The Wismut cohort consists of a sample of 58 974 male employees from around 400 000 former employees of the Wismut company. The employees were exposed to various occupational exposures ranging from exposure to ionizing radiation through radon and its progeny, uranium dust and external gamma radiation to silica dust, arsenic and diesel exhaust. It constitutes one of the largest cohorts of uranium miners who were occupationally exposed to radon. When the cohort was established, individual exposure estimates for radon progeny were reconstructed through a Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) which provides information on the annual exposure for a hewer with 2000 working hours. In the early years of exposure in the Wismut cohort (1946 – 1954/55), there were no systematic exposure assessment, and exposure values received in this period therefore had to be reconstructed retrospectively by experts. Due to a lack of exposure information, it was however impossible to reconstruct the exposure values for each object and year independently. Starting in 1954/55, there was exposure monitoring for underground mining objects in the Wismut cohort based on measurements of radon gas concentration (1955/56 - 1965 in Saxony and 1955/56 - 1974 in Thuringia) and radon progeny concentration (1966 - 1990 in Saxony and 1975 - 1990 in Thuringia). In this exposure assessment period, measurements were taken in each year and object to estimate a mean annual radon gas concentration and radon progeny concentration, respectively. Radon gas or radon progeny estimates were multiplied by a working time factor, an activity weighting factor, and either an equilibrium factor (for radon gas concentration measurements) or a ventilation correction factor (for radon progeny concentration measurements). Part 2 of the research project “Determination of uncertainties of radiation exposure assessment in the Wismut cohort” included the following tasks: (1) Quantification of uncertainty, (2) Definition of measurement models and development of an approach to correct for measurement error, (3) Design and implementation of a simulation study to compare the proposed approach with simulation extrapolation and regression calibration, and (4) Application to the data of the Wismut cohort without accounting for effect modifying variables and excluding workers who were employed in Wismut processing companies at any point during their working career.
Klimaschutzkonzepte und -szenarien fokussieren in der Regel auf Maßnahmen und Politikinstrumente, die entweder die Effizienz von Geräten, Anlagen, Gebäuden und Prozessen steigern sollen oder den Ausbau und die Integration erneuerbarer Energien zum Thema haben. Obwohl Suffizienzmaßnahmen und suffizienzfördernde Politikinstrumente wichtige Energieeinsparpotenziale haben, sind sie bisher nicht systematisch in die Szenarien oder darauf aufbauenden Politikkonzepte systematisch integriert. Das hier beschriebene Vorhaben hatte daher zum Ziel, eine verbesserte Entscheidungsgrundlage zu schaffen, um suffizienzfördernde Instrumente in die Energie- und Klimaschutzpolitik zu integrieren. Dies geschah durch eine Reihe von Bausteinen (Teilstudien). Erstens wurden die Potenziale für Suffizienzpolitiken in den Bereichen Pro-Kopf-Wohnfläche sowie Stromverbrauch unter Berücksichtigung von Zielgruppen und Hemmnissen ausdifferenziert und mit Hilfe einer Zielgruppen- und Hemmnisanalyse Ansatzpunkte für die Umsetzung gewonnen. Zudem wurde mit dem Thema "Reduktion von Erwerbsarbeit" ein grundsätzlicher gesamtwirtschaftlicher Ansatz zur Förderung von Suffizienz analysiert und mit Politiken unterlegt. Des Weiteren wurden Möglichkeiten zur Integration von Suffizienzmaßnahmen in Klimaschutzszenarien untersucht und die besonderen Stärken von Makro-Instrumenten im Vergleich mit kleinteiliger Instrumentierung sowie das Zusammenspiel beider Ebenen betrachtet. Weiter wurde eine Materialsammlung bereitgestellt, die helfen soll, die Akzeptanzbedingungen für Suffizienzinstrumente besser zu verstehen und politische Kommunikation dementsprechend zu planen. Schließlich wurde mit Hilfe von Fachgesprächen, Stakeholder-Workshops und Publikationen zu einer breiteren politischen Diskussion von Suffizienzpolitiken beigetragen. Quelle: Forschungsbericht
