Spotlight on sustainable energy

A MAGAZINE FROM THE STUDSVIK GROUP
#1 .2014
PROFITABLE GROWTH
STUDSVIK’S NEW ORGANIZATION IS CREATING THE
NECESSARY CONDITIONS
UNDER PRESSURE
REPLACING VENTILATION
SYSTEMS AT A RESEARCH
LAB IN THE U.K.
Using a simulated reactor
environment, Studsvik’s
Jimmy Karlsson carries
out studies of corrosion
and material properties.
Read about Studsvik's
reorganisation on page 8.
Spotlight on sustainable energy
Contents #1.2014
Editorial
Building on success
04 Comparing energy sources
I 07 Extreme experiments
In a life-cycle assessment, even the
“greenest” of energy sources have
drawbacks.
t has been a year since I took over as Studsvik’s CEO. With the
new business-area-based reorganization, launched in January 2014, and with increased customer focus and a firm targeting on profitability, I am confident that Studsvik will reach
its financial targets soon.
The global demand for energy is rapidly and continuously rising.
After five tough years the economy is recovering steadily, which
means that industries will need more energy. Additionally, with more
and more people working to rise out of working to rise out of poverty
and seek a higher standard of living, the demand for electricity is
spreading even further.
Meanwhile, we hear all the time about excessive greenhouse gas
emissions and the type of drastic behavioral changes we will need to
make if we want to maintain our standard of living for years to come.
Politicians are considering how to put an appropriate price on emissions. This will of course favor renewable energy and nuclear power
and will make coal-fired power plants and oil fracking less attractive
than they are today.
In this issue of Innova you can read about a life-cycle
assessment of different energy sources. It might surprise you to learn that, in this assessment, nuclear
power is on the same level as wind power. However,
as many researchers point out, we cannot exclude
any energy source – we need them all.
Finally, I would like to recommend
that you watch an interesting documentary about nuclear power and the
myths it has evoked. Called Pandora’s
Promise, it’s currently available on
iTunes and Netflix.
Studsvik has replaced a ventilation system
at the Atomic Weapons Establishment
(AWE) in the U.K.
08 Synergy opportunities
Newly reorganized and with a new
leadership, Studsvik now has a businessarea-based structure.
10 Nondisposable to disposable
Research focuses on methods for oxidizing
metallic uranium waste to reduce its
reactivity and allow for convenient disposal.
ILLUSTRATION: LADISLAV KOSA
04
Thanks and enjoy.
Editor-in chief: Eva-Lena Lindgren, Studsvik email: [email protected]
Address: Studsvik AB, P.O. Box 556, SE-611 10 Nyköping, Sweden
Managing editor: Petra Lodén, Appelberg Art director: Karin Söderlind, Appelberg
Printing: Österbergs Cover photo: Janne Höglund
www.studsvik.com
2 Innova [1:2014]
08
10
PHOTO: STUDSVIK
Innova is published by the Studsvik Group to share information about its business and the
international nuclear industry.
PHOTO: JANNE HÖGLUND
Michael Mononen, CEO
Global News
Awarded
paper
Unique project
commissioned in Spain
Studsvik has been commissioned to carry out
studies on material from Spain’s first nuclear power
station, Zorita (also known as José Cabrera), which
went into operation in 1968 and was finally shut
down in 2006. The material to be investigated has
been isolated by components close to the reactor
core. The material’s long operating period with a
high neutron dose makes it unique, since the results
from the studies will provide knowledge about the
integrity of the internal parts over the complete
operating life of a reactor.
The way in which the material properties have
changed according to the neutron dose over the
reactor’s operating period will be studied, and
the studies will provide key information that is
necessary for the operation of existing reactors,
for ageing and maintenance programs, and for
extending service life. The results of the studies
can also help to avoid creating unnecessary
nuclear waste by avoiding the premature replacement of components that can be used longer.
The project is being managed as a multilateral
international collaboration with stakeholders
from the U.S., Europe and Japan.
In April 2012, Joe Robinson, Vice
President, Strategic Development for
Studsvik in the U.K., presented a technical paper on the Berkeley Boilers Project.
Written jointly with Dave Saul, Gavin
Davidson and Bo Wirendal, the paper
won the “Best Paper” award at the WM
2013 Symposia in Phoenix, Arizona. The
paper was picked as the best out of
more than 500 papers presented at the
symposia, which is the leading international conference on radioactive waste
management.
“The win is attributed to the strengths
of the Berkeley Boilers Project overall,
and the contributions of everyone that
worked on
the project to
make it such a
success,” says
Robinson. “That
Dave, Gavin and
Bo couldn’t be
there in person to present the paper because
they were busy transporting another 10 boilers was
also a striking aspect of
the story, showing that
Studsvik was still busy
‘getting on with the job.’”
