플라즈마를 이용한 방사성폐기물 처리시 휘발성 물질 관리 기술 연구

Abstract

방사성폐기물은 최소 300년 이상을 저장할 수 있어야 하고 천문학적인 비용을 감당해야 하며 또한 천재지변 등 예상치 못한 잠재적인 위험요소가 상존해 있다. 저준위 방사성폐기물의 경우 고온의 플라즈마를 이용해 가연성 및 액체 저오염 방사성폐기물들을 다른 처리 방법에 비해 상대적으로 높은 효율로 처리가 가능하며 부피를 1/250 무게를 1/30로(대상물에 따라 차이 있음) 줄일 수 있다. 플라즈마 처리 후 침출되는 재(Ashes)는 고화처리를 통하여 기존의 폐기물 처리방법 보다 안정적으로 영구처분이 가능하다. 이번“플라즈마를 이용한 방사성폐기물 처리시 휘발성 물질 관리 기술 연구”는 저준위 및 극저준위 방사성폐기물 소각처리의 활성화, 보편화를 통해 영구 방사성폐기물 처리 비용을 절감하고 원자력 이미지 개선과 후세에 물려줄 방사성폐기물의 경제적 부담 및 잠재적 위험 부담을 줄이고자 한다.| Radioactive waste must be stored for at least 300 years and must bear astronomical costs. In addition, unexpected potential risk factors are also a considerable burden. In the case of low-level radioactive waste, combustible and liquid low-contamination radioactive waste can be treated relatively easily through high-temperature plasma which the volume can be reduced by 1/250 and the weight by 1/30. It is possible to permanently dispose of the ash leached after plasma treatment in a more stable manner compared to the conventional methods. Types of low-level combustible radioactive waste, including paper, vinyl, clothing, filters, and resins, account for more than 30% of the total waste volume. Furthermore, high-temperature plasma treatment of low-level radioactive waste from petrochemical plants and medical institutions have many advantages, namely astronomical cost savings, securing free space in existing storage facilities, and improving the image of nuclear energy. In the future, radioactive waste treatment technology and research will inevitably continue as a large amount of low-level combustible radioactive waste is expected to be generated due to the dismantling of nuclear power plants. Along with the development of incineration technology, there are many low-level radioactivewaste treatment methods, but it is natural that the use of plasma incineration technology with reduction rates, efficiency and advanced control systems are increased. Since the application of Plasma technology is becoming more universal and promising, additional research on volatile material monitoring technology by plasma equipment is needed, and Plasma technology will be useless unless radioactive volatile gases generated during incineration are managed. Since the radioactive volatile gas monitoring technology is one of the core technologies for waste reduction, it is natural to research and develop it. During the radioactive waste treatment process, if the radioactive concentration of the exhaust gas exceeds the standard value, an alarm should be sounded by the real-time continuous monitoring system, and the operator must be able to fundamentally prevent leakage to the external natural environment by recirculating or stopping operation through the waste channel. Through the monitoring technology of volatile radioactive gas generated during radioactive waste treatment using plasma, external leakage of radioactivity is prevented and systematic research is conducted to activate and generalize low-level radioactive waste incineration and to reduce permanent radioactive waste disposal costs to improve the image of nuclear power. It aims to reduce the burden of radioactive waste disposal that will be handed down to future generations.