Reduction of airborne radioactive dust by means of a charged water spray

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668991374778· OSTI ID:5284480

Bigu, J; Grenier, M G ^[1]

---

1. Elliot Lake Laboratory, CANMET Ontario (Canada)

An electrostatic precipitator based on charged water spray technology has been used in an underground uranium mine to control long-lived radioactive dust and short-lived aerosol concentration in a mine gallery where dust from a rock breaking/ore transportation operation was discharged. Two main sampling stations were established: one upstream of the dust precipitator and one downstream. In addition, dust samplers were placed at different locations between the dust discharge and the end of the mine gallery. Long-lived radioactive dust was measured using cascade impactors and nylon cyclone dust samplers, and measurement of the radioactivity on the samples was carried out by conventional methods. Radon and thoron progeny were estimated using standard techniques. Experiments were conducted under a variety of airflow conditions. A maximum radioactive dust reduction of about 40% (approximately 20% caused by gravitational settling) at a ventilation rate of 0.61 m{sup 3}/sec was obtained as a result of the combined action of water scrubbing and electrostatic precipitation by the charged water spray electrostatic precipitator. This represents the optimum efficiency attained within the range of ventilation rates investigated. The dust reduction efficiency of the charged water spray decreased with increasing ventilation rate, i.e., decreasing air residence time, and hence, reduced dust cloud/charged water droplets mixing time.

• OSTI ID: 5284480
• Journal Information: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA), Journal Name: American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; (USA) Vol. 50:7; ISSN AIHAA; ISSN 0002-8894
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540130* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
COLLOIDS
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATORS
EQUIPMENT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MINES
MINING
MONITORING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
SOLS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
URANIUM MINES
WATER