Results of Chemical Cleaning the 242-16H (2H) Evaporator at the Savannah River Site
The operation of the 242-16H (2H) Evaporator was curtailed in October 1999 due to the presence of an aluminosilicate scale that contained sodium diuranate with a uranium-235 enrichment of approximately 3 percent. The scale had built to the point where steam lifting of the evaporator concentrates was ineffective. Work performed by SRTC during calendar years 1998-2000 had shown that dilute nitric acid was an effective chemical cleaning agent. An overall cleaning flowsheet was developed in calendar year 2000 that addressed numerous safety issues associated with cleaning the pot, neutralizing the uranium-bearing acid and discharging the neutralized solutions to a waste tank. Beginning in May 2001, a depleted uranium and nitric acid mixture was added to the 2H Evaporator pot and heated to elevated temperatures. As a result of this action, the pot was cleaned and returned to service as can be seen in Figure 1. This report summarizes the key conclusions from this work.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-96SR18500
- OSTI ID:
- 787827
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-TR-2001-00412; TRN: US0110561
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 19 Oct 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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