Laser Technology for Decontaminating Radioactive Waste Tested for the First Time at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

For the first time at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, scientists from the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) have carried out the first practical tests applying a unique laser technology for cleaning radioactive waste. The main objective of these tests is to determine whether laser decontamination can become a reliable alternative to existing radiation decontamination methods and to assess its effectiveness in cleaning metal surfaces contaminated with radionuclides. If the project is successfully implemented and the laser technology is applied in practice, it could significantly reduce the amount of radioactive waste sent to disposal facilities.

“We are striving to improve radioactive waste decontamination and management processes, which is why we are actively seeking new, advanced methods. The application of laser technologies is a promising and rapidly developing direction in radioactive waste management worldwide. Lithuania is internationally recognized as an advanced country in laser technologies, so by cooperating with national scientists we aim to transform this potential into new, practically applicable solutions for nuclear legacy management. Our goal is to increase radioactive waste conversion rates and return cleaned raw materials to the consumption cycle – this is one of the commitments of our sustainability strategy,” says Linas Baužys, Head of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant operating under the name Altra.

According to Baužys, these tests open up new opportunities not only for the radioactive waste decontamination process at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, but also for Lithuania’s laser technology companies. “Once this decontamination technology is tested and developed at our site, Lithuanian companies will be able to successfully sell this service or laser equipment to other nuclear energy countries that are also seeking innovative solutions. Currently, around 200 nuclear reactors worldwide have reached the end of their operational lifetime, so the competencies of Lithuania’s laser sector could be applied on a much broader scale than just the Ignalina project,” Baužys notes.

By cooperating with representatives of science and industry, Altra is creating favorable conditions for innovation and is becoming a reliable platform for scientific research and technological development.

“Researchers at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology have been contributing to the safety enhancement of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant for more than 20 years and have been providing scientific expert support in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, as well as in the characterization and management of radioactive waste. This study of laser technology will make it possible to assess what proportion of radioactive contaminants can be removed and safely collected by a filtration system, thereby reducing both the quantity and hazard level of radioactive waste,” says Dr. Artūras Plukis, Head of the Nuclear Research Division at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology.

High waste conversion rates have already been achieved at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant – 78% of dismantled equipment and as much as 94% of reinforced concrete are successfully released from radiation control and can be transferred to the secondary raw materials market. Laser-based radioactive waste cleaning technology could become a major innovation contributing to the modernization and efficiency of decontamination processes.

One of the greatest advantages of laser decontamination is the minimal generation of secondary waste. Currently, radioactive waste decontamination is most often carried out using high-pressure water jets, which generates secondary liquid radioactive waste, or in specialized shot-blasting equipment, which produces contaminated metal shavings. When laser technology is applied, only additional aerosols are generated, which are collected and filtered, thus significantly reducing the volume of secondary waste.

During the laser technology testing experiment, FTMC scientists analyzed which types of waste generated at the nuclear power plant are suitable for laser decontamination, selected the parameters of the laser cleaning system, and conducted prototype tests under real conditions within the plant’s premises. To objectively assess the effectiveness of the laser technology, samples of various metal types, shapes, and different levels of radioactivity from Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant were tested.

After evaluating the test results, FTMC scientists will prepare recommendations on the application of laser technology in the waste decontamination processes at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. The conclusions of the experiment are planned to be presented in April next year, while the final recommendations are expected in June. The implementation of innovative technologies such as laser cleaning can significantly contribute to the further efficient execution of the plant’s decommissioning process.

The project “Laser Technology for the Decontamination of Radioactive Waste Generated at Nuclear Energy Facilities” is being implemented through cooperation between Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (operating under the new name Altra), the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, and the Lithuanian Research Council.