Inhibition of radioactive cobalt deposition in water-cooled nuclear reactors
First Claim
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1. A method for inhibiting intergranular stress corrosion cracking and the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
- adding zinc oxide to water entering said water-bearing vessel continuously during operation of said water-cooled nuclear reactor, wherein the amount of zinc oxide is selected to achieve a concentration in the range from about 25 to 150 ppb.
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Abstract
Deposition of radioactive cobalt on the interior surfaces of a water-cooled nuclear reactor and intergranular stress corrosion cracking are inhibited or substantially prevented by the continuous injection of zinc oxide to the reactor water. The zinc oxide may be prepared in the form of a paste, a slurry, or a preformed aqueous solution.
43 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for inhibiting intergranular stress corrosion cracking and the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding zinc oxide to water entering said water-bearing vessel continuously during operation of said water-cooled nuclear reactor, wherein the amount of zinc oxide is selected to achieve a concentration in the range from about 25 to 150 ppb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for inhibiting intergranular stress corrosion cracking and the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding a paste comprised of zinc oxide and water to water entering said water-bearing vessel continuously during operation of said water-cooled nuclear reactor, wherein sufficient paste is added to achieve a concentration of about 25 to 150 ppb zinc oxide in said water-bearing vessel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inhibiting intergranular stress corrosion cracking and the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
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(a) drawing water from a conduit supplying water to said water-bearing vessel and passing said drawn water through a recirculation loop discharging back into said conduit continuously during the operation of said water-cooled nuclear reactor; and (b) continuously during said operation injecting into said recirculation loop a paste comprised of zinc oxide at about 40% to about 80% by weight in water at an injection point at a rate selected to achieve a zinc oxide concentration of about 25 to about 150 ppb in said conduit.
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13. A method for inhibiting intergranular stress corrosion cracking and the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding an aqueous solution of zinc oxide to water entering said water-bearing vessel, continuously during operation of said water-cooled nuclear reactor, wherein a sufficient amount of the solution is added to achieve a concentration of about 25 to 150 ppb zinc oxide in said water-bearing vessel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for inhibiting intergranular stress corrosion cracking and the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding a slurry of zinc oxide in water to water entering said water-bearing vessel, continuously during operation of said water-cooled nuclear reactor, wherein sufficient slurry is added to achieve a concentration of about 25 to 150 ppb zinc oxide in said water-bearing vessel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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