Surface Deactivation of the Nuclear Power Plants Constructions by a New Plasma Method

Abstract

For the first time we propose a new “dry” technology for the decontaminating of the nuclear power plant (NPP) constructions by the ion sputtering of the nano- and micro-sized radioactive layers from the contaminated surface, the sputtering process is provided by a special configuration plasma discharge in an inert gas. Unlike the traditional radiochemical deactivation methods, which form the large volume of a liquid radioactive waste (LRW), the proposed technology allows to condense the removed radionuclides in a compact solid form. This technology is important both for the decommissioning of a NPP (including the deactivation of irradiated reactor graphite) and in the current operations and planned repairs of nuclear reactors. In addition, the another important opportunity of the technology is producing of new materials like a beta-active “nano-micro-sandwich” (enriched with radioisotope 14C or other.) for the useful applications, e.g. in a nuclear medicine and for a new type of betavoltaic batteries.