Calendar
“There is no credible
path to climate
stabilization that
does not include a
substantial role for
nuclear power.”
Four top environmental scientists call on environmental leaders to embrace nuclear power in an
open letter released at the end of 2013.
April 7–9
Did
you know….
In the U.S., spent nuclear fuel is stored
in pools and thick concrete cylinders at
nuclear plants. If an American got all his
or her lifetime electricity supply solely
from nuclear power, that person’s total
share of the waste would fit into one
soda can. In France, where nuclear fuel
is recycled, waste is drastically reduced.
So the lifetime total for a French family of
four would fit in a single coffee cup.
Studsvik International Users Group
Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts
April 8–10
Metals Recycling Symposium,
Studsvik, Sweden
April 10–11
NITF Annual Nuclear Information
Technology Forum, Shanghai, China
April 23
Studsvik Annual General Meeting
May 13–16
EnergyCon IEEE International Energy
Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Source: cravenspowertosavetheworld.com
[1:2014] Innova 3
Outlook
Powers of
4 Innova [1:2011]
Outlook
the earth
With the world’s demand for power growing
steadily, sustainable energy sources are increasingly in the spotlight. However, while some of the
nonnuclear options may seem attractive, reality is
often a very long way from perception.
Text #(-ŋ&-(-ŋĊŋIllustration Ladislav Kosa
The International Energy
Agency (IEA) estimates that worldwide electricity demand will grow by
more than two-thirds by 2035. At the
same time, the rapidly increasing
amount of human activity across the
globe is having profound effects that
include pollution, habitat loss and
increased greenhouse gas emissions.
For the sake of its own future, humanity must embrace sustainable methods
of generating power.
Of course, in these pages, it comes as
no surprise that nuclear power, which
accounts for about 12 percent of today’s worldwide electricity generation,
is a good choice where sustainability
is concerned. But hydro, for example,
releases fewer greenhouse emissions
(see chart on page 6). So how sustainable are nonnuclear options?
Well, there’s coal-fired power generation, which currently constitutes twofifths of the energy mix, but it’s hard
to see many positives there. Gwyneth
Cravens, journalist and author of Power
to Save the World: The Truth About
Nuclear Energy, allows that coal plants
in the U.S. no longer have black clouds
hanging around them, thanks to filters
required by improved regulation over
the past decade or so. “But vapors –
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide – are
still being released into the air, where
they form fine particulate matter,” she
says. “This stuff lodges in the lungs of
children and a lot of other people. So
instead of some 30,000 people dying
annually, it’s now 18,000.”
Consider, too, coal’s carbon dioxide
emissions, the notorious ecological
impact of coal mining and the toxic,
radioactive concentrations of fly ash
created by the coal burning process.
Cravens is interested in the new
field of carbon capture and storage
(CCS) technology, but, she says, “it’s
expensive. Some reliable government
sources have estimated that carbon
sequestration would require 30 percent of a plant’s energy. Who would
invest in that?”
Natural gas, another fossil fuel, is
reshaping the energy landscape. “Its
carbon emissions are cleaner than
coal’s,” says Cravens, “but there are a
lot of problems around its extraction,
and leaks.” Moreover, true sustainability requires long-term thinking.
Natural gas may be abundant now,
but what about in the future? “The
reason we’re going after shale gas now
is because readily available natural gas
has run out,” Cravens says.
Sustainable power, in most
people’s minds, means renewables
– hydro, solar, wind, bioenergy, etc.
Together, renewables make up onefifth of the global power generation
mix today. They are growing rapidly, in
large part due to government subsidies, raising high hopes for the future.
Cravens credits Switzerland and
Sweden, countries that rely primarily
on hydro and nuclear power, as being
among the most sustainable in their
energy mix. But she says hydro has
Æ
[1:2014] Innova 5
Outlook
1000
1,000
900
800
Model of responsibility
Median values and 25th
and 75th percentile values
of GHG emissions.
700
Coal
933-979-1048
600
Gas
427-477-542
Nuclear
7-12-25
Hydro
4-7-15
100
Biopower
18-40-59
200
PV (photovoltaic)
37-44-50
300
Wind
9-11-18
400
CSP (concentrated solar power)
16-27-37
500
0
The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA) harmonization project systematically reviewed estimates of life cycle
GHG emissions from electricity generation technologies published between
1970 and 2010. Harmonization was applied to adjust estimates so that they
were methodologically more consistent and therefore more comparable.
its limitations: “The U.S. is maxed out
on hydro, at only 6 percent of its total
energy mix. There’s no more water
for it.” But even if water is available,
new hydro power installations – 1,600
large dam projects are currently being
built around the world – can destroy
communities and have devastating
ecological effects.
