DE LA RECHERCHE À L’INDUSTRIEThe ATALANTE facility: a unique facility for the analysis of High and Medium
activity samples
C. Rivier, S. Jan, E. Buravand, E. Excoffier, S. Peuget, P. Sarrat
NDF’s 6th International Forum on the Decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station
29 August 2022

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - www.cea.fr
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

29 August 2022

1- Atalante facility presentation

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - www.cea.fr
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

29 August 2022

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The organization of R&D activities in CEA Marcoule centre

DES

Marcoule center

Division of energies

ISEC
Institute of Science and Technologies for the circular
economy of low-carbon energies

DE2DDMRC

Research Department of Enrichment
Decommissioning and Waste

Research Department of Mining andFuel Recycling Processes

CETAMA
Commission for Establishment of Analytical Methods

Atalante facility
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

29 August 2022

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ATALANTE facility: some key figures6 mains blocks, 26 000 m2, 11 hot cells, 17 laboratories

200 staff researchers ( ~ 40 % engineers), 70 workers for the operation

Building phases from 1985 to 1992, then 1995 to 2000.

More than 25000 samples analyzed by the central analytical laboratory since 2008

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

29 August 2022

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The ATALANTE facility: High activity analytical capabilities
CBA: a hot cell dedicated to chemical and radiological analysis


2 shifts, 1000 samples per year, 7 analytical techniquesCommissioned in 2001, Biological protection: 25cm steel, 5cm lead

Pneumatic transfer

Front Zone

Ion Chromatograohy
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

Rear Zone

X-Ray and Gamma Rayspectrometry
29 August 2022
5The ATALANTE facility: Medium activity analytical capabilities
Analysis laboratories: 2000 samples per year, 3 glove box laboratories dedicated to chemical andradiological analysis, 12 analytical techniques

Metrology laboratory: production of actinide reference materials

ICP-MS spectrometer

Uranium reference solutions
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

TIMS spectrometer

Preparation set up for Alpha
spectrometry

Plutonium metal reference material
29 August 2022

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ATALANTE facility: Medium activity solid characterizationcapabilities

2 laboratories dedicated to solid characterization, 10 characterization techniques

Scanning Electron MicroscopeHigh Temperature X-Ray Diffraction
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesµ-probeµ-Raman
29 August 2022

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2- Example of high activity sample analysis

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - www.cea.fr
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

ISEC/DMRC/SASP/LMAT

Mardi 15 Décembre 20208

Example of high activity samples analysis:

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RESIDUES OF A FISSION PRODUCTS CONCENTRATION UNIT

In situmeasurements

Sampling plans

Sampling tools
development

Samples intake

Laboratory
analysis

Photos and dose rate measurements
UP1 fission products concentration unit

Sampling plan
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

29 August 2022

9

Example of high activity samples analysis:

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RESIDUES OF A FISSION PRODUCTS CONCENTRATION UNIT

In situmeasurements

Sampling plans

Sampling tools
development

Samplers

Samples intake

Laboratoryanalysis

Solid sample residue intake
ZrResidue intakes X-Ray fluorescence spectra
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

Optical microscopy and SEM
characterization of the residues
29 August 2022

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Example of high activity samples analysis:

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RESIDUES OF A FISSION PRODUCTS CONCENTRATION UNIT

In situmeasurements

Dissolution in HNO3 + HF
media in hot cell

Sampling plans

Calcination furnace

Sampling tools
development

Samples intake

Laboratoryanalysis

Dissolution solution Gamma spectra without/with
Cesium decontamination

Cs-137 cartography based ongeostatistics data processing

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives

29 August 2022

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Thank you for your attention

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - www.cea.fr
French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission

S. Mougnaud – CEA - France

September 201912