This NEST project addresses the main issues of i‑graphite management, including characterisation, decontamination and disposal. Hands‑on training consists of several activities which makes use of the fully‑fledged infrastructure, pilot and experimental facilities present at the ROSATOM site. This includes specially‑manufactured equipment for i‑graphite remote sampling, graphite incineration facilities and radioactive waste repository mock‑up models for investigation of geological barriers.
There are many challenging issues in the nuclear field that need to be addressed. Many NEA countries are looking for high-level radioactive waste management solutions, as well as long-term options for RW disposal.
Along with that decommissioning of old nuclear facilities, concerned with generation of a large volume of low - and intermediate level wastes, requires efficient tools for waste minimisation, like decontamination and clearance.
In order to fulfill these objectives, the NEST Framework is intended to build a closer collaboration between institutions responsible for the education and training of young engineers and scientists and research organisations together with regulatory bodies and industry. NEST projects shall benefit from conforming to the following criteria:
In this NEST Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) acts as Leading organisation (Project Manager) on behalf of ROSATOM. TPU is responsible for enabling the international academic and research community an access to the academic and research resource base of the universities and industry, including operation nuclear research reactor of Tomsk Polytechnic University and industrial site of the Pilot and Demonstration Center for Decommissioning of Uranium-Graphite Nuclear Reactors (“PDC UGR” JSC). The NEST Participating Organisations (universities, research organisations, regulators and industrial partners) from different countries, are participating in NEST project to provide NEST Fellows with an opportunity to acquire this knowledge and competences through education and hands-on training activities. For that, two types of fellowships are foreseen: a “short-term” programme of about 3-4 weeks or a “long-term” programme of about 3-12 months (to be discussed with each Participating Organisation).
This NEST Project addresses some main issues of RW management, including (but not limited) to the following topics:
The purpose of the Project: partnership among France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and other countries around the world with participation of universities, research organisations and industries (EDF, SOGIN) in education and training of young engineers and scientists and research organisations together with regulatory bodies and industry in the field of i-graphite and RWM.