Hydro power is also vulnerable
to droughts; a three-year drought in
California caused utilities to switch to
natural gas. This is a problem with most
renewables, especially wind and solar:
They cannot reliably meet demand.
Vaclav Smil, Professor in the University
of Manitoba’s Department of Environment and Geography, has expressed
skepticism about renewables, in part for
their low capacity factors (a calculation
of the most electricity a plant can actually produce divided by what it would
produce if it could be run full-time).
He writes, “The capacity factor of
a typical nuclear power plant is more
than 90 percent; for a coal-fired gener-
6 Innova [1:2014]
In 2007, Studsvik in the U.K. established long-term objectives in relation
to key corporate responsibility (CR)
principles, including the environment.
Accordingly, Studsvik issues an annual
CR report to update stakeholders on its
progress on objectives such as preventing pollution, enhancing the environment, managing carbon and minimizing waste. The 2012 report highlighted, for example, a project in which
Studsvik assisted a ship and marine
structure decommissioning/reclamation specialist in identifying and removing naturally occurring radioactive
material from pipework and components of a rig that had operated in the
North Sea. About five tons of drummed
waste was disposed of in a suitable
landfill facility, and the project recovered approximately 300 tons of metal
for recycling – rather than direct disposal in a landfill as low-level radio-
ating plant it’s about 65 to 70 percent.
A photovoltaic installation can get close
to 20 percent – in sunny Spain – and a
wind turbine, well placed on dry land,
from 25 to 30 percent. Put it offshore
and it may even reach 40 percent.”
Cravens agrees. “Solar won’t be able
to run an automobile plant that has to
work 24/7 anytime soon,” she says. “It’s
too weak and intermittent, and it’s still
just a tiny percentage of the pie.” She
also notes that wherever solar and wind
are used, backup is required to stabilize
the grid, and that backup comes from
burning coal and natural gas. “For this
reason, companies that sell fossil fuels
love to put pictures of windmills in
their ads.”
The production and disposal of
the photovoltaic panels used in solar
power generation is also a concern.
Polysilicon manufacturing can be
a safe process that recycles silicon
tetrachloride, an extremely toxic byproduct, back into the base material.
Gwyneth Cravens,
journalist and
author of Power to
Save the World: The
Truth About Nuclear
Energy.
active waste. In fact, with 95 percent
recycling efficiency at its Metals
Recycling Facility in the U.K., Studsvik
returned a total of 1,090 tons of metal
to the market during 2012, an amount
equivalent to 90 double-decker buses.
Sam Usher, President of Studsvik U.K.,
says, “Over the last year, our work has
delivered positive benefits for our customers and other stakeholders, including regulators, local communities and
shareholders. CR is a vital business
activity, and our CR program of responsible and sustainable business practices is key to delivering the long-term
growth and profitability of Studsvik.”
Other CR accomplishments listed
in the report include a third win in
five years of the RoSPA Sector Award
for Health & Safety, a transition to
two-shift workdays and an improved
introduction process for employees,
contractors and agency personnel.
Although required in heavily regulated
countries, the recycling process adds
costs, and there are indications that
manufacturers around the world are
cutting corners. The Washington Post,
for example, has reported on the disturbing effects of silicon tetrachloride
pollution in a village in China’s Henan
Province. Manufacturers have begun
to implement recycling programs for
used solar panels, but the programs are
far from universal.
Sustainability is difficult to achieve,
and even the “greenest” of energy
sources have drawbacks. Improved
technologies and regulation can help.
But one important step toward sustainability has nothing to do with the source
of power generation. In its World Energy
Outlook 2012, the IEA claimed that if
strong energy efficiency measures were
implemented globally, growth in the
world’s primary energy demand to 2035
would be halved. In a world in which
time may be running out, time itself is
becoming a valuable resource. Á
AWE
Experiments
under extreme
conditions
Studsvik has been awarded a contract to replace
ventilation systems at a hydrodynamics research lab
at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in the U.K.
Text (ŋ,)1(ŋĊŋPhoto AWE
The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) provides and
maintains the Trident warheads of the
U.K.’s nuclear arsenal. The AWE
website explains that experiments are
carried out within one of the hydrodynamics research laboratories located
on the site. The purpose of these
experiments is to assess the dynamic
behavior of materials as they flow
under the influence of high pressure
and stress.
Specifically, AWE conducts hydrodynamic experiments where small
amounts of material are subjected to
explosive shocks in specially sealed
chambers. Given the nature of these
experiments, it is necessary to have
specialized experimental facilities
and diagnostics capable of performing
under extreme conditions. The experiments take place within reinforced
firing chambers designed to safely
contain them.
