CARLA - Melting Plant for Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Safely reuse
Volume reduction and conservation of resources to protect our environment was an early and predominant concern for us. As a result of an intensive development phase, we started operation of our melting plant CARLA (= Centrale Anlage zur Recyklieren Leichtaktiver Abfälle) in 1989 (central plant to recycle slightly radioactive wastes). In combination with the production facilities of the Siempelkamp foundry, this plant offers unique recycling options. This process of treating metallic residues unites safety, ecology and economy in an exemplary way. Contaminated residues are recycled to resources for new products in nuclear technology or they can be used as secondary raw materials outside of nuclear technology, if the requirements for release are complied with. Only a minimum of final repository volume is demanded for the waste resulting from the treating process, like slag, dust and furnace lining.
Purpose of the plant:
- Recycling of metallic residual substances from nuclear applications into new products for the nuclear technology industry
- Volume reduction for final disposal
- Decontamination of the metal through the melting process
- Safe confinement of the residual radioactivity in the metal
- Simple product qualification (determination of the radioactivity) using samples from the melt
Origin of materials from operation and decommissioning of:
- Nuclear power plants
- Radiochemical laboratories
- Research facilities
- Finds under art. 71 of the German Radiation Protection Ordinance, where the limit values for undeclared and unlicensed handling are exceeded
- Facilities of the nuclear fuel cycle, like uranium enrichment plants and fuel element fabrication plants
Licences:
- Handling licence for radioactive materials under Radiation Protection Ordinance art. 7
- Licence under Radiation Protection Ordinance art. 15 for carrying out activities in others' facilities
- Licence under Federal Immissions Control Act for plants under section 1 no. 3.7 in connection with 3.3 and 3.4 of the 4th Federal Immissions Control Ordinance
Our range of services:
- Melting of contaminated/activated metallic residual substances
- Sorting and cutting up for the melting process
- Preliminary decontamination by blasting
- Decay storage, until recycling inside and outside the nuclear industry
| CARLA Melting Plant |
Further information: Casks and Containers for Radioactive Waste
