Nuclear reactor cooling system decontamination reagent regeneration

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865430

Anstine, Larry D ^[1]; James, Dean B ^[2]; Melaika, Edward A ^[3]

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1. San Jose, CA
2. Saratoga, CA
3. Berkeley, CA

An improved method for decontaminating the coolant system of water-cooled nuclear power reactors and for regenerating the decontamination solution. A small amount of one or more weak-acid organic complexing agents is added to the reactor coolant, and the pH is adjusted to form a decontamination solution which is circulated throughout the coolant system to dissolve metal oxides from the interior surfaces and complex the resulting metal ions and radionuclide ions. The coolant containing the complexed metal ions and radionuclide ions is passed through a strong-base anion exchange resin bed which has been presaturated with a solution containing the complexing agents in the same ratio and having the same pH as the decontamination solution. As the decontamination solution passes through the resin bed, metal-complexed anions are exchanged for the metal-ion-free anions on the bed, while metal-ion-free anions in the solution pass through the bed, thus removing the metal ions and regenerating the decontamination solution.

• DOE Contract Number: E(11-1)-2985
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4512921
• OSTI ID: 865430
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

nuclear
reactor
cooling
decontamination
reagent
regeneration
improved
method
decontaminating
coolant
water-cooled
power
reactors
regenerating
solution
amount
weak-acid
organic
complexing
agents
added
ph
adjusted
form
circulated
throughout
dissolve
metal
oxides
interior
surfaces
complex
resulting
radionuclide
containing
complexed
passed
strong-base
anion
exchange
resin
bed
presaturated
ratio
passes
metal-complexed
anions
exchanged
metal-ion-free
pass
removing
water-cooled nuclear
power reactors
power reactor
complexing agents
anion exchange
reactor coolant
nuclear power
improved method
solution containing
exchange resin
nuclear reactor
metal oxide
interior surface
metal oxides
interior surfaces
complexing agent
cooled nuclear
resin bed
resulting metal
solution pass
/376/134/976/