From Passive Storage to Daily Waste Retrieval; Changing the Working Culture at Sellafield’s Pile Fuel Storage Pond

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Carlisle
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Flexible Production ◽  
Nuclear Fuels ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Storage Pond ◽  
Technical Capability ◽  
Working Practices ◽  
Combined Impact

The Pile Fuel Storage Pond (PFSP) was built in 1948/50 to treat materials from the Windscale Piles. Multiple operational regimes over the intervening 60 years have resulted in a complex inventory of spent nuclear fuels, solid and liquid intermediate level wastes. A coordinated programme of work, designed to retrieve and safely dispose of the pond contents, has been implemented to enable the decommissioning of the facility. The long period of passive storage operations which preceded the implementation of the programme meant that the operator was faced with a dual challenge of providing new technical capability and changing a working culture that was inappropriate for the dynamic environment required to successfully deliver the programme. It was recognised that the nature of the programme meant that implementing a standard manufacturing approach to operations would not be appropriate. In order to create a dynamic retrievals focussed working culture, the operator has vigorously embraced change programmes aimed at improving a number of working practices including encouraging innovation, managing integrated but flexible production schedules, and encouraging workface problem solving. The combined impact of beginning to resolve the technical challenges and focussing on the delivery culture has resulted in the facility making a step change towards becoming fully retrievals operations focussed.

Characterisation of plutonium species in alkaline liquors sampled from a UK legacy nuclear fuel storage pond

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 1957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin R. Gregson ◽  
Jeremy J. Hastings ◽  
Howard E. Sims ◽  
Helen M. Steele ◽  
Robin J. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Storage Pond

Peasant Perceptions of Landscape

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Mileson ◽  
Stuart Brookes
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Spatial Practices ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Wood Pasture ◽  
Documentary History ◽  
Material Environment ◽  
History Of

This is the first book about peasant perceptions of landscape. It marks a step-change in the discipline of landscape history, as well as making a major contribution to the history of everyday life. Until now, there has been no sustained analysis of how ordinary medieval and early modern people experienced and perceived their material environment and constructed their identities in relation to the places where they lived. This book provides exactly such an analysis by examining peasant perceptions in one geographical area over the long period from AD 500 to 1650. It takes as its focus Ewelme hundred, a well-documented and archaeologically rich area of lowland vale and hilly Chiltern wood-pasture comprising fourteen ancient parishes. The analysis draws on a range of sources including legal depositions and thousands of field-names and bynames preserved in largely unpublished deeds and manorial documents. Archaeology makes a major contribution, particularly for understanding the period before 900, but more generally in reconstructing the fabric of villages and the framework for inhabitants’ spatial practices and experiences. In its focus on the way inhabitants interacted with the landscape in which they worked, prayed, and socialized, the book supplies a new history of the lives and attitudes of the bulk of the rural population who so seldom make their mark in traditional landscape analysis or documentary history.

Plutonium behaviour in nuclear fuel storage pond effluents

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 1457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Parry ◽  
Luke O'Brien ◽  
Andy S. Fellerman ◽  
Christopher J. Eaves ◽  
Neil B. Milestone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Storage Pond

scholarly journals A Novel Adaptation Mechanism Underpinning Algal Colonization of a Nuclear Fuel Storage Pond

mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria E. MeGraw ◽  
Ashley R. Brown ◽  
Christopher Boothman ◽  
Royston Goodacre ◽  
Katherine Morris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Spent Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
16S Rrna Genes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Radiation Doses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Metabolic Fingerprint ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Storage Pond

