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Sellafield empties radioactive liquid tanks in safety milestone

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 13:58 · Archive

Sellafield has emptied 110 cubic metres of radioactive BUTEX liquor from ageing storage tanks dating back to the 1950s.

Tanks holding radioactive liquid at Sellafield for decades have been emptied in a major hazard reduction milestone. The BUTEX liquor, stored in the Highly Active Liquor Evaporation and Storage (HALES) facility, is a waste byproduct from nuclear fuel reprocessing dating back to the 1950s. Sellafield said the achievement marks a significant step forward in reducing hazards and preparing the site for future operations.

Around 110 cubic metres of radioactive liquid needed to be transferred. The task was complicated by the age of the tanks, some of which had not been used for transfers in nearly 20 years. Concerns about the condition of supporting systems meant extensive preparation was required.

Teams from operations, engineering and safety case worked together to develop a safe transfer method. This included upgrading the ventilation system and securing regulatory permissions from the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency. Transfers began with small volumes using existing valves and controls, with each cycle moving about 40 litres. A total of 2,250 cycles were needed to complete the job.

The original plan was to keep the liquor in the tanks until the facility ceased operations, but challenges in identifying suitable alternative storage capacity elsewhere on the site prompted a change in approach. Chris Bone, head of operations in the HALES plant, said: 'A few years ago, there was real uncertainty about whether this could be done. The team's willingness to think differently and work through those challenges made this success possible.'

The entire programme finished within a few months, far ahead of the original estimate of more than a year. Removing the self-heating liquor has reduced the thermal load on some of HALES' oldest equipment, further improving safety at the facility.

Sellafield empties radioactive liquid tanks in safety milestone
Image: Cumberland News

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In this story: Sellafield · Office for Nuclear Regulation · Environment Agency · Chris Bone

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