The application of mechanical and thermal cutting tools for the dismantling of activated internals of the reactor pressure vessels in the Versuchsatomkraftwerk, Kahl and the Gundremmingen Unit A

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 170; no. 1-3; pp. 175 - 182
• Main Authors: Eickelpasch, N., Kalwa, H., Steiner, H., Priesmeyer, U.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-07-1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cutting tools; Decommissioning (nuclear reactors); Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear power plants; Nuclear reactors; Pressure vessels; Cutting; Cutting tools; Decontamination; Nuclear power plants; Boiling water reactors; Dismantling; Germany; Reactor pressure vessel
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0029-5493(97)00027-7

The Gundremmingen Unit A plant (KRB A) and the Versuchsatomkraftwerk (VAK) plant represent the first generation of nuclear reactors in Germany. The 250 MWe reactor KRB A was the first commercial reactor in Germany and the 16 MWe reactor VAK was the pilot nuclear power plant, which had to serve mainly scientific purposes. KRB A is under dismantling since 1983, VAK since 1988. Although they are both of the boiling water type, they are rather different to each other, referring to their size and construction. The actual work is the dismantling of high contaminated components inside the reactor buildings and the underwater cutting of activated internals of the reactor pressure vessels. Several cutting techniques have been developed, tested and applied to respective dismantling tasks in the meantime. The experiences made in both projects are not limited to dismantling work only, but also include know-how on effective decontamination and scrap recycling.