Decommissioning the Sodium Reactor Experiment, a Status Report

Abstract

The decommissioning of the Sodium Reactor Experiment near Los Angeles, California is nearing completion. The reactor vessel and all contaminated support systems are being removed in order to return the building and site to unrestricted use. It was found cost effective to preserve the building throughout decommissioning. To date: fuel was removed and declad, tooling and technique development was completed, bulk sodium and sodium films and heels were removed, coolant piping was removed, in-vessel piping was removed by underwater remote explosive and plasma torch cutting, the reactor vessel assembly has been dissected by remote underwater plasma torch cutting, fuel and moderator handling machines were removed intact, and most of the contaminated support systems have been removed. The work has progressed successfully to meet contamination guidelines while maintaining radiation exposures to workers to as low as practicable levels. Noteworthy accomplishments were made in developing decommissioning tooling techniques and in demonstrating the capability to return a nuclear facility to unrestricted use.