Combustible waste incineration
Centraco incineration plant is designed to process all low and very-low-activity short-lived combustible solid and liquid waste produced by nuclear facilities, research laboratories, and hospitals.
Combustible waste...
Combustible waste not only includes solid waste as a result of human intervention in restricted zones (gloves, shoe-covers and coveralls) but liquid waste (cleaning solutions, oils, solvents, and concentrates), filters, ion exchange resins and sludge from nuclear facilities as well.
Incineration process
Depending on the conditioning method used (PE or metallic drums) waste is either directly incinerated or undergoes preliminary reconditioning at CENTRACO.
The incinerator is a static three-chamber furnace that looks like a conventional industrial unit.
Its design was adapted to comply with the operating requirements of nuclear facilities, especially in terms of radioactive containment (depressurising in relation to the area in a depressurised building). It is designed to process an average of 12 tons of waste per day.
The flue-gas treatment system is particularly effective, meeting both chemical and nuclear requirements to achieve maximum purification.
The flue-gas is first cooled and filtered across banks of bag filters and high efficiency particulate filters (HEPA). The resulting off-gas is chemically purified in two scrubbing columns to eliminate the chlorine, halogens, heavy metals and sulphur, and finally in a catalytic converter to eliminate nitrogen oxides and dioxins.
This treatment system fully complies with the strictest and most recent standards applicable to incinerator discharge streams.
Treatment of liquid effluents
Since early 2009, SOCODEI has commissioned a processing unit of leachate (EDL) with 3 storage in special tanks of 1000 m3 each and a unit of clear separation between juice and juice concentrates.
Leaching of steam generators of power EDF has conducted in several phases: deoxidation, the "décuivrage" and rinses. Contrary to what was done until 2008 when Centraco received mixtures, each type of product is stored in a special tank and undergoes appropriate treatment.
The effluent of deoxidation, which are most concentrated, are incinerated directly without going through the separation unit.
The effluent of "décuivrage" and rinsing are treated by a process of evapo-concentration and reverse osmosis, which reduces a factor of 5 to 15 the volume incinerated. The clear juice is substituting water cooling tower quenching, thus achieving a substantial saving of our natural resources and effective treatment of waste received. This process also meets the latest standards in emissions from incinerators.
In 2009, the volume of EDL will be receiving more than 6000 tons, 1300 tons will be incinerated 2,000 tons pass in quenching tower, the remainder being stored.
Ultimate waste conditioning
Incineration ashes and clinker are immobilised in a hydraulic binder in a cold inerting unit.
Encapsulated in 400-litres shielded metallic drums, ultimate waste packages are then shipped to ANDRA surface storage facilities for french producers.