Development of high compacting volume reduction system for non-combustible low level radioactive wastes

We have developed a high compacting volume reduction system as a method of reducing the space of noncombustible low level radioactive wastes stored at nuclear power station and other facilities. This system consists of drum diameter reducing machine, high compaction equipment with hydraulic press, control system that can recharge squeezed drums into new drums with high efficiency, and drum handling system. The characteristic of this system is that wedge-shaped blocks can reduce drum diameter with low level of loading force to make the system compact. As a result of high compaction tests of drums containing wastes assumed as drums at nuclear power station, we got drum volume reduction ratio from 4 to 11 by applying load of 1500 tf without any problems around developed system. And we developed the control program of recharging a squeezed drums into new drum with high efficiency. As a result of simulation, we confirmed that we can keep average volume efficiency of recharging over 90 %. This paper describes the results of drum diameter reducing test, high compaction test, simulation by optimum recharging program for squeezed drums and basic design by this system. (author)