Die Stillegung kerntechnischer Anlagen in der Praxis

On the basis of the experience gathered so far in the sixteen discontinuation projects in Germany - according to the authors - it is possible to formulate some generally valid discovered facts, techniques and procedures. The extensive experience shows that take-down of a nuclear plant involves only low radiation dosage for the personnel, only a manageable amount of radioactive waste, and can be carried out under reasonable economic boundary conditions. The necessary decision of choice between immediate take-down and take-down after safe encapsulation cannot be made in general terms, but depends on the specific boundary conditions of the plant. This includes the personnel situation, the local infra-structure, possibilities for final repository and, above all. financial considerations. Future requirements comprise above all intelligent dismantling techniques, in the sense that established procedures should function as dependably as possible even in unfavourable environment such as high radiation intensity and great depth of water, and if they fail, It must be possible to schedule repairs. The assertion that discontinuation of a nuclear power station requires extensive remotely controlled manipulating facilities, has not been confirmed - such facilities are chiefly confined to operations under water. Particularly with regard to the final repository problems, it is important to reduce the amount of radioactive waste material. For this purpose it is urgently necessary to develop very effective decontamination procedures, for example chemical decontamination of the primary circulation, or blasting of plant components with steel grit.