Comparison of International Waste Classification Schemesthe same and different classification systems (IAEA vs. Class A, B, C) Benefits: – Develop a technical basis to compare classification

© 2016 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of International Waste

Classification Schemes

Carol HornibrookC. Hornibrook & Associates

Karen KimEPRI Sr. Technical Leader, [email protected]

EPRI LLW Conference June 21-23, 2016

mailto:[email protected]

2© 2016 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.

Project Scope, Objective, and Benefits

Scope:– Analyze the waste classification and disposal schemes of Canada, France, South Korea,

Spain, Sweden, and United States

Objective:– Compare how common waste streams are classified and disposed of by different countries – Provide insight into how classifications schema compare between different countries using

the same and different classification systems (IAEA vs. Class A, B, C)

Benefits:– Develop a technical basis to compare classification schemes by different countries

EPRI Report to be published 2016


Project OverviewParticipating countries

– Represent IAEA and US waste classification systems– Allow for comparison of application of IAEA standards in

different countries

Assumptions

Are these assumptions correct?

IAEA, GSG-1 VLLW LLW ILW HLW

US NRC, Part 61.55 Class A Class B Exceeds Class C

Class C


Project Overview

Participating countries: US, Canada, Spain, France, Sweden, South Korea

DIFFERENCES Three reactor types – PWR, BWR and CANDU Waste Treatment, Conditioning and Packaging

– Incineration, Compaction– Cement – Conditioning & Stabilization– Bitumen - Stabilization– Unconditioned disposal

Three Approaches to waste classification Containers Used

– Many countries ~ 200 L drums ISO Containers

– Specific Countries

SIMILARITIES Waste Types

– Resins– Filters– Dry Active/Dry Solid Waste


Approach

Identify Common Waste Streams

Develop “Reference” Waste Streams

Develop comparison approach that takes into account different waste classification systems

Reference Waste Streams BWR PWR

High Activity Ion Exchange Resinreactor water clean-up media reactor coolant (CVCS) and

spent fuel pool purification resins

Low Activity Ion Exchange Resin condensate and radwaste media radwaste, deborating and delithiating resins

Cartridge Filters filters from submersible clean-up systems and primary process filters

cartridge filters

High Activity Dry Active Waste (DAW) Activated core components and other high activity waste

Low Activity Dry Active Waste (DAW)compactable, non-compactable [metal] sometimes referred to as combustible and non-combustible except that compactible wastes containing chlorides such as PVC are also not combustible

Other N/A Evaporator Concentrates


Identify Common Waste Streams

Develop “Reference” Waste Streams

Develop comparison approach that takes into account different waste classification systems

Approach

Nuclide

Class B Activity (Bq/g)

Fractional Abundance

H-3 4.89E+03 3.69E-03

C-14 3.72E+03 2.81E-03

Cr-51 3.81E+02 2.88E-04

Mn-54 3.61E+04 2.73E-02

Fe-55 2.34E+05 1.77E-01

Fe-59 1.27E+02 9.61E-05

Co-57 4.00E+03 3.03E-03

Co-58 1.62E+05 1.22E-01

Co-60 1.46E+05 1.10E-01

Ni-59 2.30E+03 1.74E-03

Ni-63 5.05E+05 3.82E-01

Zn-65 1.61E+02 1.22E-04

Sr-89 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

Sr-90 7.27E+02 5.50E-04

Zr-95 5.17E+02 3.91E-04

Nuclide

Class B Activity (Bq/g)

Fractional Abundance

Nb-94 2.47E+00 1.87E-06

Tc-99 2.69E+02 2.03E-04

Ag-110m 3.62E+02 2.74E-04

Sb-125 9.83E+03 7.43E-03

I-129 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

Cs-134 7.50E+04 5.67E-02

Cs-137 1.35E+05 1.02E-01

Cs-144 2.21E+03 1.67E-03

Pu-238 4.70E+00 3.55E-06

Pu-239/240 1.57E+00 1.19E-06

Pu-241 2.86E+02 2.16E-04

Am-241 3.47E+00 2.62E-06

Cm-242 1.11E+00 8.40E-07

Cm-243 4.80E+00 3.63E-06

Cm-244 7.08E-01 5.35E-07

Sum 1.32E+06 1.00E+00

Reference Waste Stream: PWR High Activity Resin


Waste Classification by CountryWaste Class Canada

OPGFrance South

KoreaSpain Sweden U.S.

