Riccardo Chebac
PhD thesis title: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Handling of I-Graphite
Academic Tutor: Marco Ricotti
Academic Supervisor: Fabrizio Campi and Alessandro Porta
PhD cycle: 36° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Energy Physics, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Nuclear Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
8 month at University of California Berkeley. Researched irradiated graphite electrochemical decontamination techniques using molten-salts
DIGI-DECOM 2022 2nd best presentation / DECON 2022 3rd best presentation
Thesis abstract
The general aim of the thesis is to optimize the overall decommissioning process for graphite-moderated reactors. This is why the roadmap of the thesis strictly follows the phases of a decommissioning process. The first year was devoted to the preparatory phase with a particular focus on improving and streamlining the mechanical characterization process of i-graphite. The second year exploited the results coming from the first year to design and validate a prototype of a robotized unit that will serve as the main device for graphite bricks extraction (part of the implementation of the decommissioning phase). The third year is devoted to the creation of a mock-up of the robotic extractor and, in collaboration with UC Berkeley, casks for waste coming from GEN IV graphite-moderated reactor and i-graphite decontamination via molten-salt electrochemical processes.
Personal interest in my research theme
Nuclear energy will likely play an important role in the path to decarbonization. In order to sustainably develop this technology, especially with generation IV reactors, a lot of research will have to be devoted to the waste management of specific materials such as graphite. The best waste, is the one that is not produced, getting a deep understanding of the hurdles encountered with old graphite-moderated reactors during decommissioning, will greatly aid in the design of advanced reactors whilst in parallel removing this burden from future generations. This is why I started this research: we have to learn from the past to improve our future.