To study the movements of shockwaves through high-density material,
AWE developed a technique using
powerful X-ray machines to record
snapshots of the experiment. Data is
then collected using a suite of diagnostics capable of performing under
extreme conditions.
While these experiments were being
conducted, the existing chamber ventilation system and associated electrical
control and heating systems were found
to be unreliable. Subsequently Studsvik
was asked to tender for the replacement
of these systems .
Prior to being awarded the contract
Studsvik was asked to undertake a
review of the design as presented by
AWE to understand and help overcome the design issues that became evident during the implementation and
commissioning phases on the previous
project undertaken in this area.
Studsvik submitted a report indicating a number of significant areas of
concern relating to the level and quality
of the information provided, and also
questioned the ability of the design to
achieve the requirements of the control
philosophy. In addition, Studsvik
questioned the use of existing control
panels that surveys had shown to be in
a very poor condition. Unfortunately,
due to program constraints, the client
was unable to act upon the concerns
and instructed Studsvik to begin the
installation prior to receipt of “frozen”
design information.
It became evident during the early
stages of the installation that the level
and quality of the information provided within the design was such that
it would impact upon the program;
this resulted in an excessive amount
of technical queries being raised
throughout this stage. In parallel, an
internal, independent in-depth review
of the design was undertaken by AWE
that raised in excess of 100 design
To study the movements of shockwaves through high-density material, AWE developed a technique using X-ray machines to record snapshots of the experiment.
queries, the bulk of which had been
highlighted within the Studsvik report.
AWE instructed Studsvik to replace
the control panels that had been
highlighted as being in poor condition within the Studsvik report, which
resulted in further delays during the
implementation phase.
Throughout the project Studsvik
worked very closely with AWE to be
proactive rather than reactive. Regular
meetings were held and reports issued
to keep the client’s team up to speed
with both the technical and commercial situation. AWE recognized and
commented on the support Studsvik
provided during what has been a
difficult project. Studsvik is one of
just a number of contractors working
within this area of the AWE site, and
the feedback has been that Studsvik’s
performance in all areas has been
exemplary. Á
[1:2014] Innova 7
Profile Michael Mononen
New leadership and reorganization will allow
Studsvik to make better use of its expertise,
increasing customer focus and creating the
conditions necessary for profitable growth.
Mission:
profitability
Studsvik employee
Magnus Andersson
closes the lid of a
pyrolysis vessel.
Text ,(ŋ#(ŋĊŋPhoto Janne Höglund
Michael Mononen took over as
Studsvik’s CEO in March 2013, having
previously held the same position for
CTEK Sweden AB. From day one his
assignment from the board was clear:
Restore profitability. This is hardly
surprising since Studsvik has essentially earned no money over the past
five years.
“The first thing that struck me as
the new CEO was that Studsvik had
never met its financial targets,” says
Mononen. “The second was how much
Studsvik’s customers appreciated the
company’s high quality standards and
flexibility.”
In this type of situation, Mononen
explains, there are three things to do
in the short term: Cut costs, get rid of
unprofitable business and make price
adjustments.
“I felt that there were opportunities to change our prices, and that’s
very positive,” he says. “Similar to
many other engineering-dominated
8 Innova [1:2014]
companies, Studsvik has a culture of
delivering very high quality products
and services but an inability to get paid
for them,” he says.
The focus of Mononen’s work on
improving profitability is to better
understand the customer. By gaining
a more complete understanding of
customer requirements, it is possible
to deliver higher-priced services – a
basic truth that can also be very difficult to put into practice. He hopes to
accomplish this task with the help of
the company’s new reorganization.
“We are working on customer value
management, which is a structured
way of increasing the added value for
the customer,” says Mononen. “The
main goal of the new organization is
also to make Studsvik more customeroriented.”
Through the reorganization, which
was launched in November 2013 and
took effect Jan. 1, 2014, Studsvik went
from a geographic- to a business-area-
based structure. The “new” Studsvik
consists of three business areas: waste
treatment, focusing on the treatment
of radioactive waste; consultancy
services for nuclear facilities and gas
and oil installations; and operating
efficiency, which focuses on fuel and
reactor operation.
“By building a structure based on
products and services, this creates a
customer focus that goes right up to
the top of the organization,” he says.
“It also offers greater opportunities for
synergies, particularly through cooperation with different countries in the
same business area.”
Mononen did not want to estimate
when Studsvik would be able to reach
its financial targets of 10 percent annual growth and an 8 percent operating
margin, but he feels they can be met.
“I am convinced that we can reach
the targets; they are entirely realistic,”
says Mononen.
The extent to which Studsvik and
Pia Tejland in the Hot Cell
Laboratory studies a material sample in the scanning
electron microscope.
