Method for dismantling a steam generator or heat exchanger, in particular a steam generator or heat exchanger of a nuclear power plant

A method for dismantling a steam generator or heat exchanger, said steam generator or heat exchanger including a plurality of primary circuit tubes having an interior with a contaminated inner tube surface, wherein one or more of said tubes are sealed with a plug at both tube ends, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) opening one or both ends of each sealed tube by creating an opening in the respective plug or by removing the respective plug;
• b) introducing a viscous polymer which will cure inside the tube into the initially sealed and now opened tube or tubes, said polymer filling the tube across the full tube cross-section at least in a region of the tube ends and immobilizing contaminations in the filled portion inside the tube;
• c) curing the polymer, then detaching the tubes provided with the polymer, the detached tubes being sealed by the cured polymer;
• d) sorting out the detached tubes provided with the polymer.