Types of Radioactive Wastes Generated in a Nuclear Power Station
Q. State the types of radioactive wastes generated in a nuclear power station. Explain the methods employed for their disposal.
Types of radioactive wastes generated in nuclear power station : The waste produced in nuclear power plant is in the form of solid, liquid and gases.
- Methods for disposal of nuclear waste : The nuclear waste is in the form of solid, liquid and gases which are radioactive and very harmful to human beings, animals, environment She and nature. So the nuclear waste is to be carefully disposed off.
- Solid waste disposal : Solid waste from the reactor is highly radioactive and very hot. This waste is filled in a sealed container and is kept under water for 5 to 10 years under supervision to reduce its temperature. The solid waste container is buried deeply in the ground by making tunnel in the unused land which should be away from populated area. There must be less rainfall in that area. Also solid waste container can be suspended in sea beds.
- Liquid waste disposal : Most of the high level waste is in the liquid form. This liquid waste is diluted to a sufficient level by adding large quantity of water. This liquid waste is stored in specially built stainless steel tanks. These tanks are buried deep underground or disposed off into the sea several kilometres away from sea shore.
- Gaseous waste disposal : Gaseous wastes are diluted with adding air and passed through high efficiency flute. Then they are passed through radiation monitoring system. Here concentration of radioactive material is measured. It is safe, then released to the atmosphere at high level through large height chimney