• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.218-223
• /
• 2018

In this study, we proposed a new ultrasonic-chemical decontamination process for decontaminating radioactive corrosion products during the maintenance of reactor coolant pump (RCP). The actual decontamination process was reproduced in the laboratory. And the corrosion characteristics of stainless steel (STS), constituting the RCP interior parts, were examined. The weight-loss measurment and polarization experiment were carried out in order to determine the corrosion characteristics of STS 304 and STS 415 by repeated decontamination processes. The STS 304 presented a little corrosion damage, which was almost indistinguishable from visual observation. The weight-loss rate of STS 304 was also significantly lower. On the other hand, STS 415 showed severe corrosion damage on its surface, greater weight-loss rate and higher corrosion current density than STS 304.

• Resources Recycling
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.56-65
• /
• 2001

Chemical decontamination techniques have been employed to reuse the high cost check valves contaminated with radioactivity and to reduce the radiation exposure during the inspection and maintenance work of safety injection system containing check valves. After chemical decontamination, an ultrasonic treatment was conducted to remove the fine solid particles retained in the crevices of check valves. The decontamination process conditions and the amount of chemical reagents were determined from the results of a pre-test, using the (list arm holder. The decontamination factors (DF), estimated from the activity in the solution, ranged from 14.5 to 18.5 corresponding to the activity removal of 93-95ft. The corrosion test data indicated that the general corrosion rate during a chemical decontamination-ultrasonic treatment process are low for type 304 S tainless steel, Inconel -600 and Stellite-6 materials $ (2.1\times10^{-2}$ $6.0\times10^{-2}$ and$ 1.7\times10^{-2}$ mil, respectively).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.1892-1900
• /
• 2023

A protective oxide layer forms on the material surfaces of a Nuclear Power Plant during operation due to high temperature. These oxides can host radionuclides, the activated corrosion products of fission products, resulting in decommissioning workers' exposure. These deposited oxides are iron oxides such as Fe₃O₄, Fe₂O₃ and mixed ferrites such as nickel ferrites, chromium ferrites, and cobalt ferrites. Developing a new chemical decontamination technology for domestic CANDU-type reactors is challenging due to variations in oxide compositions from different structural materials in a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) system. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has already developed a chemical decontamination process for PWRs called 'HyBRID' (Hydrazine-Based Reductive metal Ion Decontamination) that does not use organic acids or organic chelating agents at all. As the first step to developing a new chemical decontamination technology for the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) system, we investigated magnetite dissolution behaviors in various HyBRID inorganic acidic solutions to assess their applicability to the PHWR reactor system, which forms a thicker oxide film.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2010

As nuclear power plants are getting older, interests on a decontaminating process are increasingly attracting more attention. Chemical decontamination is crucial to lower the production of radioactive waste and radiation dose rate. Prior to this, oxidizers and detergents for target material should be chosen so as to decontaminate major systems and components of a nuclear power plant chemically. In order to decontaminate it properly, it is crucial to have information about the chemical composition and crystalline structure of CRUD, analyzing its samples from the target or the decontamination system with components. However, there is no program which enables the extraction of samples directly from the object or the decontamination system with components carrying genuine radioactivity. Therefore, it is limited to samples from corrosion products carrying partial radioactivity as a resource. The composition of CRUD varies considerably depending on refueling cycle because it is closely related to the constituent of basic material. After settling a target, it is crucial to analyze and obtain analytical information about CRUD as a decontamination target. In this paper, various technologies for manufacturing simulated CRUD are introduced as alternatives to unattained samples. A metal oxide or metal hydroxide was used to synthesize simulated cruds having chemical compositions and crystalline stricture similar to the actual one by 12 different methods. CRUD 4(metal oxides in the autoclave vessel) and CRUD 10(metal oxides in a crucible after hydrazing pretreatment)were chosen as the best method for Type 1 and Type 2.respectively. As these CRUD can be synthesized easily without using any specialized equipment or reagents in a short time and in large quantities, they are expected to stimulate the development of decontaminating agents and processes.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.186-190
• /
• 2014

Nuclear Power Plants require the control ability of chemical condition (pH) because pH control during transient accident such as LOCA makes an able the fission product removal capability to be maintained, stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel equipment to be prevented and the production of hydrogen by aluminum and zinc to be minimized. An NPP is designed to control the pH of containment spray and sump coolant using the spray additives 30% NaOH in the event of loss of coolant accident. In this paper, the pH of sump coolant of an NPP during LOCA was analyzed and the fission products removal constant and decontamination factor were calculated according to Standard Review Plan 6.5.2 related to spray chemical conditions of pH. The calculated pH value of recirculation mode using the computer code corresponds to 8.09~9.67, which meets the chemical environment regulation requirements. The fission product removal capability caused by containment spray system is performed to provide input to radiation analysis.