Latest news
Saving space, saving cash – metals recycling team continue to deliver
Following the successful removal of four of the top duct sections from the Calder Hall heat exchangers, the 10 tonne a piece items have now been processed through Sellafield’s Metals Recycling Facility (MRF) as part of a six year project that will save the company £360,000 in disposal costs.
As well providing a more environmentally friendly option for dealing with the material, processing the metal in this way will also generate over £15,000 in category two income for the NDA, ultimately offsetting the costs to the UK tax payers for the decommissioning and operations of the site.
The ducts, which comprise a straight and an elbow shaped section, are approximately six meters in length and around a meter and a half wide. They were used to transfer hot gas from the reactor to the heat exchanger which then generated steam to power the turbine.
In total, 32 ducts from the four reactors will be removed and processed through MRF over the next six years, with the team now completing the fourth duct.
Speaking about the project Gareth Kendal, Manufacturing Manager, Metals Re-cycling said: “Once the ducts have been decontaminated, the Metals Recycling Facility size reduces the material in a cutting booth using plasma arc equipment and a variety of cold cutting techniques. The size reduced pieces were then moved into the Wheelabrator – a facility used to mechanically remove the outer surface of contaminated steel to clean the metal for recycling in line with Nuclear Industry Code of Practice regulations.”
Head Manufacturing Metals Recycling and Intermediate Level Waste, Simon Rowe added: “This is a tremendous achievement for the Metals Recycling Facility and for Sellafield Ltd, as this avoids filling the current Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR). Completing recycling projects of this nature in the long term supports the LLWR strategy in the avoidance of building a second Repository. This type of project underpins the Solid Waste Hierarchy of recycling as opposed to disposal of waste. By utilising the waste hierarchy we can all make a difference to ensure a safe and clean environment for Sellafield site and future generations.”
