Process for decontaminating a nuclear reactor coolant system
First Claim
1. A process for decontaminating a reactor coolant system wherein radioactive ions and particles are transported by flowing coolant water from a nuclear reactor vessel to the balance of the system where they deposit on chromium (III) oxide-containing surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- circulating permanganate ion-containing reactor coolant water throughout a reactor coolant system to oxidize chromium (III) oxide surfaces of the system to chromium (IV) oxide, the reactor coolant water containing from about 20 to about 2000 ppm permanganate ion; and
thenadding formic acid to the permanganate ion-containing reactor coolant water to reduce the permanganate ions in the reactor coolant water to manganous ions.
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Abstract
High velocity reactor coolant water in a boiling water reactor or a pressurized water reactor transports radioactive ions and particles from a nuclear reactor vessel to the balance of the reactor coolant system where they deposit on chromium (III) oxide-containing surfaces. These radioactive deposits are removed in a dilute chemical decontamination process wherein permanganate ion-containing reactor coolant water is circulated throughout a reactor coolant system to oxidize chromium (III) oxide surfaces of the system to chromium (IV) oxide. Formic acid is added to the permanganate ion-containing reactor coolant water and then the formic acid-containing water is circulated throughout the reactor coolant system to reduce unreacted permanganate ions in the reactor coolant water to manganous ions.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A process for decontaminating a reactor coolant system wherein radioactive ions and particles are transported by flowing coolant water from a nuclear reactor vessel to the balance of the system where they deposit on chromium (III) oxide-containing surfaces, comprising the steps of:
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circulating permanganate ion-containing reactor coolant water throughout a reactor coolant system to oxidize chromium (III) oxide surfaces of the system to chromium (IV) oxide, the reactor coolant water containing from about 20 to about 2000 ppm permanganate ion; and
thenadding formic acid to the permanganate ion-containing reactor coolant water to reduce the permanganate ions in the reactor coolant water to manganous ions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification