On May 15, UNIST held the “International Workshop on Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Deactivation and Decommissioning (D&D) Fusion Technology” in the Auditorium of UNIST to deliver safe and sustainable solutions to the challenge of nuclear clean-up and waste management plans for current and planned nuclear power stations.
This special event was organized by Prof. Hee Reyoung Kim (School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering) at NPP D&D Technology Fusion Research Center at UNIST with the help of the City of Ulsan and Ulsan Techno Park.
Approximately 100 people from government and nuclear industry circles assembled to exchange creative ideas and information on the various areas, including decontamination, cutting, robotics, radioactive waste treatment, and environmental remediation in preparation for D&D of nuclear power plants in Korea.
Prof. Hee Reyoung Kim (School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering) at NPP D&D Technology Fusion Research Center at UNIST.
This workshop featured a host of presentations on the development of innovative and improved D&D technologies by 9 pioneering industry speakers, as well as welcome remarks by Mooyoung Jung, Vice President of UNIST and congratulatory addresses by government officials, including Mr. Jang-Yul Shin, the Mayor of Ulju-gun, Ulsan and Mr. Tae Sung Lee, Deputy Mayor of Economics of Ulsan Metropolitan City.
The city of Ulsan has been working actively to ensure the safety of its nuclear power plants, by launching Ulsan Nuclear Decommissioning Technology Research Association (UNDTRA) in February 12, 2015. Mayor Shin of Ulju-gun states, “Ulsan is the place where the density of NPPs in the highest in Korea. This means the city is a suitable place for the development of decommissioning technology for NPP.”
Prof. Andreas Havenith of Aachen Institute for Nuclear Training GmbH (AINT), Germany, sitting at the workshop, held in the Auditorium of UNIST on May 15, 2015.
Under the common topic of “NPP D&D Fusion Technology,” 9 pioneering industry speakers from USA, Germany, and South Korea gave invited talks. Out of many useful materials presented in this workshop, greater emphasis has been placed on the use of robotics and automation for safe and efficient decommissioning of nuclear power plants, as well as the significance of waste management during nuclear new build.
Dr. Young Il Yum, Emeritus Professor in the School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at UNIST presented on the topic “Robotics for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plant” and Dr. Reid A. Peterson, team leader of Radiochemical Science Team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington D.C., USA presented on the topic “Radioactive Liquid Waste Processing & Scale-Up.”
Participants at the International Workshop on NPP D&D Fusion Technology are posing for a group photo at KyoungDong Hall, UNIST.
In additions, seven other distinguished researchers gave plenary invited talks on allied topics: Senior Program Manager Micheal J. Truex of Environmental Systems Group at PNNL, Operations Manager Eric M. Hanson of Radiochemical Processing Laboratory at PNNL, Prof. Yong Soo Kim at Hangyang University, Prof. Chang Lak Kim at KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS), Andreas Havenith at Aachen Institute for Nuclear Training GmbH (AINT), Germany, Prof. Chul Woo Chung at Pukyong National University, and Prof. Byeong-Kyu Lee at University of Ulsan.
Additional topics covered in this workshop include: “Planning for Successful D&D and Environmental Remediation,” “Decontamination and Clean-out of Highly COntaminated Hot Cells – A Case Study,” “Current Status of Worldwide Old NPP Decommissioning and Review of Strategic Points for Effective Preparation in Korea,” “Disposal of Decommissioning Waste,” “German Regulatory Process for NPP Decommissioning,” “Immobilization of Radioactive Wastes Using Cementitious Grouts,” and “Novel Nanocomposite Materials for Environmental Remediation of Radioactive Waste.”
