Engineering topics

Mertz, Joshua

Publications and source records attributed to Mertz, Joshua.

3 records

DOE OSTI2016

Utilization and Application of Kurion Mobile Processing System in Remediation of Radioactively Contaminated Water - 16370

Kurion{sup R} Mobile Processing Systems (KMPS) were deployed in Fukushima as first-of-a- kind at-tank isotope removal systems to remediate Sr from reverse osmosis concentrated salt water. The systems were successful in their efforts and achieved their decontamination and availability goals. The use of KMPS has been considered for other applications where a modular system is of benefit. The use of different Kurion Ion Specific Media (ISM) allows for precision removal of hazardous ions from a variety of waste streams. This paper describes a range of projects in which KMPS modularity will benefit the nuclear industry. The KMPS is a flexible system that can be deployed quickly and efficiently. One treatment system option being considered is the utilization of a KMPS for the removal of contamination from groundwater. Similar to its use in Japan, the KMPS can be sent to remote locations for the direct treatment of ground water. In particular, there are several sites across the world where uranium contamination is a problem. Uranium treatability testing was performed on collected groundwater samples from a radiologically contaminated site. The tests were used to help provide designs for KMPS modifications. These designs included the addition of chemical treatment module for the control of pH and other chemistry, the addition of an ultraviolet module for the destruction of biological material, among others. The tests determined the loading capacities of uranium capture resins (UCR) and media (UCM) for this specific waste stream. Based on uranium loading capacities of 37.3 mg/L (end of test C/C{sub 0} = 0.5) and 54.6 mg/L (extrapolated to C/C{sub 0} = 0.98), and the longevity of the resin (45,911 BV for C/C{sub 0} = 0.5, and 80,556 BV for C/C{sub 0} = 0.98) UCR-1 was selected as the media/resin to be proposed for a uranium treatment system. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2015

Development of ion specific media to treat Sr-contaminated water at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant - 15486

Since April of 2011, Kurion, Inc. contracted with the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to remediate cooling water using Ion Specific Media targeting cesium (Cs). The effluent of the Cs-sorption systems routed into a reverse osmosis (RO) system. While the RO permeate was recirculated into the cooling loop, the RO reject was captured in carbon-steel tanks. However, the cesium-extracted tank water at Fukushima Daiichi also has a high strontium (Sr) activity (∼4 x 10{sup 5} Bq/mL) and needs to be reduced to lower the onsite and boundary doses. To treat this highly contaminated water, Kurion developed the Kurion Mobile Processing System (KMPS). The KMPS uses a powder batch-contact addition step in concert with a series of ion exchange vessels to decontaminate the high Sr-activity water. Kurion tested and developed several ion specific media to treat the water. Several inorganic media were evaluated in the down-select for the system. Equilibrium batch tests, shortened contact time batch tests and column tests were performed to assess the media depending on water conditions. Two media were selected for KMPS: FAS-P (a powdered zeolite) to reduce Ca{sup 2+} and Sr{sup 2+} concentrations and TS-G (a synthetic titanosilicate) to polish the Sr{sup 2+} downstream. The results of these laboratory tests and their performance in the field will be discussed. The operation of the system has led to the continued reduction of dose at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This system and these media can be applied to other difficult wastewater solutions involving high levels of contaminants and salinity. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Fukushima two year processing update

On March 11, 2011, now two years ago, the magnitude 9.0 Great East Japan earth quake, Tohoku, hit off the Fukushima coast of Japan. This was one of the most powerful earthquakes in recorded history and the most powerful one known to have hit Japan. The ensuing tsunami devastated a huge area resulting in some 25,000 persons confirmed dead or missing. The perfect storm was complete when the tsunami then found the four-reactor, Fukushima- Daiichi Nuclear Station directly in its destructive path. Some 2 million people were evacuated from a fifty mile radius of the area and evaluation and cleanup began. A tremendous effort has been made, by many nationalities, since this time to restore this damaged plant and surrounding area and to return a great deal of the residents to their homes and farm lands. While most of the outcome of this unprecedented natural and manmade disaster was negative, both in Japan and worldwide, there have been some extremely valuable lessons learned and new emergency recovery technologies and systems developed to cope with the aftermath of this disaster. This paper describes new technology developed to selectively remove radioactive materials dangerous to workers, local citizens, and the natural environment from seawater used to cool the damaged reactors at Fukushima. As always, the mother of invention is necessity. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