A Note on the Design of Waste Management System Using QR Code for Radioactive Waste

Abstract

Due to the effective management of radioactive waste in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and around the world as well as the introduction of radioactive waste certification programs, an integrated radioactive waste management system has been developed and applied. An integrated radioactive waste management system can improve waste management by providing an automatic identification and waste certification program (WCP) of radioactive waste. In this paper, we propose the development of a methodology that can manage radioactive waste from generation to treatment and a system for tracking radioactive waste using a QR code system with real-time management. A QR code is designed for mobile phones as an Android application and allows users to view, sort, and learn about radioactive waste in real time. This enables the smoother and more systematic management of radioactive waste.

1. Introduction

Due to the operation and dismantling of nuclear facilities by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, mid- and low-level radioactive waste (MLW and LLW) generated by nuclear power plants is expected to steadily increase until the 2030s due to the gradual reduction in nuclear power plants [1,2]. In particular, unlike high-level radioactive waste, MLW and LLW of various forms and materials are generated in fields such as medical care and industry, and special management is required for their management and disposal. Recently, for the complete disposal of radioactive waste, the importance of the management history from the generation stage is globally increasing. In addition, documents on the source, date or period of radioactive waste are required at the application stage for self-disposal, and discussions on the integration and linkage of management history are actively conducted from the time of radioactive waste generation [3,4,5,6,7]. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a management system for various kinds of radioactive waste [4,6,8,9].

With the recent development of information system technology, the introduction of information systems is gradually expanding in the nuclear world, and the expansion of such systems is also being applied to radioactive waste management systems [10,11,12]. However, solutions for radioactive waste cycle management have not been introduced, and the management system using a bar code or radio frequency identification (RFID) is limited to the preservation of radioactive waste input and output database of radioactive waste generation management. However, for the final disposal of radioactive waste, it is necessary to record a lot of information, such as the source, date and time of radioactive waste generation and contaminated nuclides, and this existing one-dimensional bar code system has reached its limit [12].

Therefore, in this study, in order to establish a methodology and system to manage the entire cycle of radioactive waste and overcome the limitations of the existing drum-oriented management system, a two-dimensional bar code system was established to improve the efficiency of managing radioactive waste.

2. Radioactive Waste Integrated Management Methodology

The system is divided into a waste prediction part, waste collection part, radioactive waste generation history, surface contamination waste status, radioactivity concentration, effective dose and suitability, and waste disposal part [6,13]. This is shown in Figure 1. This radioactive waste cycle history management system analyzes collected waste so that it can be effectively classified as either self-disposal targets or permanent disposal targets.

The waste prediction part predicts the characteristics and amount of waste generated before collection, and this information is managed in connection with the analysis results from the waste analysis unit. Accordingly, radioactive waste that is permanently disposed of can be reduced by managing it from the time of waste prediction. In addition, waste to be collected in this process is selected in advance, and non-radioactive waste is disposed of in advance to prevent wasting resources. In this way, radioactive waste that meets the criteria of the prediction unit is collected by a collection unit, and basic information is entered into the database for management. The waste analysis part analyzes the waste generation history, surface-contaminated waste, radioactivity concentration, radiation level exposure during self-treatment, and suitability of treatment. If the history of waste generation is clear and classified as surface-contaminated waste, the radioactive concentration measurement unit collects radioactive concentration data of the waste, which is classified as self-disposal waste from the waste prediction unit, the generation history analysis unit, or the surface contaminated waste classification unit [14]. The analysis results are managed in connection with the data collected in the previous or later stages. Based on the results analyzed by the waste analysis part, the waste disposal department can systematically manage the history from the generation to the disposal stage by separating self-disposal (under the clearance level) or permanent disposal. Accordingly, the efficiency and reliability of waste history management may be further improved.

3. Small Package Waste Management Methodology

Among the radioactive waste cycle history management systems, the core system of the waste prediction department, and the waste collection department is the small packaging radioactive waste history management system. To manage the history of radioactive waste, a small-packaged radioactive waste history management system, including a waste generation volume prediction, was established. For this system configuration, a basic concept was established, which is shown in Table 1. Based on this, the small packaging radioactive waste history management system was established considering the following points.

(1)

Effective for final disposition (clearance, final disposal);

(2)

Effectiveness in waste tracking system (WTS);

(3)

Suitable on radioactive waste generation and collection site;

(4)

Link the existing waste management system.

Table 1. Key Features of the Basic Concept of a Small Packaged Radioactive Waste Management System.

Basic Concept	Features of Small Packaged Waste Management System
Effective on final disposal	Introduction of hysteresis management by major contaminated nuclides
	Radioactive waste generation prediction to reduce the generation
Effective on waste tracking system (WTS)	Unique packaging management numbering
	Utilization of radioactive waste information management programs
Suitable on radioactive waste generation and collection site	Introduction of radioactive waste collection unit packaging
	QR code management system
Link the existing waste management system	Unique packaging management numbering
	Small packaging management number link Drum management number

Table 1. Key Features of the Basic Concept of a Small Packaged Radioactive Waste Management System.

