Heat-treatment and storage technology for spent ion-exchange resins for new-generation nuclear power plants

A technology for thermovacuum drying of spent radioactively contaminated ion-exchange resins was developed. It was shown experimentally that thermovacuum drying yields a product suitable for long-term storage and subsequent disposal. Recommendations were made for using NZK and KMZ concrete and metal casks for holding dry, spent, low- and medium-activity ion-exchange resins without additional solidification. Because the volume of the product obtained is greatly reduced, thermovacuum drying will decrease by at least 15-fold (from 100 to 7) the number of casks required for long-term storage and subsequent disposal of spent ion-exchange resins produced in one year of operation of a single VVER-1200 power-generating unit.