Mononen may be helped by the market
to reach their financial targets is hard
to say. While the Fukushima accident
has led to the phasing out of nuclear
power in countries such as Japan
and Germany, it is being expanded
elsewhere, such as in Finland, Russia,
India and China.
“The demolition and redevelopment markets in Europe are obvious
growth areas,” says Mononen. “Consultancy services in countries committed to nuclear power is another.” He
adds that expansion into new growth
markets is secondary; solid profitability must be established first.
In general terms there is also much
to be said in favor of nuclear power, he
says.
“It is hard to combine a reduction
in global warming with an improved
standard of living in the world without
nuclear power,” says Mononen. “Solar
and wind power are important but not
sufficient and not always available.” Á
New management
At Studsvik, a new organization went into effect on
Jan. 1, 2014. The Studsvik Group is now divided into
three business areas: Waste Treatment under
President Mats Fridolfsson; Consultancy Services
run by President Stefan Berbner; and Operating
Efficiency featuring the Group’s CEO Michael
Mononen as President. Furthermore, the former
Head of segment UK Sam Usher has been appointed
Senior Vice President Business Development.
In addition, a new Chief Financial Officer has
been appointed: Pål Jarness. Prior to coming to
Studsvik, Jarness was CFO of Actic, one of the
leading Nordic health club chains with operations
in six countries. Before that he was CFO at Goodyear Dunlop Nordic and Kraft Foods Nordic and
has held different positions in the treasury and human resources departments at Philip Morris. Jarness replaces Jerry Ericsson, who has taken up an
advisory role in the Group, reporting to the CEO.
Michael Mononen
Career: Engineering graduate
from Chalmers University;
studied economics at the School
of Economics in Gothenburg.
Previously employed as CEO of
CTEK Sweden AB and was the Head
of Sapa Heat Transfer from 2001 to
2011.
Family: Wife Elisabeth and two
children: a son born in 1990 and a
daughter born in 1997.
Leisure time: Running, skiing, golf
(handicap 11).
About being a finance-oriented
CEO: “You are more exposed, but
otherwise it is not greatly different
from other CEO and management
roles.”
About leadership: “It is important
to have the right people around you
who are self-motivated and take the
initiative. You must be results-driven
and have quantifiable targets.”
[1:2014] Innova 9
From nondisposable to
disposable, treatment of
pyrophoric waste for disposal
Recent experimental trials have looked for methods for oxidizing metallic uranium
waste to reduce its reactivity and allow for convenient disposal. Results were presented
at the Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix, Arizona, in March 2014.
Text Carl Österberg, Maria Lindberg Ċ Photo Studsvik
I n order to dispose of
waste in a deep geological disposal or a shallower
repository, there are several
demands that the waste
must fulfill. One is that
it does not react with oxygen or the
waste package or backfill in the repository, i.e., concrete or grout. Waste
forms that do not fulfill this particular
criterion must be treated in some
way to render the waste nonreactive.
One of these waste streams is metallic
uranium, which not only originates
from the nuclear industry as fuel but is
also present in, for example, transport
flasks and as samples used in schools.
All these wastes have to be disposed of
sooner or later.
In order to evaluate thermally
treating metallic uranium in a very
controlled environment, such as a
pyrolysis vessel, experiments have
been performed. The aim of the
treatment is to oxidize the metals and
obtain an oxide with low leachability.
Cerium, used as a uranium surrogate, reacts easily. The focus on the
first set of trials was to ensure a safe
process and not risk an escalating oxidation process. As a result of the trials
and parameter optimization, a mixture
of Ce and oil was treated in three steps
to prove the process. These three steps
are described and explained here.
Two crucibles were placed in the
pyrolysis vessel (see Picture A in
Figure 1). One crucible contained two
Ce ingots and oil and the other only
1 0 Innova [1:2014]
two Ce ingots. The first step was to
gasify the oil without oxidizing any Ce.
The result of this oil gasification step
is seen in Picture B. In the second step
the cerium was partially oxidized by
adding steam, and when the temperature in the pyrolysis vessel increased
the addition of steam was terminated
and then quenched – i.e., the reaction
stopped by adding nitrogen gas. As
a final third step, the remaining Ce
ÐFig. 1 Cerium blocks
prior and after oxidation steps.
A
B
C
D
was oxidized by adding oxygen and/
or steam. When no further increase
in temperature could be observed
despite addition of oxygen and steam,
the oxidation process was considered
finalized (see Picture C and Picture D,
a close-up of C).
After gasification of oil approximately 2.2% of the Ce had been oxidized. After the final step when oxygen
and steam has been added, more than
Technology
A
99.75% of the Ce was oxidized.
