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Title: Nuclear reactor cooling system decontamination reagent regeneration

Abstract

An improved method for decontaminating the coolant system of water-cooled nuclear power reactors and for regenerating the decontamination solution. A small amount of one or more weak-acid organic complexing agents is added to the reactor coolant, and the pH is adjusted to form a decontamination solution which is circulated throughout the coolant system to dissolve metal oxides from the interior surfaces and complex the resulting metal ions and radionuclide ions. The coolant containing the complexed metal ions and radionuclide ions is passed through a strong-base anion exchange resin bed which has been presaturated with a solution containing the complexing agents in the same ratio and having the same pH as the decontamination solution. As the decontamination solution passes through the resin bed, metal-complexed anions are exchanged for the metal-ion-free anions on the bed, while metal-ion-free anions in the solution pass through the bed, thus removing the metal ions and regenerating the decontamination solution.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. San Jose, CA
  2. Saratoga, CA
  3. Berkeley, CA
  4. (Livermore, CA)
Issue Date:
OSTI Identifier:
865430
Patent Number(s):
4512921
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21F - PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT
DOE Contract Number:  
E(11-1)-2985
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
nuclear; reactor; cooling; decontamination; reagent; regeneration; improved; method; decontaminating; coolant; water-cooled; power; reactors; regenerating; solution; amount; weak-acid; organic; complexing; agents; added; ph; adjusted; form; circulated; throughout; dissolve; metal; oxides; interior; surfaces; complex; resulting; radionuclide; containing; complexed; passed; strong-base; anion; exchange; resin; bed; presaturated; ratio; passes; metal-complexed; anions; exchanged; metal-ion-free; pass; removing; water-cooled nuclear; power reactors; power reactor; complexing agents; anion exchange; reactor coolant; nuclear power; improved method; solution containing; exchange resin; nuclear reactor; metal oxide; interior surface; metal oxides; interior surfaces; complexing agent; cooled nuclear; resin bed; resulting metal; solution pass; /376/134/976/

Citation Formats

Anstine, Larry D, James, Dean B, Melaika, Edward A, and Peterson, Jr., John P. Nuclear reactor cooling system decontamination reagent regeneration. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Anstine, Larry D, James, Dean B, Melaika, Edward A, & Peterson, Jr., John P. Nuclear reactor cooling system decontamination reagent regeneration. United States.
Anstine, Larry D, James, Dean B, Melaika, Edward A, and Peterson, Jr., John P. Tue . "Nuclear reactor cooling system decontamination reagent regeneration". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865430.
@article{osti_865430,
title = {Nuclear reactor cooling system decontamination reagent regeneration},
author = {Anstine, Larry D and James, Dean B and Melaika, Edward A and Peterson, Jr., John P.},
abstractNote = {An improved method for decontaminating the coolant system of water-cooled nuclear power reactors and for regenerating the decontamination solution. A small amount of one or more weak-acid organic complexing agents is added to the reactor coolant, and the pH is adjusted to form a decontamination solution which is circulated throughout the coolant system to dissolve metal oxides from the interior surfaces and complex the resulting metal ions and radionuclide ions. The coolant containing the complexed metal ions and radionuclide ions is passed through a strong-base anion exchange resin bed which has been presaturated with a solution containing the complexing agents in the same ratio and having the same pH as the decontamination solution. As the decontamination solution passes through the resin bed, metal-complexed anions are exchanged for the metal-ion-free anions on the bed, while metal-ion-free anions in the solution pass through the bed, thus removing the metal ions and regenerating the decontamination solution.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}