WRACS

Waste Receipt Assay Characterisation
Supercompaction (WRACS)
- New Supercompactor
Dounreay's low level waste drum crushing plant
(WRACS) suffered a major, non-repairable
mechanical failure in August 2011. DSRL sourced a
replacement, used supercompactor from AWE that
was surplus to requirements. This provided DSRL
with significant savings in terms of costs and time.
Key Facts
•
Work continues to assay, characterise and store the low
level waste drums produced by decommissioning
operations whilst the supercompactor is replaced.
•
Local firm Simpsons' used two cranes to lift the 45 tonne
drum crusher into place through a roof hatch in the
building.
•
An approximate backlog of 15,000 assayed drums will be
in storage by the time the new supercompactor is
operational.
•
The new supercompactor is due to be operational during
summer 2014.
•
Once operational the compactor will be operated on
shifts until the backlog is cleared.
•
The compacted waste will be placed in containers and
grouted for emplacement in the new Low Level Waste
Disposal Vaults. The old Supercompactor was
successfully packaged for disposal as a bulk package.
Produced by DSRL Community Relations Department - ©2014
Cavendish
Nuclear
Decommissioning
Authority
Dounreay
Cavendish CH2M HILL URS