As for trials on real active waste
material, several different mixtures
have been used. The active material
has been both metallic uranium in the
shape of shavings mixed with organic
material (oil and sawdust) as well as
solid blocks (>700 g, or 1.5 lbs).
Several trials have been performed
with metallic uranium shavings and
oil. As uranium metal shavings are
pyrophoric, the shavings and oil were
stored in drums, and wood chips or
sawdust were added to bind any free
oil. The uranium residue in its original
form is not suitable for direct disposal, but it can be thermally treated
to remove organics and oxidize any
residual metallic uranium to create a
residue that may be capable of further
processing to a form suitable for acceptance at a disposal facility. Material
prior to (A) and after treatment (B)
can be seen in Figure 2.
B
Ï Fig. 2 Uranium,
sawdust and oil mixture prior to (A) and
after treatment (B).
needs handling and possibly treatment
before disposal. Magnesium metal is
also pyrophoric, in particular in molten
or powder form. Trials on this type of
material were conducted to assess the
suitability for thermal treatment.
Figure 3 shows pictures of a solid
Mg-Th block prior to (A) and after thermal treatment (B). Even if the virgin
material is a metal block, the result of
the MgO-ThO2 mixture is more like a
powder. Á
A
CONCLUSIONS
The uranium shavings and blocks
were treated with the same procedure as the Ce ingots, and the residue
looks about the same as the residue
from the cerium tests. The tests were
performed safely and with no overheating or rapid reaction incidents.
Another waste that needs disposal
is magnesium doped with thorium,
originating from the aviation, aerospace and missile industry. These
magnesium-thorium (Mg-Th) alloys
are now being replaced with alloys
without thorium, so the old material
B
ÍÏ Fig. 3 Mg-Th
alloy prior to and
MgO/ThO2 after
thermal treatment.
The oxidation of all examined
metals and metal alloys could be
performed in a safe and controlled
manner. All reactions were possible to quench by lowering or
totally shutting off the supply of
oxygen either in the form of pure
oxygen or as free oxygen in steam.
It is possible to achieve a complete oxidation of metal even if the
metal is shaped as big blocks. For
the uranium case one solid block
of metal weighing approximately
750 grams (1.7 pounds) was totally
oxidized in a 2-liter (0.5 gallon) crucible in a controlled process. Metal
powder or shavings are processed
in the same manner, and the
process is as controllable as the
process for solid metal blocks.
[1:2014] Innova 1 1
TAKING
THOR FURT
A team of Studsvik
engineers develops
innovative solutions to
waste management.
Text #(-ŋ&-(-ŋĊŋPhoto Zach Porter
1 2 Innova [1:2014]
About five years ago, a dedicated group of Studsvik engineers was put
together in order to commercialize the
THOR process. The intent was – and
remains – to promote the technology
in the U.S. (primarily to the Department of Energy) and to customers
worldwide.
But now the group has expanded
its consulting services for customers
and is developing novel solutions for
different waste treatments.
“What we’re doing is taking
technology and adapting it to other
waste,” explains Howard Stevens,
Vice President Operations and
Engineering. “That could mean
changes in sizing, changes in how to
operate the machinery or changes in
additives to get different types of end
minerals, whether it’s activated
alumina, clay – or even nothing.”
The THOR process, for example, is
currently being applied to three different waste forms. In Erwin, Tennessee,
the process is being used to treat ionexchange resins from nuclear power
plants. In Idaho, it is being used to
treat sodium-bearing waste produced
by the Idaho National Laboratory.
In France, with AREVA, pilot plant
studies have demonstrated that THOR
is a viable solution for nitrate-bearing
waste.
“We’ve always felt that the technology could be adapted for other
News
study to design to fabrication to
operation.”
Currently the expertise for THOR
is based within the U.S., but if the
team members need help with safety
or ventilation issues, for example,
they utilize knowledge from other
parts of Studsvik. Stevens explains
that the team makes use of outside
partners. “Our core expertise as a
team is process engineering and
waste management,” he says. “But if
we need a seismic analysis on a facility, we hire that work out to experts in
that field.”
HER
waste forms,” says Stevens. “We’ve
proven that the final waste form is
stable and safe for disposal; it doesn’t
create a future risk for disposals or
future impact on the environment.
We can capture 99.99 percent of the
radioactivity. The new THOR facility
in Idaho, the second THOR facility
in the U.S., represents an important
milestone in the development of the
technology, showing that waste can
become safe and stable.”
The team works by approaching
different customers to ask about what
problems they have with their waste.
Sometimes customers have a waste
stream with no disposal or treatment
“We’ve
always
felt that
the technology
could be
adapted
for other
waste
forms.”
option; that’s where the consulting services team comes in.