Low Level Waste (LLW)

LLW LLW LLW Level 1 BLA2 Class AClass BClass C

Intermediate Level Waste

(ILW)

ILW ILW ILW Level 2 BTF2

BMA2

SiloClassificationBasis

Dose Activity & Dose

Activity Activity Dose Activity

Clearance Yes No Yes Yes Yes No

VLLW No Yes Yes Yes Yes No1. OPG = Ontario Power Generation2. BLA, BTF and BMA disposal caverns/vaults that accept specific waste classes depending on surface dose


Waste Classification Using Activity LimitsWasteClass France South Korea Spain USA

LLW 100 – 20,000 Becquerel/gram (Bq/g)

Activity concentration > 100 times the IAEA clearance levels but < Low Level Waste activity levels (10 radionuclides including:< 3.70E+3 Bq/g total alpha< 1.11E+6 Bq/g tritium)

Level 1:

Maximum activity /unit mass < 1.85E+02 Bq/g per total alpha at 300 years

< 7.40E+03 Bq/g tritium

< 3.70E+04 Bq/g total beta/gamma activity; nuclides with half-life > 5 years

Class A10 CFR Part 61 Class A Concentration limits

Class B10 CFR Part 61 Class B Concentration limits

Class C10 CFR Part 61 Class C Concentration limits

ILW 20,000 –1,000,000 Bq/g

Greater than LLW but less than High Level Waste:4,000 Bq/g of alpha emitting nuclides with half-lives longer than 20 years, with a heat generation rate of less than 2 kW/m3.

Level 2:

More detailed limits and limits per package for those nuclides in the Reference Inventory

60Co activity below 5.00E+07Bq/g

90Sr activity below 9.10E+04Bq/g

137Cs activity below 3.30E+05Bq/g

Not a U.S. classification

Note -Class C (even though defined as LLW by U.S. regulations) and Greater than Class C (GTCC) more closely approximate ILW in the IAEA scheme


Comparison of Selected LLW Limits Bq/g or Bq/cc (US)

H-3

Co-60

Sr-90

Cs-137

C-14

Tc-99

Alpha

Comparison of Selected LLW Limits (Bq/g) or Bq/cc (U.S.)

Spain LLWS. Korea LLWUS Class A


Waste Classification Using Dose

Waste Class Canada(Ontario Power Generation)

France Sweden

LLW Type 1 < 2 millisievert/hour (mSv/h)

< 2 mSv/h BLA – 2 mSv/h

ILW Type 2 2 to 150 mSv/h

Type 3> 150 mSv/h

> 2 mSv/h BTF – 10 mSv/hBMA – 100 mSv/hSilo – 500 mSv/h


Comparison of Dose Limits

France0 < 2 ≥ 2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 200 300 400 500

LLW ILW

Canada0 < 2 ≥ 2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 < 150 ≥ 150

LLW: Type 1 ILW: Type 2 ILW: Type 3

Sweden0 < 2 ≥ 2 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 200 300 400 500

LLW: BLA ILW: BTF ILW: BMA ILW: Silo


Classification of Reference WastesReference Waste Type U.S. S. Korea Spain Canada Sweden

PWR High Activity IX Resin Class B LLW ILW (Level 2) ILW (Type 2) ILW (BMA)PWR Low Activity IX Resin Class A LLW ILW (Level 2) LLW (Type 1) ILW (BTF)PWR Cartridge Filters Class B ILW > ILW (Level 2). ILW (Type 2) ILW (BMA)BWR High Activity Resin/Filter media Class B LLW ILW (Level 2) ILW (Silo)BWR Low Activity Resin/Filter media Class A LLW ILW (Level 2) ILW (BTF)BWR Cartridge Filters Class A LLW ILW (Level 2) ILW (BMA)DAW-Low Level (Class A) Class A LLW LLW (Level 1) LLW (Type 1) LLW (BLA)DAW-Higher Level (Class B and C) Class B LLW ILW (Level 2) ILW (Type 2) ILW (BMA)PWR Evaporator Concentrates Class A LLW ILW (Level 2) LLW (Type 1) LLW (BLA)


Canadian Waste - Dose Rate Classification Example


Status of Research to Date

Documentation of LILW management practices (characterization, packaging, disposal) being reviewed by participating country representatives.

Continuing classification of reference wastes using participating country classification schemes.

EPRI Technical Report to be published in 2016.


Together…Shaping the Future of Electricity

Documents

Comparison of International Waste Classification Schemesthe same and different classification systems (IAEA vs. Class A, B, C) Benefits: – Develop a technical basis to compare classification