel storage pool. It includes lances for neutron flux measurement with defective detectors; spent control units; absorber rods, and primary and secondary neutron sources from the early period of plant operation; dummy rods; and various small parts left over from repair work. As a consequence of a change in legislation, reprocessing was banned in Switzerland in 2006. This meant that space in the fuel storage pool of the plant would no longer be sufficient after some time. However, a wet on-site store is under construction, but will not be commissioned until 2008. As space became increasingly scarcer in the fuel storage pool, waste held in interim storage in that pool was conditioned from 2003 on. There were other good reasons for not waiting till the end of plant operation to organize waste management. Among other things, plant operating life is to be extended to 60 years, which would make it meaningful to reprocess the core scrap accumulated to date, i.e. roughly by the middle of plant life. Moreover, personnel are still available both at the power plant and at the vendors who know the history of specific waste portions from the immediate operating history of the plant. This know-how is valuable for characterization and further treatment of the waste. (orig.)