GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Chandkheda, Ahmedabad
Affiliated

Sal College of Engineering

A Report On
Proper disposal of radioactive waste
Under subject of
DESIGN ENGINEERING – II B
B. E III, Semester – VI
(Branch: - Chemical Engineering)

Submitted by:
Jay A Patel (161130105023)

Bhautik Kandoi (161130105011)

Patel Parth (161134105001)

Aenal Prajapati(161130105030)

Internal Guide
Prof. Mitul Parikh

Head of the Department

Dr. Bhavna Soni

Academic year
2018-19
 Sal College of Engineering

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the dissertation entitled “Proper disposal of radioactive

waste ” has been carried out by Jay A Patel (161130105023) , Bhautik Kandoi
(161130105011) , Parth Patel (161134105001) , Aenal Prajapati
(161130105030 ) under my guidance in the fulfillment of the Design Engineering
(2160001) in Chemical Engineering (6rdSemester) of Gujarat Technological
University, Ahmedabad during the academic year 2018-19.

Internal Guide Head of the Department

Prof. Mitul J. Parikh Prof. H. R. Shah
Assistant Professor, Professor & Head
Sal College of Engineering Sal College of Engineering

Date:
Place:
 ANNEXURE I
CERTIFICATE FROM PLAGIARISM REPORT
 ANNEXURE II
CERTIFICATE OBTAINED FROM DESIGN ENGINEERING
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We wish express our heartfelt appreciation to all those who have contributed to this project and
implicitly, without the cooperation of whom, it would not have been possible to complete this
project.

We would like to think our H.O.D DR. Bhavna Soni and Mrs. Greeshma Nair (internal guide) for
constantly guiding and showing us the correct path to reach towards our desired goal. And I thank
them for sharing their experience, knowledge and valuable time with me and showing their concern
in my project to make it better.

I also thank all the other faculties who directly or indirectly supported me in making my project
successfully sharing their ideas and knowledge.

At least, I would like to thank our parents and friends who have directly or indirectly helped us in
making the project work successful.

Jay A Patel (161130105023)

Bhautik Kandoi (161130105011)

Patel Parth (161134105001)

Aenal Prajapati (161130105030)

 INDEX

Page
Topic
No.
ANNEXURE-I CERTIFICATE OBTAINED FROM I
PLAGIARISM SOFTWARE
ANNEXURE-II CERTIFICATE FOR COMPLETION II
OF DESIGN ENGINEERING
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT VII
TABLE OF CONTENTS IX
LIST OF FIGURES IX
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS XI
ABSTRACT XII
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter Title Page

No. No.

1 Introduction 10
2 Engineering Economics of Design 11
3 Design for use, reuse, and sustainability 12
4 Prototyping 13
5 Measuring Instruments/ techniques 14
6 Comparison 16
7 Conclusion/Future Scope 17
8 Prototype or sample 18
9 References 19
References
Appendix I – AEIOU 20
Appendix II – MIND MAPPING 22
Appendix III – EMPATHY 23
Appendix IV – IDEATION 25
Appendix V – PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 27
Appendix VI – LEARNING NEED MATRIX 29
 TABLE OF FIGURE

Figure Title Page

No. No.
I. Prototype of disposal of nuclear waste into space 13
II Nuclear waste container 18
III Photograph Of nuclear waste dump into space 19
IV AEIOU Canvas 20
V Photograph Of Mind Map 22
VI Photograph Of Empathy Canvas 23
VII Photograph Of Ideation Canvas 25
VIII. Photograph Of PDC 27
IX. Photograph Of Lnm Canvas 29
 ABSTRACT

Our topic deals with proper and safe disposal of radioactive waste.as we know radioactive waste
are the byproduct generated during generation of energy in nuclear plant. This waste releases
harmful radiation which can affect our environment as well as our health. Therefore proper
disposal of this waste is necessary we have worked on disposal of radioactive waste in space by using
nobium metal as container to store waste that need to be dumped since it contains high temperature and
pressure resistance. This project focus on eliminating radioactive waste from the earth permanently so as
to avoid harmful effect on aquatic life, environment and human health at any cost.waste is generated as
by product of power generation plant are cesium-137,strontium-90,plutonium that is generated in
amount of about 12000 metric tones per year.
1 INTRODUCTION
We are making a project on degradation of radioactive waste which will help in giving information
or guideline regarding to this process to all people.

Radioactive waste is waste that contains radioactive material. Radioactive waste is usually a by-
product of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear
technology, such as research and medicine. Radioactive waste is hazardous to all forms of life and
the environment, and is regulated by government agencies in order to protect human health and
the environment.