Das Projekt "Turbo-charged motor-generator units for electricity generation from waste gas" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Energie-Versorgung Schwaben AG durchgeführt. Objective: To prove the economic viability of using landfill gas for generating electricity by means of a newly developed 240 KW output turbo-charged engine, turbocharged engines, their size suited to the offered amounts of gas. General Information: The gas arising in the landfill sites located in Wangen-Obermooweiler , Maulbronn-Zaisersweiher and Eberstadt (Heilbronn) is being used for the generation of electricity. The project will provide experience of life time and possible kinds of operation of the used engines with the special view to the influence of the quality of the used gas. In this point an interesting aspect is the operation mode as function of methan content and concentration of pollutants. An additional factor are measures taken to conform to the limit values for exhaust gas prescribed in the 'Technical Instructions, Air' (Technische Anleitung zur Reinhaltung der Luft or TA Luft). This entered force in the Federal Republic of Germany on February, 26th 1986 and prescribes the following limits for nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases of plants with combustion engines with a firing heat output greater than 1 MW (300 KWel for unit-type power plants): NOx smaller than500 mg/Nm3 CO smaller than650 mg/Nm3 Achievements: Wangen-Obermooweiler: the output of the installed unit-type power plant is about 265 kW. The plant was set in operation in December 1986. After difficulties in the testing phase the plant is now operating without remarkable problems. The average availability of the plant is more than 85 per cent. Maulbronn-Zaisersweiher: the output of the installed unit-type power plant is 212 kW. The plant was set in operation in may 1987. Due to the little number of working hours and that there are still problems with the gas delivering system it is not possible to give detailed information of this plant. Eberstadt: the output of the installed unit-type power plant is 430 kW. The plant was set in operation in November 1986. The average availability is more than 85 per cent. It is planned to install another plant for the delivering amount of gas is sufficient for more than one plant.
Das Projekt "Demonstration of explosive dismantling techniques of the biological shield of the Niederaichbach nuclear power plant (KKN)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Battelle-Institut e.V. durchgeführt. Objective: This project aims at demonstrating explosive dismantling techniques on the biological shield of the nuclear power plant Niederaichbach (KKN), which was operated from 1972 to 1974 and is foreseen to be completely removed. The radioactive inventory of the shield is estimated in the order of 3.7E9 Bq (0.1 Ci). The level of activation is estimated to be in the order of 10 Bq/g, and the associated dose rates in the order of 10 micro Sv/h. Within this contract, blast peeling of the activated concrete from a 30C sector of the biological shield will be performed. This technique will be applied as one of 2 main techniques (hydraulic hammer besides blast peeling) for the dismantling of the whole biological shield of KKN; for this, the licensing authorities have already given their agreement. This demonstration project will be conducted according to the guidelines of the ongoing total dismantling of KKN. In particular, the generation of specific data on costs, working hours and job doses as well as on the amount of created secondary waste is considered as an important objective of this project. This will facilitate the application of this technology and acceptance from the safety point of view in future large-scale decommissioning operations. The project is a follow-up of small-scale work on inactive samples performed jointly under contracts FI1D0011 and FI1D0012. The work programme will be implemented jointly by three main contractors: Battelle Europe e.V./Frankfurt (BE), acting as coordinator, Noell/Würzburg (Noell) and Siemens/KWU (Siemens), as well as Stangenberg, Schnellenbach and Partner (SSP) as sub-contractor. Further cooperation is foreseen with TUV Bayern for the assessment of air filter systems. General Information: WORK PROGRAMME: 1. Preparatory planning and design work for on-site equipment and regulatory requirements (BE, Noell); 1.1. Layout of blasting patterns and of bore holes charging, according to the area of application (BE); 1.2. Design of blasting schemes according to the area of application (BE); 1.3. Definition of blasting area sub containments for the retention of dust, including associated filter systems (Noell, BE); 2. Demonstration blasting on the KKN shield by manual handling (BE, Noell); 2.1. Site preparation for the installation of tools and measuring devices (BE, Noell); 2.2. Assessment and implementation of auxiliary techniques such as bore hole drilling, cutting of the reinforcement by hydraulic shears, use of a hydraulic ram (Noell); 2.3. Main operation and concrete removal, consisting of a sequence of about 10 individual blasts, including pre- and post-blast working (BE, Noell); 2.4. Assessment of blasting performance, with respect to predetermined criteria such as concrete removal rate, safety aspects, integrated doses and generation of secondary waste (BE, Noell); 3. Assessment of dust retention by industrial filter systems with respect to efficiency and safety of handling (Noell, BE); 4. Assessment of ...