“We conduct a feasibility study,
which ends with a recommendation
– either THOR or something else,
such as simply pyrolysis or a solidification process,” says Stevens. “Then
we use the best option to create a conceptual design. What might the solution look like – a pyrolysis drum application? Then, if the customer likes
it, we create a preliminary design that
is more detailed, one that considers
the machines and specs, and that can
be used to create a cost estimate.
Then we create a facility design. Ultimately, we can offer the whole waste
treatment process, from feasibility
The customer is also a vital part
of project team. “There is usually an
assigned project manager from the
customer side, along with an expert on
the waste, or location, or whatever it
might be,” says Stevens. “It’s important
to have customer involvement because
customers have the direct knowledge
of their waste and the problems associated with it.”
Looking toward the future, Stevens
says he has plans for expanding the
group’s engineering capabilities in
different areas. “We’re increasing our
focus on planning, in helping customers manage their waste from cradle to
grave, so it’s not just a problem at the
back end,” he says. “We see many instances in which waste is being generated without a disposal plan, and with
Studsvik’s 60-plus years of experience,
we can help.” Á
For more information,
contact Howard Stevens at:
[email protected].
[1:2014] Innova 1 3
Profile Jonathan Johnson
Meet Jonathan Johnson,
Rad Waste Supervisor in
Erwin, Tennessee.
Text #(-ŋ&-(-ŋŋĊŋPhoto Zach Porter
Cask
master
“I love the mountains,” says Jonathan
Johnson. “I’m not a city boy by any means.”
It’s a good thing, then, that his hometown is
Erwin, a small Tennessee town nestled in a
scenic valley of the Appalachian Mountains.
Erwin is also home to a Studsvik processing
facility.
“When I was growing up here, I never
thought that I would work in the nuclear industry,” says Johnson, who is today Rad Waste
Supervisor at the plant. “NFS (Nuclear Fuel
Services) has been here since the 1950s – they
make fuel for submarines and ships – so the
industry’s been a part of this community for a
while.”
Johnson started working for Studsvik in
2004, after he moved home from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. There he studied
business and played baseball. “My goal was to
get into Major League Baseball,” he says, “but
my plans changed after a shoulder injury.”
Before qualifying to be a control-room
operator (CRO), Johnson began working at
Studsvik in field services. “When I first started
out my job was to help refurbish containers
1 4 Innova [1:2014]
and liners, and then send them back to the
customer,” he says. “If the customer didn’t want
them back, we’d cut the containers up and send
them for disposal, so we basically repackaged
secondary waste. Being qualified for CRO
means that I am qualified to run the plant. A
lot of the operations are done by computer, but
some jobs you go out and do yourself.”
At the time, CRO was a necessary qualification for getting a supervisory role at the
plant, and Johnson had his eye on his current
role as Rad Waste Supervisor. “I was more
interested in the rad waste side of things,
and meeting with customers, so that’s how I
ended up in my current position,” he says. “I’m
responsible for incoming and outgoing waste
– where it goes when it comes in, with trucks
and casks, getting them where they need to
go, and refurbishing containers to meet the
customers’ specs. Most of my training for this
position occurred on the job, teaching myself
and learning from older folks.”
A good day at work for Johnson means having conversations with customers and fixing
Jonathan
Johnson
Title: Rad Waste
Supervisor
Family: Fiancée
and two daughters
Hobbies: Hunting
and fishing
any problems they may have. “For instance, if
a customer calls and they have a problem with
a cask, I help them get it on the road and over
to us for processing,” he says.
“I like being there for customers when they
need assistance.”
He estimates that about 50 percent of his
job is spent on-site, and the other half with
customers. Nine employees report to him.
“I don’t do the contracts or the negotiations
of the pricing, but I take part in some of the
sales activities,” he says. “They often bring me
along to teach customers about the THOR
process.”
Johnson is disappointed by what he sees as
a lack of education among the public regarding nuclear power. “Growing up here, you
never heard about the good side of it,” he
says. “But 10 years of working at Studsvik has
changed my point of view. I think there needs
to be more nuclear power, so we don’t use up
coal and gas. It’s a lot safer and cheaper.
I get pleasure out of talking to people about it,
about changing their minds and showing them
the positive side of the industry.” Á
News
2014 nuclear fuel analysis
users group meeting
The 2014 Studsvik International Users
Group Meeting (UGM) will be held April
7–9 in Boston, Massachusetts, at the
Westin Waterfront Hotel. Each year,
Nuclear Fuel Analysis (NFA) hosts a UGM
for its customers in the U.S. or abroad. All
Studsvik core monitoring system (CMS)
software customers are welcome to attend, free of charge.
The UGM is an excellent opportunity
for customers to meet with Studsvik
NFA representatives and fellow colleagues from around the world while
learning about Studsvik CMS products,
applications and engineering services.
