Reuse during nuclear decommissioning and immobilisation of nuclear waste

During the process of nuclear decommissioning, dismantling of nuclear installations, we aim to reuse as much as possible materials, so that the remaining fraction that ends up as nuclear waste is reduced as much as possible. The research focusses on the mapping/characterisation of radiological contaminated surfaces in the initial stages of Nuclear Decommissioning via robots and light weight radiological probes or a gamma camera for Compton imaging. The radiological risks are visualised in a Virtual Reality (VR) training environment for radiation protection training of workers during nuclear decommissioning.

In the field of nuclear waste management, alkali activated materials (AAMs) are being developed as potential new encapsulation matrix for radioactive waste. For the AAMs, the immobilisation and radiation shielding properties of AAMs are investigated for nuclear applications. In this framework, UHasselt was selected as a preferable partner for a CDP (Collaborative Doctoral Partnership) within the topic of ‘nuclear waste and decommissioning’ with JRC (Joint Research Centre).

Projects