Advanced waste management techniques for fusion reactors With SiC/SiC structures

This paper concerns the management of activated material from operation and decommissioning of three SEAFP99 Fusion Plant Models with in-vessel structures made with SiC/SiC composites. The management strategy aiming at reducing the amount of permanent radioactive waste is based on: (a) Recycling within the nuclear industry of in-vessel materials other than SiC/SiC. (b) Clearance (declassification to non-radioactive status). (c) SiC/SiC reprocessing for extraction of noxious radionuclides, and achieving clearance conditions for the bulk of the waste. Without reprocessing, SiC/SiC becomes a Permanent Disposal Waste (PDW). In the light of this result, two methods of reprocessing activated SiC/SiC are described.