Radioactivity naturally decays over time, so radioactive waste has to be isolated and confined in
appropriate disposal facilities for a sufficient period until it no longer poses a threat. The time
radioactive waste must be stored for depends on the type of waste and radioactive isotopes. Current
approaches to managing radioactive waste have been segregation and storage for short-lived waste,
near-surface disposal for low and some intermediate level waste, and deep burial or partitioning /
transmutation for the high-level waste.

Radioactive waste comes from a number of sources. In countries with nuclear power plants,
nuclear armament, or nuclear fuel treatment plants, the majority of waste originates from the
nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear weapons reprocessing. Other sources include medical and industrial
wastes, as well as naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) that can be concentrated as a
result of the processing or consumption of coal, oil and gas, and some minerals
2 ENGINEERING ECONOMICS OF DESIGN
One time investment consist of manufacturing the spacecraft with proper control system and
ejection Mechanism in case of failure this might cost up to 170 million dollars including the cost
of safety parachutes which cost 45 dollars per- chute. Then the cost associated which is not one
time like cost of container in which radioactive waste is filled is made of nobium which have high
socks and thermal resistance may go up to a million dollar per 29000 kg of load that can be
disposed during one cycle.

Inspire of this another cost is of fuel required to take a space ship to the orbit of earth and come
back can go up to 12 million dollars. Currently us is using about 300 million per year just to store
and and running handling facility per year.so the cost is considerable for this project if we are
about to create an spacecraft with proper safety measures.

1 One time space craft cost 170 million dollars

2 Safety parachute cost 45 dollars per chute
3 Cost of rocket fuel per launch 12 million dollars
4 Cost of container per launch 1 million dollar
5 cost of maintenance per launch 5 lac dollar
6 Cost of labour per year 1 million dollar
7 Cost of maintaining craft condition 50,000 dollars
8 Overall cost(variable cost) 14.5 million dollar
3 DESIGN FOR USE, REUSE, SUSTAINAIILTY
A spacecraft is designed for mission of several years. Its life may depend upon how it is used and
how much it is been used. Considering our use a decade can be approximated life of a space ship
if properly and regularly maintained.

Reliability of this project may be debatable not due to cost but due to challenges faced during
development of safety step.

It is our responsibility as an engineer to develop a reliable control system with ejection system in
case of failure.

With proper design and maintenance this project can be used several times and dump maximum
of radioactive waste to create a sustainable environment
4 PROTOTYPING

Fig.I prototype of disposal of nuclear waste into space

As a chemical engineer our job is to design storage containers that contains radioactive waste,
these containers are cylindrical in shape. Material we selected for this purpose is nobium because
of it high melting point 2750 Kelvin and high boiling point 5017Kelvin.Niobium is renowned for
its excellent resistance to corrosion and oxidation. When exposed to air and moisture, at tenacious
niobium oxide layer forms. This layer acts as a protective barrier, blocking the intrusion of
additional air and moisture and, as a result, preventing the occurrence of further
corrosion.Niobiumis one of five refractory metals; this mean sitishighly resistant to extreme heat
and wear. Its 4491°F(2477°C) melting point makes this metal and its alloy side al for high pressure
and high-temperature applications. Despite niobium’s relatively high melting point, its density is
the lowest of all refractory metals, which can make it appealing to the air craft and jet engine
industries.
5 MEASURING INSTRUMENT / TECHNIQUE-KNOWLEDGE AND USE
The measuring instrument and techniques which are used in measuring the quality and quantity of
our product like,

 Thermometer
 Gamma scanner
 universal neutron counter(radiation measuring instrument)
 cpg500(pressure measuring instrument)
 controller

KNOWLEDGE: -

Radioactive waste is waste that contains radioactive material. Radioactive waste is usually
a byproduct of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear fission or nuclear
technology such as research and medicine.

The radioactivity of all radioactive waste weakens with time. All radionuclides contained in the
waste have a half-life the time it takes for half of the atoms to decay into another nuclide and
eventually, all radioactive waste decays into non-radioactive elements .Certain radioactive
elements (such as plutonium-239) will remain hazardous to humans and other creatures for
hundreds of thousands of years. Other remain hazardous for millions of years. Thus, these wastes
must be shielded for centuries and isolated from the living environment.

Since radioactive decay follows the half-life rule, the rate of decay is inversely proportional to the
duration of decay. In other words, the radiation from a long-lived isotope like iodine 129 will be
much less intense than that of a short-lived isotope like iodine 131. The two tables show some of
the major radioisotopes, their half-lives, and their radiation yield as a proportion of the yield of
fission of uranium-235.

