Separating Installation for Radioactive Abrasive Waste Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The decommissioning of nuclear installations generates a substantial volume of radioactive waste due to the abrasive water-jet cutting method, where radioactive steel particles contaminate the abrasive agent, leading to increased waste volume and limited utilization of space in storage containers.
Innovation Solution
A separating installation that includes a stirring stage, a filter stage with particle filters, a screening stage with wet screens, and a magnetic filter stage interconnected by a pipe system, allowing for the separation and reuse of abrasive particles, thereby reducing secondary waste volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the abrasive water-jet cutting method is used to dismantle nuclear installations, then cutting efficiency and accessibility to difficult locations are improved, but the volume of radioactive waste increases enormously due to contamination of the abrasive agent
Solution Approach 1:
The waste treatment process is segmented into multiple stages: magnetic separation stage to remove steel particles, filtering stage to remove abrasive particles, and centrifugal separation stage to remove water. This segmentation allows each stage to target specific contaminants, enabling effective waste reduction while maintaining cutting efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention recovers and reuses the abrasive agent by separating it from radioactive contaminants. The filtered abrasive particles are collected and returned to the cutting process, eliminating the need to dispose of contaminated abrasive as radioactive waste. This recovering approach dramatically reduces waste volume while maintaining productive cutting operations
2Ease of operation
If the abrasive agent is disposed of as secondary waste, then the cutting process can continue, but the total volume of radioactive waste increases and storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The abrasive agent is continuously recovered and reused through the magnetic separation, filtering, and centrifugal separation stages. This continuous recovery process ensures the cutting operation can proceed without interruption while eliminating waste accumulation, maintaining ease of operation without increasing storage requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces intermediate separation stages (magnetic separation and filtering) that act as mediators between the cutting process and waste disposal. These intermediaries capture and remove contaminants from the abrasive agent, allowing the abrasive to be reused rather than disposed of, thus reducing waste volume without affecting cutting continuity
3Measurement precision
If a magnetic filter is used to separate steel particles from abrasive cutting agent, then some radioactive particles are removed, but smaller radioactive steel particles remain in the abrasive cutting agent and it must still be handled as secondary waste
Solution Approach 1:
The separation process is divided into multiple sequential stages: magnetic separation for larger steel particles, filtering for abrasive particles, and centrifugal separation for finer particles. This segmentation allows each stage to target specific particle sizes and types, achieving comprehensive removal of radioactive contaminants that a single magnetic filter cannot achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the purely magnetic separation system with a combined mechanical-separation system including filtration and centrifugal separation. The centrifugal separator uses rotational force to separate particles based on density and size, providing a more effective mechanical means to remove smaller radioactive particles that magnetic filtration alone cannot capture
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 installation effectively separates magnetic and non-magnetic particles, enabling the reuse of abrasive particles and significantly reducing the volume of radioactive waste, thus optimizing storage capacity and cost-efficiency in deep geological formations.
Implementation Method 1
The radioactive steel particles arising during the cutting process can therefore be influenced by an external magnetic field. EP 1486 308 A2 discloses a method using an external magnetic field to separate magnetic steel particles from the cutting agent waste
Implementation Method 2
a filter stage for filtering the suspension according to grain size by at least one particle filter
Implementation Method 3
a screening stage having at least one wet screen
Implementation Method 4
a stirring stage having a stirrer configured to create the suspension
Implementation Method 5
Radioactive steel particles which arise during the cutting process remain below the surface of the water and sink with the abrasive agent to the bottom
Data Source
AI summary
A separating installation for separating magnetic and non-magnetic particles present in a suspension includes a stirring stage having a stirrer configured to create the suspension, a filter stage configured to filter the suspension according to grain size by at least one particle filter, and a screening stage having at least one wet screen. The separating installation further includes a magnetic filter stage having at least one magnetic filter. The stirring stage, the filter stage, the screening stage, and the magnetic stage are interconnected by a pipe system in such a way that they form a circuit.