Das Projekt "Melting of alpha-contaminated steel scrap at industrial scale" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Siemens AG durchgeführt. Objective: The underlying large-scale investigation into melting of alpha-contaminated steel from nuclear facilities aims at demonstrating the feasibility of the unrestricted reuse of such radwaste within legal limits. The work programme will be based on the results and experience obtained on melting of radwaste in former research contracts within the second EC programme on Decommissioning (1984-88), especially contract FI1D0044 with Siemens AG and contract FI1D0016 with Siempelkamp Giesserei GmbH. Start with laboratory-scale melts to identify the most suitable crucible material and slag, then large-scale melts with subsequent detailed analysis of the prevailing alpha-distribution in and between steel, slag and filter dust. Based on the foregoing results, large-scale melts with about 100 t of uranium and plutonium contaminated material from Siemens fuel fabrication will be carried out and finally, using 2 large-scale melts of plutonium and thorium contaminated steel waste (5 t), it will be assessed how these alpha-emitters behave. It is anticipated that extensive testing and radiological measurements will enable the assessment that alpha-contaminated steel can be conditioned by melting for safe unrestricted reuse and that the melting plant can be operated safely also with respect to radiation protection of workers and the environment of the foundry, with special consideration of the arising slag and filter dust. In particular, the generation of specific data on costs, working hours and job doses as well as on the amount of created secondary waste is considered as an important objective of this project. The specific contamination of the treated radwaste is estimated to be in the range of up to 200 Bq/g (alpha/beta) and the anticipated fission product inventory for large-scale melting is estimated at about 200 g of uranium-235 and 1 g of plutonium. Expected dose rates in the controlled melting area are in the order of magnitude of up to 0.1 mGy/h. Work will be executed in close co-operation between Siemens AG, KWU Erlangen (Siemens) acting as coordinator and Siempelkamp Giesserei (SG). General Information: WORK PROGRAMME: 1. Identification of appropriate materials for crucible and slag formers and procurement of U, Th and Pu containing radwaste samples (SG); 2. Installation of an induction-heated laboratory furnace and execution of reference tests with non-radioactive materials (Siemens); 3. Laboratory-scale melting tests with uranium, thorium and plutonium contaminated steel (selection of materials for crucible lining and slag formers) (Siemens); 4. Procurement of uranium and plutonium contaminated material (Siemens) and thorium contaminated material (KEMA); 5. Pilot melting tests aimed at determining the uranium (alpha)-content in ingot, slag and filter system (SG, Siemens); 6. Main melting programme of about 100 t of uranium and plutonium contaminated radwaste with subsequent alpha-content determination in each ingot, slag and filter dust ...
Das Projekt "Pilot dismantling of the KRB-A BWR. Dismantling of contaminated components of the reactor building and to activated internals of the reactor pressure vessel - Development and application of concrete sawing and melt encapsulation (Onion packa)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Kernkraftwerk RWE-Bayernwerk GmbH durchgeführt. Objective: The prototype Boiling Water Reactor Gundremmingen A (KRB-A BWR) of the Kernkraftwerk RWE-Bayernwerk GmbH (KRB) had a capacity of 250 MWe and was operated from 1966 to 1977. Dismantling work has been started for some time (especially the turbine hall has been dismantled), and complete removal of the power station is foreseen to be completed by 2000. The 2 foregoing EC programmes have been involved by 4 R and D contracts in the past dismantling work on KRB-A. KRB-A dismantling is a European undertaking according to the definition of the Euratom Treaty. Considering that the experience to be gained from the dismantling of the first representative nuclear installations in the Community should be made available to all Member States, the Commission selected KRB-A as a pilot dismantling project for the 1989-93 R and D programme on the decommissioning of nuclear installations. The Commission, through shared-cost participation in specific parts of the project, intends promoting the use of advanced techniques and the performance of collateral investigations, in order to enhance the generation of useful knowledge and experience to serve in subsequent decommissioning tasks. In particular, the generation of specific data on costs, working hours and job doses as well as on the amount of created secondary waste is considered as an important objective of this project. The assessment of techniques and procedures will be performed in collaboration with CEN/SCK Mol and VAK-GmbH, which are decommissioning the Pressurised Water Reactor BR-3 and the VAK BWR, respectively. The results and conclusions of the assessment work undertaken in contract FI2D0002 are taken into account for the implementation of work in this contract. As a BWR, KRB-A is representative for such reactors, existing elsewhere in the Community. The first phase of the contract involves the dismantling and segmenting of contaminated components of the reactor building in air (partly with subsequent decontamination), and of activated internals of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) in remotely controlled underwater operation. Estimations of maximal values for specific contamination or activation are in the order of 10 superscript 4 and 10 superscript 6 Bq/square cm, respectively. The second phase contains the development of specific tools and the segmentation of further steel components and concrete structures as well as the development of procedures for the conditioning of molten steel (onion package) and of decontamination waste. General Information: WORK PROGRAMME. 1. Dismantling in air of contaminated and low-activated components of the reactor building, partly with subsequent decontaminating/melting. 1.1. Dismantling of a secondary steam generator with various tools (band saw, flame cutting). 1.2. Dismantling of a primary circulation pump by band saw. 1.3. Dismantling of a primary clean-up cooler with various tools (band saw, diamond-tipped wire saw). 1.4. Dismantling of a shutdown ...