Basic Concept	Features of Small Packaged Waste Management System
Effective on final disposal	Introduction of hysteresis management by major contaminated nuclides
	Radioactive waste generation prediction to reduce the generation
Effective on waste tracking system (WTS)	Unique packaging management numbering
	Utilization of radioactive waste information management programs
Suitable on radioactive waste generation and collection site	Introduction of radioactive waste collection unit packaging
	QR code management system
Link the existing waste management system	Unique packaging management numbering
	Small packaging management number link Drum management number

These basic concepts are organized to conform to domestic law and international standards. The historical management of radioactive waste shall finally meet the acceptance criteria for radioactive waste disposal facilities, and for this purpose, information on radioactive waste, radioactivity-related information, and packaging information were based on the system. In particular, the basic concept of the unique small packaging management number system, in order to be effective in managing its history, is composed of English letter/number combinations so that information on radioactive waste—can be recognized at a glance. It is shown in Figure 2.

Small packaging radioactive waste management consists of six stages, and the description of each stage is shown in Figure 3. In the stage of generating tracking management data as necessary, the efficiency of history management was increased through the use of a radioactive waste information management program. The small package waste management system was designed to meet the management of radioactive waste within the research institute and eventually to meet the acceptance criteria. However, whether such a management system will be effective until the final disposal site will depend on the radioactive waste certification program under development here.

4. Small Package Waste Management System Using QR Code

The QR code system for the small packaging waste management system was developed based on Android OS, and the DEV EXPRESS database was used. The issued small packaging waste management QR code identification number is linked to the type of waste, container type, and waste management number data of the Radioactive Waste Information Management System (RAWINGS) in the KAERI. This is shown in Figure 4. The QR code and the repackage drum number in the RAWINGS program were matched so that information could be managed, and the details matched with the management program are shown in

Table 2. QR code and RAWINGS program information synchronization item.

Class	Detailed Item
Original Drum Information	Original drum number, original drum generation date, original drum generation facility, surface dose rate, original drum loading position, original drum major nuclide
Small Packaged Waste Information	Small packaging number, repackage status, small packaging weight, small packaging contents, and representative sample collection amount (g)
Repackaged Drum Information	Repackage drum number (linked with QR code), repackage drum generation facility, repackage drum generation date, repackage date, repackage contents, special drum status, repackage drum surface dose rate (μSv/h), repackage drum measurement date, container (L), repackage drum weight (kg), repackage drum loading location, representative g

. The QR code identification number is generated in the form of ‘yyyyMMddHmmssfff’, and is automatically generated in milliseconds and mapped and managed.

This small packaging management system is effectively managed by small packaging for the use of collection containers other than 200 L drums due to space limitations in the field, and QR codes are introduced as information media that can connect the parcel to the history management system. A mobile QR code system is introduced for a direct connection with the radioactive waste management system at its respective site, and information scanned at the management site is automatically stored in the database through linkage with the management system. This is shown in Figure 5.

If you select the on-site confirmation of waste on the menu screen, information corresponding to the QR code generated by the digital twin and registered in the AR visualization app is displayed on the screen. If the QR code is the QR code of a repackaged drum, the information of the repackaged drum can be checked, and if it is the QR code of the package, the information of the package can be checked. This is shown in Figure 6.

5. Conclusions

In this study, a management system using a radioactive waste management methodology and a QR code was proposed for the management of small packaging radioactive waste. In particular, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has developed a system that is more effective, and it can be directly linked to a field situation with the radioactive waste cycle history management system, which is used for radioactive waste history management.

In particular, a methodology was constructed for the steps from the collection stage to the treatment of radioactive waste, so that the radioactive waste certification program (WCP) could be performed. It was divided into stages such as waste prediction, waste collection, waste history management, and waste disposal so that radioactive waste history management could be systematically carried out, thereby reducing radioactive waste.

Different from the one-dimensional barcode system, the small packaged radioactive waste history management system using QR codes can contain the following information: the year of waste generation, generator, container type, and total radioactivity, images of contents and contents, and physical characteristics. The following features are expected for a small packaging management system that uses a QR code:

• History management is possible from the stage of radioactive waste generation, and final disposal can be facilitated through generation history management and waste collection according to major contaminated radionuclides.
• The introduction of the generation volume prediction procedure can contribute to a reduction in radioactive waste generation, leading to a reduction in radioactive waste disposal costs.
• The possibility of self-disposal increases through the history of radioactive waste generation and the management of contaminated nuclides. Furthermore, it can contribute to reducing the cost of radioactive waste disposal.
• When managing the history of radioactive waste, the radioactive waste information management program can be used to improve the efficiency of the management history and prevent human error.
• Direct human intervention in radioactive waste classification work may be reduced, resulting in increased radioactive waste management efficiency.
• It can contribute to improving internal and external reliability through systematic radioactive waste all cycle history management.
• It can be expanded and utilized when developing a similar type of history management system.

In addition, it is possible to link the radioactive waste management site to the system using a barcode reader with a portable information terminal to facilitate the transmission of radioactive waste history and information. This convenience can respond more effectively to the acceptance inspection of radioactive waste at the radioactive waste disposal site, and if information needs to be changed during the acceptance inspection of radioactive waste at the radioactive waste disposal site, this can be immediately carried out. This point is believed to be necessary not only for the management of radioactive waste generated within the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute but also for the integrated management of domestic radioactive waste.