ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Sogin has inaugurated the site at the nuclear power plant in Latina for the dismantling of six vapor generators (boilers), the distinctive red cylinders located outside the reactor building. During their operation, these boilers facilitated the transfer of heat from carbon dioxide to water, thereby generating the steam necessary to activate turbines and produce electricity. This endeavor is particularly intricate due to the large and elevated components involved: each boiler stands at 24 meters tall with a diameter of 6, amounting to a total weight of 3,700 tons.
Currently, construction of the confinement structures is underway, designed to isolate and safely secure the areas affected by the cutting of the boilers and the handling of materials throughout the duration of operations, safeguarding them from the external environment.
The project outlines the subsequent sectioning of each boiler into nine cylindrical parts, each weighing approximately 90 tons, with the process moving progressively from the top down. The adopted technique will be diamond wire cutting, which allows for simultaneous dissection of the internal components of the vapor generator (tie rods, spacers, brackets, sheets, etc.).
The cylindrical segments will be lowered to the ground using a specialized crane, then transferred to the already established Material Treatment Station, where the tube bundles will be removed, the outer casing cut into smaller parts, and decontaminated with high-pressure water. Most operations will utilize high-tech robotic systems. The metallic materials resulting from the casing cutting will be released for recovery, while the tube bundles will undergo treatment through melting at a qualified operator, aligning with Sogin’s circular economy strategy focused on minimizing radioactive waste.
– Photo courtesy of Sogin press office –
(ITALPRESS).
