Reusing and recycling materials more efficiently thanks to E.R.N.I.E. and B.E.R.T.
Optimisation of measuring devices makes the release of materials from a nuclear area both rapid and reliable
So that the nuclear industry can become a sustainable sector, we are making a major commitment to bring about a sustained reduction in the quantity of radioactive waste in the form of the ANUBIS project. Sustainable waste management basically consists of increasing the proportion of materials that can be reused or recycled when they leave a nuclear area. For the vast quantity of materials, such as those resulting from the dismantling of installations, what we need are fast and accurate measuring systems. That is where E.R.N.I.E. and B.E.R.T. come in.
E.R.N.I.E. and B.E.R.T.
Our partner Ludlum recently installed two measuring devices (HWM-550 and HWM-1800) at SCK CEN as part of the ANUBIS project. The devices are closely related to each other and therefore resemble a pair of brothers. Their shape and appearance earned them the nicknames E.R.N.I.E. (Efficient Release with Normal-sized Instrument Employing total gamma) and B.E.R.T. (Big monitor for Efficient Release with Total gamma).
E.R.N.I.E. is the ‘smaller‘ of the two devices and is a release measuring chamber that was designed to use 10 detectors to measure materials packed in 200-litre drums. B.E.R.T. is the larger version of E.R.N.I.E. and is designed for measuring materials packed in containers with a maximum volume of 1 m³. To do that, the device uses as many as 24 detectors.
Thirty times faster
The measuring devices currently being used for the release of materials require a measuring time of about thirty minutes in order to arrive at a reliable decision. However, E.R.N.I.E. and B.E.R.T. do this in as little as one minute, but are less accurate in the process. For that reason, the decision threshold for reuse and recycling has been set very conservatively. This excessively cautious approach minimises the risk of error but also leads to reduced effectiveness in terms of sustainability. To make the brothers "future proof," we developed a new type of technology that makes them more accurate.
Digital twins and machine learning
To improve the accuracy of the measurement results, we made a digital copy (a 'digital twin') of the measuring device, that is, a virtual representation of the physical system. We entered a large amount of data, which allowed us to identify patterns and relationships by means of machine learning algorithms. This helped us improve the accuracy of measurements within a wide range of applications.
E.R.N.I.E. as an example
The basic version of E.R.N.I.E. has already been qualified by Bel V and is currently used routinely for the release of materials. Qualification of the improved version, including the “digital twin” and the machine learning algorithms, is expected soon, and will be a first step. In the next phase, the accuracy of E.R.N.I.E. will be further improved for more complex applications and special conditions.
The plan is that like E.R.N.I.E., its big brother B.E.R.T. will also be qualified by Bel V in the future. “But we're not there yet,” said An Bielen, an expert in characterisation. “B.E.R.T. must first undergo the same optimisation process and undergo improvements in order to optimise the accuracy of the release measurements.”
The bigger picture
As mentioned earlier, our aim within the ANUBIS project is to minimise the volume of radioactive waste once dismantling has been completed. E.R.N.I.E. and B.E.R.T. play a crucial role in that final checks applied to materials coming from a nuclear area, while keeping safe reuse and recycling firmly in mind. “We are looking forward to the continued implementation and optimisation of E.R.N.I.E. and B.E.R.T. Once the ANUBIS project has been completed, it will be possible for materials to be released in a more efficient and reliable way. This will form an important step towards sustainable waste management within the nuclear industry,” concluded An Bielen.
Read more about our clearance monitors!
ANUBIS & the relaunch plan for Belgium and Europe
Let’s rewind to 2021. At that time, the European Union awarded SCK CEN funding for the ANUBIS project, which stands for "Advancing Nuclear dismantling in Belgium through Improving Sustainability". The main goal of the project is to develop technologies and competencies in order to maximise the reuse of materials released during nuclear decommissioning. This includes the construction of a new research, development and demonstration facility with associated facilities for supporting innovation in dismantling projects in Belgium.
The project not only fits in with the Belgian-European plan for the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also connects seamlessly with the sustainable dismantling of the nuclear power plants at Doel and Tihange.
DDoo yyoouu wwaanntt ttoo kknnooww mmoorree aabboouutt AANNUUBBIISS?? CClliicckk hheerree..