The energy and the type of the ionizing radiation emitted by a radioactive substance are also
important factors in determining its threat to humans. The chemical properties of the
radioactive element will determine how mobile the substance is and how likely it is to spread into
the environment and contaminates humans. This is further complicated by the fact that many
radioisotopes do not decay immediately to a stable state but rather to radioactive decay product
within a decay chain before ultimately reaching a stable state.
6 COMPARISION OF EXISTING MATERIAL METHODS, TOOLS, AND
EQUIPEMENT FOR YOUR PROJECT AND JUSTIFY YOUR
SELECTION OF MATERIAL, METHODS, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT
ETC

Space disposal Earth disposal

Less harmful for environment More harmful for environment

More risk Less risk

Less cost More cost

More safety for human health Less safe for human health

Saving aquatic life Kills aquatic life

Land and soil maintain ace Land and soil pollution

7 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

Conclusion: -
This project helps in understanding the importance of degradation of radioactive waste. We also
understand the harmful effect of radiations and necessity to reduce it.therefore we have
concentrated on different methods possible of such disposal the main problem encountered for
disposal of radioactive waste in space is its safety and considering that nobium is selected as best
metal that can withstand high temperature and pressure and harsh conditions of shock in space
craft.

Future scope: -
After researching all sides and factors of this project, we will give the information about how to
prevent radioactive waste creating harmful effect in our lives. Once all conditions for safety is
properly evaluated this method can prove to be a great environmental savior in future.
8 PROTOTYPE MODEL

Fig II. Nuclear waste container

 Fig III. Photograph of nuclear waste container dump into space

References:-
NASA Technical Paper 1225
 APPENDIX –I

AEIOU CANVAS

Fig IV. Photograph of AEIOU canvas

In The AEIOU Canvas There Are Different Types Of Topic Covered Such As, Environment,
Interaction, Objectives, Activities, and Users etc.
 Environment:=In the environment topic the style, general impression, material and atmosphere
are described. Nuclear bomb and Energy generation

 Interaction:- People ,Engineers ,Industrial work ,Animals ,Environment

 Objective:- the main components involved in this project are as follows, Uranium
Coolant, Control rod, Heat exchange

 Activities :- there are some of the activities which is described as follows,

Storage, Space disposal, Reuse

 Users :- the users who can use this products are listed below, Industrial level ,Engineers Mining
purposes

APPENDIX – II

MIND MAP
Fig V. Photograph of mind map

APPENDIX – III

EMPATHY CANVAS
 Fig VI. Photograph of empathy canvas

The empathy canvas our project is stated as follows,

 Users:-The user involved are such as industry level, engineers, scientists, etc.
 Stakeholders: - the stakeholder associated with our project are industrial people, engineers,
researchers, etc.

 Activities:- Reuse of waste ,Storage ,Space disposal ,Minimum waste production

 Story boarding: - - There are basically two types of story boarding, first one is happy and
second is sad. Nuclear water containing alpha, beta, and gamma rays are used in the medical
and cancer treatment. Nuclear waste is hazardous for tens of thousands of years.

APPENDIX – IV

IDEATION CANVAS
 Fig VII. Photograph of ideation canvas
 People: - :- Employees, Scientist, Researchers, Engineers, Other people.

 Activities: - with the thought of different people involved in different activities, an attempt

was made to think about possible activities. Reprocess ,Space disposal ,Storage Minimum
waste creation
 Props/possible solution: - this section of ideation canvas carrying out different requirement
in line looking forward to some possible solution .storage, space disposal, reuse, using such
process which creates minimum waste.

APPENDIX – V
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CANVAS

Fig VIII. Photograph of PDC

A product development canvas is a ground of set of best possible ideas after ideation canvas
pitched to develop.

 Purpose:- Health benefits ,Save human and other life , Save aquatic animals ,Reduce water
pollution ,Create energy

 Product function:-Disposal of radioactive waste in space.

 Components :- component used in this project is Heat exchanger ,Control rod ,Collet

 People :- Engineers ,Scientist ,Researches

 APPENDIX – VI
LEARNING NEEDS MATRIX CANVAS

Fig IX. Photograph of LNM canvas

Learning needs matrix helps to identify the requirement at an early stage along with prioritization
specific learning along with defined time duration for each learning prior.

The LNM identify the requirement under the head in each quadrant namely

 Tools/Methods/Theories/Application/Process Involved:-Space craft, radioactive waste

containers, Safer environment, Health benefits, Space disposal

 Application Standards And Design Specification:- Stop pollution ,energy generation,

Industries

 Components Material Strength Criteria/Testing Requirement:-Do not harm other life's, Solve
the storage problem.