Radiating ScrapRadiating Scrap- An Industry Perspective - - An Industry Perspective -

G.A. van der ReijdenG.A. van der Reijden

QA ConsultantQA Consultant

gavdreijden@planet.nlgavdreijden@planet.nl

SummarySummary

No smelter will accept radiating scrapNo smelter will accept radiating scrap

The scrap processing Industry will do it’s The scrap processing Industry will do it’s utmost to prevent to sending radiating utmost to prevent to sending radiating scrapscrap

Extensive monitoring of all scrap for Extensive monitoring of all scrap for radiating material has proven to be radiating material has proven to be successfulsuccessful

Potential Solutions for low Radiating ScrapPotential Solutions for low Radiating Scrap

Unwanted Radiating MaterialUnwanted Radiating Material

The ISO 9000 demands The ISO 9000 demands of the Supplier to meet of the Supplier to meet the specifications of the the specifications of the Client.Client.

The Clients demands :The Clients demands :– No detectable No detectable

Radioactivity in Radioactivity in scrapscrap

Why No Radiation ?Why No Radiation ?

The most important process of the smelter is The most important process of the smelter is melting metal in a furnace in order to make new melting metal in a furnace in order to make new metal products.metal products.This process will stop when a radioactive source This process will stop when a radioactive source is melted down.is melted down.The damage of such an event is tremendous for The damage of such an event is tremendous for all parties involved.all parties involved.

Any possibility for such an introduction Any possibility for such an introduction must be avoidedmust be avoidedEvery alarm is forbidden and a disaster for Every alarm is forbidden and a disaster for the sender of the scrapthe sender of the scrap

How to Deliver Scrap Without How to Deliver Scrap Without Detectable RadioactivityDetectable Radioactivity

It is impossible to monitor the amount of It is impossible to monitor the amount of radioactivity in each scrap object.radioactivity in each scrap object.Therefore the scrap industry has Therefore the scrap industry has concentrated on measuring the likely concentrated on measuring the likely emission of Gamma radiation produced by emission of Gamma radiation produced by most common radioisotopes.most common radioisotopes.The detection process must be more The detection process must be more advanced than the detection process of advanced than the detection process of the Smelter.the Smelter.

Return To SenderReturn To Sender

The first measurement of radiation is The first measurement of radiation is carried out by the gate monitor.carried out by the gate monitor.

This is the only chance to identify the This is the only chance to identify the sender of detected radioactive materialsender of detected radioactive material

““Return to sender” is a theoretical option Return to sender” is a theoretical option because it is extremely difficult to succeed because it is extremely difficult to succeed in returning radioactive material.in returning radioactive material.

One Gate Detector is InsufficientOne Gate Detector is Insufficient

Not one supplier of detection equipment Not one supplier of detection equipment will guarantee the 100% detection of will guarantee the 100% detection of radioactive material.radioactive material.

From experience we know now that one From experience we know now that one gate detector does not detect all radiating gate detector does not detect all radiating objects.objects.

To Satisfy the Client !To Satisfy the Client !

We introduced a new policy after a serious We introduced a new policy after a serious incident.incident.

Besides the existing gate detector system two Besides the existing gate detector system two more gate detectors were erected in one portal.more gate detectors were erected in one portal.

Every gripper for moving scrap was equipped Every gripper for moving scrap was equipped with state of the art detection equipmentwith state of the art detection equipment

The policy was named The policy was named multi measuring of multi measuring of various scrap configurationsvarious scrap configurations

The Results of the New PolicyThe Results of the New Policy

In the last In the last 250 000 tons250 000 tons of of scrap delivered in one year scrap delivered in one year not one radiating object was not one radiating object was found by the Clientfound by the Client

What Was Found ?What Was Found ?

An astonishing variety in objects (several An astonishing variety in objects (several hundreds), total weight over 50 tons hundreds), total weight over 50 tons

NORM and ARM contaminated.NORM and ARM contaminated.

Surface and volumetric.Surface and volumetric.

License and No License neededLicense and No License needed

Solutions for Radiating Materials Solutions for Radiating Materials that need a Licencethat need a Licence

Cleaning:Cleaning:– Removing the radioactive material by water Removing the radioactive material by water

jetting grinding or chemical.jetting grinding or chemical.– At the NRGAt the NRG

Melting:Melting:– In a facility like the ones at Siempelkamp In a facility like the ones at Siempelkamp

Germany and StudvicGermany and Studvic

Storing:Storing:– at National facilities COVRA.at National facilities COVRA.

Solutions for low radiating objectsSolutions for low radiating objectsthat do NOT Need a licencethat do NOT Need a licence

As the regular scrap processing industry As the regular scrap processing industry can not accept detectable radiating can not accept detectable radiating material, a solution must be found. material, a solution must be found.

The owners of such material must be The owners of such material must be convinced that they have to find a convinced that they have to find a good good solution for their problem.solution for their problem.– Oil and Gas producersOil and Gas producers– Nuclear IndustryNuclear Industry

How to Solve the Issue of Low How to Solve the Issue of Low radiating scrap materialradiating scrap material

Recognition that there is an issue !Recognition that there is an issue !

UN should take a leading role !UN should take a leading role !

Potential technical solutions:Potential technical solutions:– The special melting capacity should be The special melting capacity should be

increased increased Like the Siempelkamp facilitiesLike the Siempelkamp facilities

– New refinery methods of metals should be New refinery methods of metals should be developeddeveloped

To separate radioactive metalsTo separate radioactive metals