(WRACS) - New Supercompactor

Waste Receipt Assay Characterisation
Supercompaction (WRACS)
- New Supercompactor
Dounreay
Nuclear
Decommissioning
Authority
Dounreay's Low Level Waste (LLW) drum crushing
plant (WRACS) suffered a major, non-repairable
mechanical failure in August 2011. DSRL sourced a
replacement supercompactor from AWE that was
surplus to requirements. This provided DSRL with
significant savings in terms of cost and schedule.
Key Facts
•
Local firm Simpsons' used two cranes to lift the 45 tonne
compactor into place through a roof hatch in the building.
•
The operations team continue to assay, characterise and
store the LLW drums produced by site decommissioning
operations whilst the supercompactor replacement
project is ongoing.
Interior of facility
Supercompactor
•
Over 15,000 assayed drums were in storage by the time
the new supercompactor started compacting.
•
The new supercompactor started processing drums in
July 2015.
•
Supercompaction reduces the volume of LLW disposal;
typically by a factor of five.
•
Compacted waste (referred to as 'pucks') are placed in
ISO containers and grouted for emplacement in the new
LLW Disposal Vaults. The old Supercompactor was
successfully packaged for disposal as a bulk package.
Pucks being loaded
into an ISO container
Supercompactor being lowered into place
Supercompactor being loaded
through facility roof
Drum
Puck
Produced by DSRL Communications Department - ©2015
Produced by DSRL Communications Department - ©2015