Centraco
Encyclopedia
Centraco is a factory run by the Society for packaging waste and industrial effluents (SOCODEI). Located on the Marcoule nuclear site
in an area of 11 hectares Codolet
(Gard), the basic nuclear installation has been operation since 1999.
treated Centraco are very low, low and intermediate radiation (TFA, FMA), they come from the nuclear industry (mainly from EDF
and Areva)
, research centers (Atomic Energy Commission) , and small producers such as hospitals.
Types of Waste:
Residues from each unit are mixed with a matrix and then packaged. The final volume of waste is reduced by a factor of 10 to 17.
Solid waste is fed into the primary chamber. By cons, liquid waste is injected either in the primary chamber, or in the secondary chamber according to their chemical composition.
The ash
and slag
are collected and linked in a "glue" by the method of inerting cold. They are then packed in metal drums and shipped to the National Agency for Radioactive Waste (ANDRA).
The incinerator has a rated capacity of 5000 tons / year of waste.
An explosion September 12, 2011 caused the death of an employee, and injured four others. This has happened in a furnace at the site of reprocessing nuclear waste Marcoule. It was an "industrial accident" and not "nuclear accident".
includes an induction furnace for the manufacture of ingot
s and metal ferrules. The metals are melted in the furnace at 1600 ° C. Impurities are removed manually, then the molten metal is poured into a ladle and is then cast into ingots or centrifuged in a tube.
The ingots, conical cylinders of about 1.5 t are considered as final waste and are sent to the Center of storage l'Aube in Soulaines-Dhuys
for a long-term storage.
The tubes are reused for the manufacture of packaging for medium-level waste such as concrete shells or internal shielding of barrels, allowing the partial recovery of the waste.
A shuttle bus travels between the two units to transfer the waste into the proper unit after sorting.
Marcoule
Marcoule Nuclear Site is a nuclear plant in the Chusclan and Codolet communes, near Bagnols-sur-Cèze in the Gard department of France, which is in the touristic, wine and agricultural Côtes-du-Rhône region...
in an area of 11 hectares Codolet
Codolet
Codolet is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
(Gard), the basic nuclear installation has been operation since 1999.
Types of radioactive waste
Nuclear wasteHigh-level radioactive waste management
High-level radioactive waste management concerns management and disposal of highly radioactive materials created during production of nuclear power and nuclear warheads. The technical issues in accomplishing this are daunting, due to the extremely long periods radioactive wastes remain deadly to...
treated Centraco are very low, low and intermediate radiation (TFA, FMA), they come from the nuclear industry (mainly from EDF
Électricité de France
Électricité de France S.A. is the second largest French utility company. Headquartered in Paris, France, with €65.2 billion in revenues in 2010, EDF operates a diverse portfolio of 120,000+ megawatts of generation capacity in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.EDF is one of...
and Areva)
Areva
AREVA is a French public multinational industrial conglomerate headquartered in the Tour Areva in Courbevoie, Paris. AREVA is mainly known for nuclear power; it also has interests in other energy projects. It was created on 3 September 2001, by the merger of Framatome , Cogema and...
, research centers (Atomic Energy Commission) , and small producers such as hospitals.
Types of Waste:
- metal objects, from the controlled area and maintenance of nuclear decommissioning;Nuclear decommissioningNuclear decommissioning is the dismantling of a nuclear power plant and decontamination of the site to a state no longer requiring protection from radiation for the general public...
- waste fuels, mainly gloves and coveralls;
- liquid wasteWastewaterWastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and concentrations...
such as washing solutions, the s oilOilAn oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
, the solventSolventA solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
s, and the resin s and sludge from nuclear installations.
Waste Treatment
The main goal is to minimize the volume before packaging, plant Centraco consists of two main units that deal with waste by type:- The melting of metals
- The incineration plant for fuel and effluents.
Residues from each unit are mixed with a matrix and then packaged. The final volume of waste is reduced by a factor of 10 to 17.
The incineration plant
This furnace consists of three rooms:- The primary chamber: the temperature there is 900-1000 ° C
- The secondary chamber: the temperature of 1100-1200 ° C
- The tertiary room
Solid waste is fed into the primary chamber. By cons, liquid waste is injected either in the primary chamber, or in the secondary chamber according to their chemical composition.
The ash
Wood ash
Wood ash is the residue powder left after the combustion of wood. Main producers of wood ash are wood industries and power plants.-Composition:...
and slag
Clinker (waste)
Clinker is a general name given to waste from industrial processes — particularly those that involve smelting metals, burning fossil fuels and using a blacksmith's forge which will usually result in a large buildup of clinker around the tuyère...
are collected and linked in a "glue" by the method of inerting cold. They are then packed in metal drums and shipped to the National Agency for Radioactive Waste (ANDRA).
The incinerator has a rated capacity of 5000 tons / year of waste.
An explosion September 12, 2011 caused the death of an employee, and injured four others. This has happened in a furnace at the site of reprocessing nuclear waste Marcoule. It was an "industrial accident" and not "nuclear accident".
The furnace
The smelterFoundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
includes an induction furnace for the manufacture of ingot
Ingot
An ingot is a material, usually metal, that is cast into a shape suitable for further processing. Non-metallic and semiconductor materials prepared in bulk form may also be referred to as ingots, particularly when cast by mold based methods.-Uses:...
s and metal ferrules. The metals are melted in the furnace at 1600 ° C. Impurities are removed manually, then the molten metal is poured into a ladle and is then cast into ingots or centrifuged in a tube.
The ingots, conical cylinders of about 1.5 t are considered as final waste and are sent to the Center of storage l'Aube in Soulaines-Dhuys
Soulaines-Dhuys
Soulaines-Dhuys is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-Population:-References:*...
for a long-term storage.
The tubes are reused for the manufacture of packaging for medium-level waste such as concrete shells or internal shielding of barrels, allowing the partial recovery of the waste.
A shuttle bus travels between the two units to transfer the waste into the proper unit after sorting.