Chair in Research and Education
Founded in 2009, the Chair "Storage and Management of Nuclear Waste" is devoted to the scientific issues of safe and secure storage and disposal of radioactive waste. The purpose of the Chair is to advance scientific knowledge and expertise in this highly complex and multidisciplinary field by exploring new areas of research, developing new educational programs, and stimulating knowledge exchange between partners.
Educational objectives
In education, the Chair aims to strengthen the expertise and skill levels of scientific and technical personnel (engineers, masters and doctors) to meet the requirements and growing demands of the of nuclear power industry. The Chair is an ideal place for the accumulation of knowledge and promotion of a culture of safe and secure management of nuclear waste – a very important and sensitive topic, both in France and abroad.
Scientific objectives
The development of reliable methods and technologies for the processing, packaging, storage and management of nuclear waste, which would satisfy the highest scientific and technical standards and be socially acceptable, are among the major challenges to be addressed by any country which engages in a nuclear power industry. Nuclear waste storage in geological formations relies on a combination of specialized engineered barriers created within natural geological barriers for outstanding performance. The main research objective of the Chair "Storage and Management of Nuclear Waste" is a detailed investigation, on the fundamental molecular-scale, of physico-chemical mechanisms responsible for the retention and transport of fluids and radionuclides in the very low porosity clay rocks, but also in the materials of the engineered barriers, such as cement and concrete, and at interfaces between these natural and engineered materials.
Team
Head of the Chair: Prof. Bernd Grambow – Biography
Professor: Andrey Kalinichev – Biography
Research Engineer: Karine David
Assistant professor
Postdocs: Narasimhan Loganathan
PhD students: Brice F. Ngouana W.
Partners
ANDRA (National Radioactive Waste Management Agency)
Under the supervision of the Ministries of Energy, Research and Environment, ANDRA is responsible for the sustainable management of all the French radioactive waste. With its expertise and know-how it serves the state to devise management solutions, to monitor and operate the repositories of radioactive waste and to protect human and environmental impact of waste on the short and long term.
AREVA
Worldwide, AREVA provides its customers with solutions for CO2-free energy. The expertise and know-how developed by AREVA makes the Group a key player at the heart of the global energy needs. Number one in the world of nuclear power, AREVA offers unique integrated solutions for all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, design and construction of nuclear reactors, and associated services. In addition, the group is expanding its activities into renewable energy.
EDF
Global energy group EDF is active in all sectors of energy production, transmission and distribution, marketing, trading, R&D. In addition to its expertise in renewable energy, EDF has a high level of expertise throughout the life-cycle of the nuclear production, from design to decommissioning, through the maintenance and operation. In France, EDF operates 58 nuclear reactors and manages the construction of the initial EPR nuclear reactor of the 3rd generation. EDF is also involved in several projects abroad: China, UK, USA...
FEED
Created by EDF in April 2008, the European Foundation for Tomorrow's Energy (FEED) is a foundation under the aegis of the Institut de France. It aims to support and enhance higher education and research on the future of energy in France and abroad, to prepare new talent and to respond to the challenges of producing CO2-free energy.
Contacts
Scientific Contact
Bernd Grambow
Head of the Chair
02 51 85 84 70
grambow@subatech.in2p3.fr
Chair Partnership Contact
Catherine de Charette
Assistant Director for Corporate Relations
02 51 85 81 16
catherine.de-charette@mines-nantes.fr
