Concrete spaller. Innovative technology summary report

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/335210· OSTI ID:335210

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has numerous buildings and facilities that have become contaminated through operation of nuclear reactors, fuel fabrication processes, and research laboratory operations. These buildings and facilities, often constructed of concrete, need to be decontaminated before they can be safely decommissioned or demolished. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory`s concrete spaller is a hand-held tool that can be used for decontaminating flat or slightly curved concrete surfaces, obtaining concrete samples, and in-depth removal from cracks in concrete. The concrete spaller includes a 9-ton hydraulic cylinder and spalling bit. It runs from a hydraulic pump that expands the spaller in pre-drilled holes in the concrete. The result is removal of concrete chunks that fall into the attached metal shroud. The concrete spaller is more efficient than traditional tools such as hand-held pneumatic scabblers and scalers. For example, the spaller is capable of spalling 1.3 m{sup 3}/hr (0.23 ft{sup 2}/min), compared to 1.1 m{sup 2}/hr (0.20 ft{sup 2}/min), for the baseline scabbler and scaler demonstrated at 3-mm (1/8-in.) depth. The spaller is also capable of removing concrete at a greater depth than traditional tools. Operating cost of the spaller ($$128/m{sup 2} or $$11.93/ft{sup 2} [optimum conditions]) is less than the baseline tools: scaler ($$155/m{sup 2} or $$14.40/ft{sup 2}) and scabbler ($$156/m{sup 2} or $$14.53/ft{sup 2}).

• Research Organization: Dept. of Energy Office of Science and Technology, Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 335210
• Report Number(s): DOE/EM--0398; ON: TI99002345; IN: OST Reference No. 2152; NC: NONE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
CONCRETES
DECOMMISSIONING
DECONTAMINATION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DEPTH
DESIGN
HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TOOLS
US DOE