Evaporation of Radioactive Liquids

EVAPORATION OF RADIOACTIVE LIQUIDS

Introduction
Aqueous radioactive wastes are generated in many nuclear facilities e.g. nuclear power plants, research centres, waste conditioning facilities, etc. When the concentration of soluble and/or insoluble solids in the waste stream is low, it is standard practice to concentrate the waste using an evaporator. This typically achieves a volume reduction of ~100 and the resultant small volume of concentrate can be held economically in storage tanks while awaiting conditioning. The equipment used for the concentration of aqueous wastes must guarantee a high decontamination factor to enable the distillate to be discharged into the conventional sewage system. To carry out this process, NUKEM supplies special forced circulation evaporators under license from Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke (VEW); these have evaporation capacities ranging from 0.5 to 10 m/h. In many cases, because the distillate must have a very high purity, twostage evaporation is necessary. Where the required decontamination factor is lower, a single stage evaporator can be used, but this is dependent on the characteristics of the feed stock and the anticipated use or disposal route for the distillate. The NUKEM two stage evaporator sets new standards for the evaporation process and overall decontamination factors between the concentrate/ distillate can be as high as 5 x109 for non-volatile species. The resultant concentrate normally has a total solids content of ~20%w/w. This means that the concentration factor between the concentrate and feed is approximately 100 and consequently, the overall decontamination factor between feed and distillate can be as high as 5 x 107 for non-volatile species. NUKEM evaporators have a number of additional attractive features which include: Automatic controls to make operation easy Maintenance has been reduced to a minimum Forced circulation, together with flash distillation, prevents fouling of the heat exchanger The energy demand for a twostage evaporator is the same as for a single stage unit. The standard models are delivered skid-mounted The evaporator can be operated at different pressures, for example: A pressure of 1 bar in the first stage and atmospheric pressure in the second stage, or Atmospheric pressure in the first stage and negative pressure in the second stage The layout can readily be adapted, so it exactly meets the clients requirements

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Pre-treatment of Wastes
Pre-treatment of the waste is normally not required, but in some cases adjustment of the pH may be beneficial.

Process Description
-See Fig. 3, Two stage forced circulation evaporatorThe following process description refers to the two-stage evaporator, the first stage being operated at positive pressure condition. The feed stock is pumped through an optional pre-heater into the first evaporator stage. The liquid level in the first flash chamber determines the rate. By means of the circulation pump, the liquid is moved by forced circulation from the flash chamber, through the heat exchanger and the restriction orifice and back into the flash chamber. The restriction orifice is positioned at the inlet to the flash chamber and as a consequence of the pressure-rise produced by the circulation pump, the production of bubbles (and the fouling that would arise from their formation) is avoided. As a result of the pressure drop in concentrate due to circulation through the restriction orifice, part of the liquid is evaporated. The evaporation capacity is determined by the flow rate of steam to the heat exchanger. In the flash chamber, the vapour is separated from the concentrate by means of a cyclone-type separator that utilises acceleration and centrifugal force. This special feature effectively separates the ultra-fine droplets from the vapor without the generation of further droplets. As a consequence, the decontamination factor for nonvolatile constituents is very high. Residual heat from the steam is used to heat the feed stock in the pre-heater. The vapour leaving the first stage (at ~120C ; pressure 1 bar) is condensed in the mixing condenser, which is part of the second stage recirculation loop. In this contact condenser, complete condensation of the vapour from the first stage occurs and the condensate is completely absorbed by the forcecirculated liquid from the second stage; this prevents the transfer of entrained droplets of radioactive aerosol into the distillate from the second stage. The second evaporator stage works according to the same principle as the first stage, as described above, except that it operates at approximately atmospheric pressure. As a consequence of the lower operating pressure in the second stage, the excess heat from the first stage can be used for evaporation. The vapor leaving the second stage flash chamber flows into the condenser; permanent gases flow through a throttle, together with a
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small quantity of vapor, into a gas cooler where the gas is cooled and transferred to the plant off-gas treatment facility. The distillate recovered from the gas cooler flows back into the second stage evaporator. The condensate flowing from the condenser still has a temperature of approximately 100C. It is cooled down to ~50C in the distillate cooler where it flows, by gravity, into a collection tank. During operation, approximately 10% of the second stage throughput is continuously withdrawn and transferred back to the feed tank.

Compensation for this bleed is provided by a level-controlled flow of distillate into the second stage flash chamber. Once the target concentration for the evaporator concentrate in the first stage forced-circulation loop has been reached, the evaporation is momentarily interrupted and the concentrate is transferred to the appropriate storage tank. After refilling the first stage with fresh feed stock, a new evaporation campaign can be started. To achieve a normal concentration factor, the frequency of interruption of the evaporator is about once every four days.

Technical Data
Feed temperature: Distillate temperature: Concentrate temperature: Decontamination factor (DF) for non volatile contaminants (DF = activity concentration in the concentrate/activity concentration in the distillate): achievable DF, two stages: guaranteed DF, two stages: guaranteed DF, one stage: Medium and energy requirements per m3 of distillate for two stage evaporator: heating steam (5 bar g.; 159oC): cooling water (T = 10 K; 4 bar g.): electrical energy: Overall dimensions for rack-mounted models (length x width x height): 0.5 m3/h, two stages: 10 m3/h, two stages: 2.5 x 4 x 6.5 m3 5 x 7 x 9 m3 1200 kg 68 m3 18 kWh 20oC 50oC < 120oC

5 x 109 1 x 108 1 x 105

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Fig. 1 Evaporation plant at Kola NPP

Fig. 2 Evaporation plant at Kola NPP

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Fig. 3

Two-Stage forced Circulation Evaporator Simplified Process Flowsheet

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Fig. 4 Evaporators for VEK vitrification plant, Karlsruhe

Fig. 5 VEK evaporators, Karlsruhe

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References
Scope of supply Client Putting in operation in 2006

1 Two MAW Evaporators for Vitrification facility 2 Liquid Radioactive Waste Concentration System 3 One Stage Evaporator (0.5 m3/h)

WAK, Rckbau- und Entsorgungs GmbH, Karlsruhe/Germany Kola NPP, Russia PKA Gorleben (Pilot Conditioning Plant at Gorleben), Germany N.E.R.S.A., NPP Super Phnix, France Uranium Enrichment plant Gronau SNR 300, NPP Kalkar, Germany FZK (Research Center Karlsruhe), Germany THTR-300, Hamm-Uentrop, Germany Gemeinschaftskernkraftwerk Neckar GmbH, Germany

2006 1997

4 Two Stage Evaporator (2 m3/h) 5 Single Stage Evaporator (0.2 m3/h) 6 Two Stage Evaporator (1 m3/h) 7 Technical leadership for the reconstruction and extension of the evaporator (5 m3/h) 8 Two Stage Evaporator (1.5 m3/h) 9 Two Stage Evaporator (2 m3/h)

1996 1985 1984 1981

1980 1975

67

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