Transport of contaminated large components
Large components are large parts of a plant that have been contaminated with radioactive material due to their use in a nuclear power plant. They include, for example, the steam generators of nuclear power plants. What needs to be considered when transporting such large components, and who is responsible for authorising these transports?
The and dismantling of nuclear power plants necessitates the responsible management of the generated at such facilities. In accordance with the 'Act on the Reorganisation of Responsibility in Nuclear Waste Management', which came into force in 2017, the operators of nuclear power plants are responsible for the and proper packaging of all plant components. The majority of dismantling work can be conducted directly on the power plant site. However, it may be more appropriate to transport particularly large components that can be removed without disassembly to external specialist companies for disassembly and subsequent packaging or recycling. In the event that the of the component exceeds the specified limit in the hazardous goods legislation, approval must be obtained from the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) prior to transport. The safety of people and the environment is of paramount importance.
What are large components?
Large plant components that have become radioactively contaminated during plant operation are transported as radioactive material. Steam generators in nuclear power plants are a common example of large components that have become contaminated with . The steam generators at the Obrigheim nuclear power plant, for instance, were about 17 metres long and had a diameter of about 3.6 metres. They weighed about 177,000 kg.
The transport of large components contaminated with is subject to the law on hazardous goods and is categorised as SCO ().
It is standard practice that radioactive material should only be transported in suitable packaging. The package (comprising both the packaging and its contents) serves to ensure safety during the transportation process. In consequence, different requirements are placed on the packaging depending on the specific type and quantity of the material to be transported. Unpacking is the only option for large components that have not been disassembled because of their size. To guarantee safe transportation, the large component, along with any adhering to it, particularly on the interior, must comply with the criteria set forth in the dangerous goods regulations. It is imperative that the specified limit values, such as those pertaining to the or the of , are not exceeded. Depending on the of , unpackaged large components may be classified as SCO in the subcategories SCO-I or SCO-III. In accordance with the applicable dangerous goods regulations, BASE authorises the transportation of items in the category with the higher limit values, namely SCO-III.
What checks does BASE perform before granting a licence for the transport of SCO-III category objects?
The transport plan and the radiological are particularly important for the examination. The transport plan describes the entire transport operation, including all measures and the necessary emergency measures in the event of an . The radiological documents must demonstrate compliance with the and limits specified in the dangerous goods regulations. BASE conducts its own calculations to assess the documents.
In addition, BASE commissions the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) to test the mechanical properties of large components and to carry out quality management. The tests carried out by BASE and BAM ensure that people and the environment are protected throughout the transport. Once all the requirements have been met, BASE issues a transport licence.
Fields of responsibility in Germany
In accordance with Section 11 of the GGVSEB (Ordinance on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road, Rail and Inland Waterways), BASE is responsible for approving transports of SCO-III items. It should also be noted that all SCO shipments also require a transport licence in accordance with the Radiation Protection Act. This is the responsibility of the respective licensing authority at federal state . Various other licences may also be required, such as a heavy load licence or a waterway police licence for special transport on inland waterways. As such large components are difficult to transport by road or rail due to their size and weight, inland waterway transport is often chosen in Germany.
The supervisory authorities of the federal states and the supervisory authorities of certain carriers (e.g. the Federal Railway Authority for rail transport) are responsible for ensuring compliance with safety during transport. Responsibility depends not only on the carrier, but also on whether the transport is to or through a certain federal state.
Stand: 2024.12.06