The two-day meeting consists of presentations from Studsvik experts on CMS
software development and customer
presentations on special applications
and experience with Studsvik’s CMS
products.
Last year’s UGM questionnaire showed
that the customers found presentations
on HELIOS (Studsvik’s generalizedgeometry lattice physics code) and Spent
Nuclear Fuel (SNF) the most interesting. So this year a special SNF software
workshop will be held after the UGM on
April 10 at Studsvik’s Boston Training
Center. The workshop will feature handson training with the latest version of SNF,
and it will cover spent fuel isotopic inventory, cask loading optimization, decay
heat and final disposal.
For more information on the 2014
UGM or the special SNF workshop, please
contact Erin Wehlage at
[email protected].
66
As of July 2013, 66 reactors are
under construction (seven more
than in July 2012). The average
construction time of the units
is eight years.
Source: World Nuclear
Industry Status Report 2013
U.S. signs nuclear
pact with Vietnam
In October 2013, the U.S. and Vietnam signed a nuclear
cooperation agreement that allows the transfer of nuclear
fuel and technology to Vietnam and permits U.S. companies
to invest in Vietnam’s growing nuclear industry. With plans
to build up to 13 nuclear power plants with a total capacity
of 16,000 megawatts over the next two decades, Vietnam
has the second-largest market after China
for nuclear power in East Asia. Secretary
of State John Kerry told Vietnam’s
Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh,
“This agreement will create numerous
opportunities for our businesses.”
Under the agreement, U.S. companies will be allowed to export
nuclear-related fuel, expertise, reactors
and equipment. The pact also prohibits
Vietnam from enriching or reprocessing
plutonium or uranium. Richard Myers,
the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Vice
President for policy development,
planning and supplier programs, says
that this agreement has the potential
to result in $10 billion to $20 billion in
U.S. nuclear exports, and adds that the
Department of Commerce estimates that
this could create more than 50,000 highpaying U.S. jobs.
Fighting cardiovascular
disease with nuclear power
Nuclear imaging technology plays a
central role in detecting diseases early.
One example of this is its use in combatting cardiovascular diseases. Early and
precise diagnosis informs effective treatment and can lead to a faster, more complete return to health. Medical imaging
and nuclear medicine technologies offer
precise, sometimes three-dimensional,
views of anatomical and physiological
function. As specialized training is
required to safely and effectively employ
medical imaging and nuclear medicine
technologies, continuing education is of
vital importance to ensure that the best
possible patient care is provided. The
IAEA is working with partner organizations to train practitioners and enhance
diagnostic capabilities, with a focus on
quality and safety.
[1:2014] Innova 1 5
Time off
Sudoku difficult
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PHOTO: GUNNAR BERGKRANTZ
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Roasted roots rule the roost
Root vegetables taste very different when roasted rather
than boiled. Cooking them in the oven makes them mild
and sweet, which goes particularly well with spicy meat
dishes. While you wait for the roots to cook, fry up ground
beef patties filled with cheese for a delightful dish.
Ground beef and roasted
root vegetables
4 servings
1 pound potatoes
1 pound root vegetables (carrots,
parsnips, celeriac, yams)
2 cloves of garlic
3 bay leaves
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
½ dl breadcrumbs
1/2 cup milk
1 pound ground beef
Salt and pepper
1 egg
2 ounces blue cheese
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
F. Peel the potatoes and the root
vegetables, cut into pieces and
place in an ovenproof casserole along
the crushed garlic, crumbled bay
leaves, salt and olive oil. Mix well. Cook
in the oven for approx. 45 minutes.
Fry the finely chopped onion carefully in butter and let it cool. Let the
breadcrumbs swell in the milk. Mix the
ground beef with salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, fried onion and the egg. Stir
well. Make eight small ground beef
patties, place a piece of soft cheese in
the middle and fold them up. Fry them
briefly in butter and then place them in
the oven to cook along with the vegetables for another 10 minutes.
Energy: 397 kcal per serving
Fat: 19.6 g per serving
Brain puzzl
e
What numbe
r comes next
in this sequen
ce?
1/1 3/2 7/5
17/12 41/29
?/?
Find the an
swer at the
bottom of th
e page.
Guess the photo
What is this? You’ll find the
object in the
magazine...
... and the answer by
turning the magazine
upside down.
Enjoy!
U.S. EDITION
Answer: 99/70: each successive term better approximates the square root of two and is formed as (a + 2b) / (a + b). Guess the photo: Experiments with Ce-ingots and oil.
Studsvik AB, PO Box 556, SE-611 10 Nyköping, Sweden. Phone: +46 155 22 10 00,
Fax: +46 155 26 30 00, email: [email protected], www.studsvik.com