Plasma Electroerosion Reactor for Nuclear Waste Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for treating liquid industrial waste, particularly from nuclear power plants, face inefficiencies in removing radionuclides and heavy metals due to high energy consumption, passivation of electrodes, and limited effectiveness in treating complex compounds with organic substances.
Innovation Solution
A plasma electroerosion reactor with two discharge chambers, one filled with iron granules and the other with aluminum granules, uses bipolar rectangular pulses and an ozone-air mixture to enhance coagulation, achieving efficient removal of radioactive elements and heavy metals from liquid waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional coagulation processes using inorganic coagulants are used to remove radionuclides and heavy metals, then purification effectiveness is improved, but additional reagents are required which complicates the process and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the waste liquid itself as the medium for electroerosion discharge, generating coagulant in situ through the discharge process. The waste liquid undergoes electroerosion treatment which directly produces metal hydroxides that act as coagulants, eliminating the need to add external coagulant reagents while maintaining effective purification of radionuclides and heavy metals
2Device complexity
If electroerosion dispersion of metal granules is used to generate coagulant in situ, then reagent addition is eliminated, but electrode passivation occurs reducing process efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic reversal of discharge polarity between two electrodes. During one half-cycle, the first electrode undergoes electroerosion while the second remains passive; during the next half-cycle, their roles reverse. This periodic action prevents continuous passivation of a single electrode surface, maintaining sustained electroerosion capability and process efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameter of discharge polarity over time, switching between positive and negative polarity on alternating half-cycles. This parameter change ensures that no single electrode surface remains in a passivated state, as the electrochemical conditions are periodically reversed, maintaining active electroerosion surfaces throughout the process
3Reliability
If high energy consumption methods are used for waste treatment, then purification effectiveness is improved, but energy cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces high-energy thermal or mechanical treatment methods with electrical discharge (plasma) technology. The electroerosion discharge generates localized plasma zones that efficiently decompose organic complexes and precipitate radionuclides and heavy metals through electrochemical reactions, achieving effective purification with lower overall energy consumption compared to conventional high-energy methods
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The reactor significantly intensifies the coagulation process, achieving high purification rates of liquid waste by converting pollutants into insoluble states, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of treating complex industrial waste.
Implementation Method 1
electroerosive dispersion (evaporation and condensation) of metallic aluminum or iron granules
Implementation Method 2
pulsed electric discharges in water and dilute salt solutions
Implementation Method 3
The destructive effect of ozone and OH′ radicals on complexones is also known from the prior art since ozone destroys almost all organic compounds very quickly
Implementation Method 4
ozone destroys almost all organic compounds very quickly
Implementation Method 5
formation of a mixture of short-lived aluminum and iron ions, which very actively interact with cesium-137 (137Cs), americium-241 (241Am), strontium-90 (90Sr), cobalt-60 (60Co) ions during their existence, with subsequent formation of their oxides and hydroxides, coagulation of the latter and formation of complex compounds insoluble in water
Implementation Method 6
coagulation of the latter and formation of complex compounds insoluble in water
Implementation Method 7
cesium is a metal with high dissociating ability (it splits out the Cs+ ion very easily). Being extremely reactive, cesium hydroxide has an extremely high hygroscopicity and upon interaction with bound water in Al(OH)3 it forms very strong aluminates that precipitate
Data Source
AI summary
The proposed invention relates to the field of liquid industrial waste treatment, in particular to the plasma electroerosion reactor for comprehensive treatment of industrial effluents and rainwater, as well as process water of nuclear power plants, for the purpose of their deactivation and purification, in particular for removing radionuclides of cesium-137 (137Cs), strontium-90 (90Sr), americium (241Am), cobalt-60 (60Co), heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and to the method of its use, including for treating liquid waste of nuclear power plants (NPP).