At a glance
In the topic of Nuclear Waste Management, Jülich researchers conduct application-oriented basic research into the safe disposal of radioactive waste. The focus is on final repository research with an emphasis on long-term safety aspects, waste management concepts for hazardous radioactive waste, and international nuclear safeguards.
Challenges
A sound understanding of how irradiated nuclear fuel behaves is important for evaluating the safety of interim and final storage. This also applies to the behaviour of long-lived radionuclides in a final storage facility with regard to long-term safety. Tailor-made new disposal concepts must be developed for radioactive hazardous waste for which no established technical solutions have been developed. In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requires scientific support in developing new methods to better monitor nuclear material.
In Germany, expertise in nuclear waste management is needed in the long term due to the long time frames involved. Training the next generation of specialists and the associated retention of expertise represents a particular challenge.
Solutions
Experts agree that it would be best to store the radioactive waste several hundred metres below the surface of the Earth in suitable rock formations. Research from Jülich helps to answer the scientific and technical questions that arise in connection with interim and final storage.
The researchers look at radioactive waste, such as irradiated nuclear fuel, as materials and try to understand their properties. To this end, they integrate experiments and simulations on different length and time scales. They aim to understand how radioactive waste behaves over time and which processes occur when it comes into contact with water, for example. Unique infrastructures, including specialized radiochemical laboratories, enable the Jülich teams to conduct groundbreaking research that is not possible outside the Helmholtz Association in Germany.
One aim is to provide the scientific basis and data to prove that radioactive materials can be stored safely in the long term. In addition, Jülich researchers are developing concepts, methods, and techniques for the international monitoring of fissile material. They collaborate closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At the same time, expertise is passed on from generation to generation through research.
NUSAFE research can draw on an excellent network at Jülich. This research work is supported by experts in the field of electron microscopy from the Ernst Ruska-Centre, engineers from the Central Institute of Engineering, Electronics and Analytics, and IT specialists from the Jülich Supercomputing Centre.
Contact
- Institute of Fusion Energy and Nuclear Waste Management (IFN)
- Nuclear Waste Management (IFN-2)
Room R 290