The safety of storage of the radioactive wastes from Cernavodo NPS

The Cernavoda NPS (Candu type) consists of 5 units of 660 MWe each. The usually generated radioactive wastes: used filters, low level solid wastes (as clothes, maintenance wastes, etc), low level and medium level liquid wastes are sorted, prepared for storage and stored in dedicated facilities, in adequate containers. The confinement in casks, the volume reducing via compressing, cementation and disposal involve different safety aspects especially concerning the professional staff, but also the environment. The wrong handling, the malfunction of the equipment, corrosion, leakages, mechanical shocks, other dispersion causes; are analysed and classified after their probability of occurrence. Also their effects in radiological doses received by the personnel are estimated, and the measures already stipulated by design, or other necessary actions are presented with pertinent comments about their efficiency. The site selection of the storage is discussed having in view that the basement is constituted form clay and the level of the phreatic water is adequate. The possibility of determination and of the intervention in case of containers/drums leaching are also analysed. Some considerations about equipments reliability, quality of working procedures and training of the personnel, are also presented. (au)