Experience Gained during the Decommissioning of the SSEC from the VVR-S Nuclear Research Reactor

The VVR-S nuclear research reactor owned by Horia Hubulei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering was designed for research and radioisotope production being permanently shut-down in 2002 after 40 years of operation. The decommissioning of the reactor started in 2010 and is planned to be finalized in 2020, being the first nuclear research reactor that has started the decommissioning project from the South-East of Europe. This paper presents the lessons learned from the decommissioning of systems, structures, equipment and components from pumps room. The experiences gained cover a diverse range of topics from planning, approval, radiological characterization process made, dismantling, equipment used, resources, etc. Radiation protection and economics are the key factors for the selection of technology for decommissioning. The evaluation of the available technology has been made and areas for improving the technology have been identified. Dedicated and advanced technologies were chosen to perform specific tasks. The project was planned well in advance. Safety aspects have been taken into consideration. Resource constraints have also been an important issue considered in defining the decommissioning strategy. Experiences and knowledge were presented and shared with the community.