Das Projekt "Development of segmenting tools and remote handling systeme sand application to the dismantling of VAK BWR reactor pressure vessel internals" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Versuchsatomkraftwerk Kahl durchgeführt. Objective: The experimental Boiling Water Reactor Kahl (VAK-BWR) of 16 MWe has been shut down after 25 years of operation. Dismantling has been going on for some time. The present estimation of the radioactive inventory of the reactor is in the order of 5E15 Bq. The aim of the present contract is the development, qualification and practical application of different underwater (UW) segmenting and remote handling techniques on a series of internal components out of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). Important targets are: minimization of operators' dose uptake and of primary and secondary waste generation and economics of the procedure. Specific radioactivity of such components is in the order of magnitude of 1E5 to 1E8 Bq/g (activation) and of 1E4 to 1E5 Bq/square cm (contamination). Due to its long-term operation, VAK dismantling can be considered to a large extent (dose rates, activation, contamination, material ageing) as representative for the future decommissioning of LWRs. In particular, the generation of specific data on costs, working hours and job doses as well as on the amount of created secondary waste is considered as an important objective of this project. Work will be implemented in close cooperation with the pilot dismantling projects BR-3/Mol and KRB-A. The results of the comparative assessment study made by KRB will be considered in the implementation of the contract. General Information: WORK PROGRAMME: 1. Conceptual studies and construction of a 1:1 scale facility for UW testing of cutting tool and devices for remote operation; 2. Preliminary tests on nonradioactive components, including devices for segmentation, remote operation techniques, definition of generated secondary waste and studies of dismantling scenarios; 3. Qualification of dismantling procedures for an application to radioactive components; 4.Dismantling of a series of RPV internals (upper grid plate, chimney above the core, control systems); 5. Generation of specific data on costs, radioactive job doses, working time and secondary waste arisings, derived from the execution of items 2, 3 and 4. Achievements: The aim of the present contract is the development, qualification and practical application of different underwater (UW) segmenting and remote handling techniques on a series of internal components out of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). After evaluation of 7 decommissioning studies the principal choice of the cutting and handling technology was made. This resulted in a dismantling concept based on cutting technologies that produced a minimum of aerosols. As a result, plasma melt cutting (PMC) for dismantling of core internals was exchanged for mechanical cutting techniques like milling, grinding and electro discharge machining (EDM). Sawing and milling tests with a welding cladded RPV sample, both under water and in air were successfully performed.
