Unité mobile d'enrobage sur site
Mercure 1, commissioned at the beginning of 1996, and Mercure 2, commissioned at the beginning of 2002, are used to condition ion exchange resins from the primary systems of nuclear power plants.
Low and intermediate-level process waste...
The Mercure units implement a process developed by SOCODEI based on an epoxy matrix process for resin encapsulation. The devices include the following modules:
- The Mercure encapsulation tunnel itself (UME), a self-propelled unit carried on a special road trailer
- A double tank unit for process reactants (epoxy resin and hardener)
- A control station integrated in a 20-feet ISO container
- A workshop truck containing tools and spare parts composed of 2 IP2 containers for conditioning contaminated equipment
- Two office bungalows
- A 20-feet cold container
The resins are conditioned in shielded C1PG type concrete shells manufactured by CDB in compliance with ANDRA specifications on the encapsulation of waste intended for surface storage:
- Production rate per 7-hour shift: 3 packages (1 m3)
- Daily rate: 7 packages (2.4m3)
- Curing time: 5 to 35 hours
A portion of the A2-type integral radiological shielding used is a product of CENTRACO scrap metal recycling and is integrated on our CENTRACO site.
Acceptance criteria
Processed waste:
Ion exchange resins are used in the volumetric and chemical testing circuits of PWR primary cooling systems, as well as in pool water purification and liquid waste treatment units. The resins must be stored under water.
Physico-chemical properties:
- Polystyrenic, phenolic, acrylic or formophenolic resin networks
- Resin beads or grains 0.3 to 1.2 mm in diameter
- Cation or anion resins
- Chemical loading: borates, lithium, iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, sodium, and calcium
Acceptable radionuclides:
58Co, 60Co, 110mAg, 124Sb, 125Sb, 54Mn, 57Co, 134Cs, 137Cs, etc. (non-exhaustive list)
Radiological criterion: Total activity of beta and gamma emitter: ‹ 13 500 GBq/m3.