Removal of contaminated concrete surfaces by microwave heating: Phase 1 results
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is developing a microwave heating process to remove radiologically contaminated surface layers from concrete. The microwave energy is directed at the concrete surface and heats the concrete and free water present in the concrete matrix. Continued heating produces steam-pressure-induced mechanical stresses that cause the concrete surface to burst. The concrete particles from this steam explosion are small enough to be removed by a vacuum system, yet less than 1% of the debris is small enough to pose an airborne contamination hazard. The first phase of this program has demonstrated reliable removal of noncontaminated concrete surfaces at frequencies of 2.45 GHz and 10.6 GHz. Continuous concrete removal rates of 1.07 cm{sup 3}/s with 5.2 kW of 2.45.-GHz power and 2.11 cm{sup 3}/s with 3.6 kW of 10.6-GHz power have been demonstrated. Figures-of-merit for microwave removal of concrete have been calculated to be 0.21 cm{sup 3}/s/kW at 2.45 GHz and 0.59 cm{sup 3}/s/kW at 10.6 GHz. The amount of concrete removed in a single pass can be controlled by choosing the frequency and power of the microwave system.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5998227
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-920307-15; ON: DE92007675
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Waste management '92, Tucson, AZ (United States), 1-5 Mar 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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