Das Projekt "Teilprojekt B: Entwicklung und Erprobung flexibler Quartiers-Hubs für das Stadtquartier Mierendorff-Insel" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik durchgeführt. Wie kann eine zukunftsfähige, stadtverträgliche und möglichst nachhaltige Logistik in Stadtquartieren der Zukunft aussehen? Mit dieser Frage beschäftigt sich das Erstvorhaben 'Stadtquartier 4.0' und strebt die Entwicklung eines nachhaltigen und integrierten Logistiksystems am Beispiel des Berliner Holzmarkt-Quartiers an. Ziel ist es, Verkehrsbelastungen und damit Schadstoffemissionen wie CO2, Stickoxide und Lärm zu minimieren und zugleich Bedürfnisse der Anlieger möglichst direkt im Stadtquartier zu erfüllen. Das Anschlussvorhaben 'Stadtquartier 4.1' greift die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse auf und erprobt und evaluiert Bausteine aus dem Erstvorhaben am Standort der Berliner Mierendorff-Insel. Dazu gehören der Einsatz von Lastenrädern für Logistikprozesse, die Entwicklung einer quartiersbezogenen Logistikinfrastruktur mit multifunktionalen Be- und Entladezonen sowie ein Sharing-System. Die vier Projektpartner bündeln ihre Expertise in den Bereichen Logistik, Mobilität sowie Sozialforschung, um gemeinsam an der Umsetzung der Vision einer nachhaltigen Logistik in Stadtquartieren zu arbeiten. Ausgangspunkt für das Teilprojekt der FhG IPK ist die Annahme, dass Warenströme sowohl über die Grenzen eines Quartiers als auch innerhalb eines Quartiers ein großes Optimierungspotential bergen. Verschiedene Dienstleister, Arbeitszeiten und Übergabepunkte und -zeiten gilt es in Einklang zu bringen, um unnötige Warenbewegungen und Fehlzustellungen zu vermeiden und einen zeitlich flexiblen innerquartierlichen Austausch zu ermöglichen. Deshalb liegt der Schwerpunkt des Teilprojekts auf der Entwicklung und dem Aufbau flexibler Quartiers-Hubs mit dem Ziel, autarke 'Pop-Up-Boxen' für einen extrem flexiblen Einsatz möglichst ohne feste Anschlusspunkte (Strom, Kommunikation, Bodenverankerung) aufzubauen. Integriert werden auch Akku-Wechselstation für Lastenräder als umweltfreundliche Transportmittel. Um die Quartierslogistik nachhaltig zu optimieren wird auch das Nutzerverhalten analysiert.
Das Projekt "Teilprojekt 2: Floating Vessel Solution; Flexible Transport- und Handling-Systeme" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von ONP Management GmbH durchgeführt. Komplex 1: Weicher Baugrund, große Wassertiefe, sowie schlechtes Wetter, stellen ein großes Bauzeitrisiko für die Errichtung und Instandhaltungsmaßnahmen von Offshore-Windparks dar. Die Einsetzbarkeit von Jackup-Gerät im 'schwimmenden' Modus kann diese Risiken minimieren. Im Zuge dieses Projektes erfolgt eine systematische Untersuchung von Loadouts und Offshore-Installationen in schwimmenden, teilgejackten und gejackten Zustand. Das Ziel des zweiten Komplexes ist es, durch eine Optimierung und Standardisierung von Installationssystemen eine Kostenreduktion im Bereich der Hebewerkzeuge zu erreichen. Durch die Möglichkeit der herstellerübergreifenden Wiederverwendung der Handlingsysteme, kann deren Einsatz die Errichtungszeit pro Anlage reduzieren und die effektive Arbeitszeit des Errichterschiffs im Baufeld erhöhen. Des weiteren können die Kosten für die hochspezialisierten Hebewerkzeuge reduziert werden, da sie über einen deutlich längeren Zeitraum und über eine größere Anzahl an Projekten abgeschrieben werden können. Jeder zu bearbeitende Komplex gliedert sich in die vier Phasen Analyse, Konzeption, Entwicklung und Integration, die in der ausführlichen Beschreibung des Vorhabens weiter erläutert werden.
Das Projekt "Teilvorhaben: ZSW" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg durchgeführt. Die Grenzwerte für Schadstoffe in Tankstellen-Wasserstoff haben entscheidende Auswirkungen auf die Wasserstoffkosten einerseits und auf die Lebensdauer der Brennstoffzellen im Fahrzeug andererseits: zu niedrige Grenzwerte treiben die Wasserstoffkosten nach oben, zu hohe Grenzwerte reduzieren die Lebensdauer der Brennstoffzellen und damit die Lebenszykluskosten eines Fahrzeugs. Die aktuell gültigen Grenzwerte sind in der 2004 entwickelten Norm ISO146987-2 definiert und werden den Anforderungen heutiger Brennstoffzellen nicht mehr gerecht. Für die Definition passender Grenzwerte gibt es weltweit keine geeigneten Messdaten, auch weil die zuverlässige Bestimmung von Degradationsgradienten für eine Vielzahl von Schadstoffen und Schadstoffcocktails einen enormen Aufwand an Arbeitszeit, Material und Anlagen erfordern. Im beantragten Projekt will das ZSW Degradationsraten aktueller und zukünftiger Brennstoffzellen beim Betrieb mit Wasserstoff mit Schadstoffanteilen in verschiedenen Konzentrationen bestimmen. Aus den Degradationsraten wollen wir Vorschläge für die Definition geeigneter Schadstoff-Grenzwerte erarbeiten.