A STUDY OF DECONTAMINATION AGENTS FOR USE IN THE YANKEE REACTOR

Technical Report · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1958

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4284582· OSTI ID:4284582

Watkins, R. M.

A study of chemical decontamination agents for possible use in the Yankee Reactor is presented. The necessity for chemical decontamination is discussed along with the properties sought in an ideal cleaning solution. A survey of available decontamination information is presented together with a description of the experimental test progam carried out at the Westinghouse Atomic Power Department in an effort to develop new and improved chemical methods for the removal of oxide scals and radioactive contamination from Yankee reactor primary coolant system components. On the basis of bench scale testing of various cleanup procedures, a method employing basic permanganate and citrate solutions was selected as offering the most promise for successful solution of Yankee primary loop contamination problems. Data are presented concerning the attack rates produced by these reagents on various reactor materials of construction, as is an evaluation of the possibility of caustic embrittlement of stainless steel resulting from the use of the basic permanganate solution. A discussion of future larger scale testing of the proposed decontaminants is also included. (auth)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Atomic Power Dept., Pittsburgh
• NSA Number: NSA-13-004286
• OSTI ID: 4284582
• Report Number(s): YAEC-90
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BRITTLENESS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CITRIC ACID
CLEANING
CONTAMINATION
COOLANT LOOPS
DECONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENT
MANGANESE OXIDES
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OXIDES
PERMANGANATES
PERSONNEL
PIPES
POWER PLANTS
PUMPS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVITY
REACTION KINETICS
REACTOR CORE
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SOLUTIONS
STAINLESS STEELS
SURFACES
VALVES
WATER COOLANT
YAEC
YANKEE