ABSTRACTGeochemical analyses alongside molecular techniques were used to characterize the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of an outdoor spent nuclear fuel storage pond at Sellafield, United Kingdom, that is susceptible to seasonal algal blooms that cause plant downtime. 18S rRNA gene profiling of the filtered biomass samples showed the increasing dominance of a species closely related to the algaHaematococcus pluvialis, alongside 16S rRNA genes affiliated with a diversity of freshwater bacteria, includingProteobacteriaandCyanobacteria. High retention of137Cs and90Sr on pond water filters coincided with high levels of microbial biomass in the pond, suggesting that microbial colonization may have an important control on radionuclide fate in the pond. To interpret the unexpected dominance ofHaematococcusspecies during bloom events in this extreme environment, the physiological response ofH. pluvialisto environmentally relevant ionizing radiation doses was assessed. Irradiated laboratory cultures produced significant quantities of the antioxidant astaxanthin, consistent with pigmentation observed in pond samples. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy suggested that radiation did not have a widespread impact on the metabolic fingerprint ofH. pluvialisin laboratory experiments, despite the 80-Gy dose. This study suggests that the production of astaxanthin-rich encysted cells may be related to the preservation of theHaematococcusphenotype, potentially allowing it to survive oxidative stress arising from radiation doses associated with the spent nuclear fuel. The oligotrophic and radiologically extreme conditions in this environment do not prevent extensive colonization by microbial communities, which play a defining role in controlling the biogeochemical fate of major radioactive species present.IMPORTANCESpent nuclear fuel is stored underwater in large ponds prior to processing and disposal. Such environments are intensively radioactive but can be colonized by microorganisms. Colonization of such inhospitable radioactive ponds is surprising, and the survival mechanisms that microbes use is of fundamental interest. It is also important to study these unusual ecosystems, as microbes growing in the pond waters may accumulate radionuclides present in the waters (for bioremediation applications), while high cell loads can hamper management of the ponds due to poor visibility. In this study, an outdoor pond at the U.K. Sellafield facility was colonized by a seasonal bloom of microorganisms, able to accumulate high levels of137Cs and90Sr and dominated by the algaHaematococcus. This organism is not normally associated with deep water bodies, but it can adapt to radioactive environments via the production of the pigment astaxanthin, which protects the cells from radiation damage.

The Complex Challenge of Repairing the Gantry Steelwork on the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond at Sellafield: Legacy Waste Storage, First Generation Magnox Storage Pond

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian E. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Specific Aspect ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Floor Failure ◽  
Fuel Storage ◽  
Safety Constraints ◽  
Storage Pond ◽  
Operational Activities ◽  
Remedial Work

This paper puts into context the challenges that were faced when repairing the Gantry Steelwork of the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP). The First Generation Magnox Fuel Storage Pond (FGMSP) provided fuel storage and decanning capability from the early 1960’s until 1986. A significant programme of work has been underway since the completion of operational activities to support the programmes strategic intent of retrieving and storing all legacy wastes, and remediating the structure of the plant to support decommissioning activities. A key enabler to the retrievals programme is the Pond Skip Handler Machine (SHM), removed from service in 2002 following the discovery of significant signs of corrosion and distress, an inevitable consequence of being located in a coastal, salt laden environment. The SHM provides sole capability to access and retrieve the inventory of over 1000 fuel skips. It is also fundamental to future operations and the deployment of desludging equipment to recover significant bulk sludge’s from the pond floor. Failure of the SHM steelwork gantry at worst case could potentially result in the Skip Handler Machine being derailed. This has some potential to damage to the pond structure and at worst case may result in local radiological and environmental consequences. This paper will examine the challenges faced by the team as they successfully defined, planned and executed remedial work to a specific aspect of the civil structure, the SHM gantry rail system, using a purpose built refurbishment platform; the Gantry Refurbishment System. The paper will examine how an “innovative” approach was adopted to resolve the related issues of: • Refurbishing an aged structure to meet extended future operational demands. • The application of pragmatic engineering solutions against current codes and standards including seismic performance. • Provision of safe access for the workforce to undertake the refurbishment work against significant radiological and conventional safety constraints. • The use of off site test facilities to prove work methods. • Engagement of the multiple workforces including supply chain. • Development of challenging safety cases and management control arrangements to undertake the work. The paper will detail the arrangements established to engage all stakeholder groups aligned to a common goal, programme and end position, together with the arrangements put in place for managing the activities of delivery teams, operators and emergency response teams engaged in task execution over the five year period. Finally, the paper will also share the learning from the projects completion, so that the improvement opportunities flowing from this approach can be shared across the industry for the future benefit of all.

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