Purification of the Water in Spent-Fuel Holding Ponds Using Radiation-Resistant Inorganic Sorbents

• Published in: Atomic energy (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2001-08, Vol.91 (2), p.653-657
• Main Authors: Sharygin, L M, Muromskii, A Yu, Saraev, O M, Oshkanov, N N, Morozov, V G, Lebedev, V V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Energy policy; Nuclear power plants; Ponds; Radiation; Radioactivity; Sorbents; Stabilization ponds
• ISSN: 1063-4258; 1573-8205
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1012879306517

A system for purifying the holding pond water for spent fuel from the first two power generating units, using radiation-resistant inorganic sorbents Termoksid, was developed and put into operation at the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant. In 26 days of operation of the purification system the radioactivity of the water in both holding ponds decreased by approximately a factor of 100. Activity amounting to 6920 Ci was removed from the two ponds and concentrated on 1 m^sup 3^ of the sorbent Termoksid-3A, and 62.9 Ci remained in the pond water. Removal of spent sorbent was successfully performed by hydrotransport into a special container located directly in BV-1 under the water layer. A new batch of Termoksid-3A was loaded into the sorption filter. A second purification cycle was performed for the holding pond water. As a result, the radioactivity of the water of both ponds decreased to 2·10^sup -6^ Ci/liter, which decreases the potential danger for the service workers and the environment in the case of leakage.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]