Solidification Project Report
2
Solidification Project Report AECL Whiteshell Labs-Pinawa, Manitoba Deployment of Nochar PetroBond@ Technology to Solidify HB-40 Reactor Coolant Oil At AECL Whiteshell Labs Site Cost to ImplementNochar Baseline Costs LifecycleSavings Return on Investment $274,000 $675,000 $401,000 910% Benefits At-A-Glance -SIMPLER AND CHEAPER: Implementation of Nochar technology is simpler to accomplish and less expensive than AECL's other altenatives, on-site or off-site incineration. -TRANSPORTATION: In light of recent world events, reducing the need to transport radioactively contaminated material appears more appropriate than ever. Pre-Deployment Whiteshell Laboratories of Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. in Manitoba successfully tested Nochar solidification polymers, a DOE-proven technology. Based on this test data, work plans were written to use Nochar PetroBond@to solidify contaminated organic liquid waste from an early reactor system prototype. AECL obtained regulatory approval to solidify and place the waste into long-term storage via stainless steel containers and concrete bunkers. This success resolved a significant waste issue and has now saved the site over $400,000 Can. Description of Situation Stored at the Whiteshell Laboratories in Manitoba, Canada, was an estimated 10,000 liters of radioactively contaminated organic liquid, made up of a mixture of used WR-1 reactor coolant (Monsanto HB-40 oil), xylene rinse solution, dielectric (EDM) fluid, vacuum pump oil and water. The drums storing this material show evidence of leakage and the effects of current storage conditions, being subjected to repeated freeze-thaw cycles from the local climate. In some cases, drums have swelled in size. Prior to the Nochar deployment, AECL was having difficulty in obtaining a suitable transportation container for off-site incineration, and on-site incineration in new facilities was prohibitively expensive. With help from an EM-50 ASTD ROI project to deploy Nochar polymer technology, samples of this liquid were successfully solidified using Nochar in May 2001. This testing was a government sponsored cooperative project and the first international endeavor. AECL then requested regulatory approval to solidify and place the waste into long-term storage, in lieu of incineration. Primary Value of Improvement Nochar solidification provided a long-term storage solution instead of incineration and saved AECL significant costs. The technology also eliminated a need to transport contaminated material across "n international border.
Transcript of Solidification Project Report
Solidification Project ReportAECL Whiteshell Labs-Pinawa, Manitoba
Deployment of Nochar PetroBond@Technology to Solidify HB-40 ReactorCoolant Oil At AECL Whiteshell Labs
Site Cost to ImplementNocharBaseline CostsLifecycleSavingsReturn on Investment
$274,000$675,000$401,000
910%
Benefits At-A-Glance
-SIMPLER AND CHEAPER: Implementation ofNochar technology is simpler to accomplish andless expensive than AECL's other altenatives,on-site or off-site incineration.
-TRANSPORTATION: In light of recent worldevents, reducing the need to transportradioactively contaminated material appearsmore appropriate than ever.
Pre-DeploymentWhiteshell Laboratories of Atomic Energy ofCanada, Ltd. in Manitoba successfully testedNochar solidification polymers, a DOE-proventechnology. Based on this test data, work planswere written to use Nochar PetroBond@to solidifycontaminated organic liquid waste from an earlyreactor system prototype. AECL obtainedregulatory approval to solidify and place the wasteinto long-term storage via stainless steelcontainers and concrete bunkers. This successresolved a significant waste issue and has nowsaved the site over $400,000 Can.
Description of SituationStored at the Whiteshell Laboratories in Manitoba,Canada, was an estimated 10,000 liters ofradioactively contaminated organic liquid, made up ofa mixture of used WR-1 reactor coolant (MonsantoHB-40 oil), xylene rinse solution, dielectric (EDM) fluid,vacuum pump oil and water. The drums storing thismaterial show evidence of leakage and the effects ofcurrent storage conditions, being subjected torepeated freeze-thaw cycles from the local climate. Insome cases, drums have swelled in size. Prior to theNochar deployment, AECL was having difficulty inobtaining a suitable transportation container for off-siteincineration, and on-site incineration in new facilitieswas prohibitively expensive.
With help from an EM-50 ASTD ROI project to deployNochar polymer technology, samples of this liquidwere successfully solidified using Nochar in May 2001.This testing was a government sponsored cooperativeproject and the first international endeavor. AECLthen requested regulatory approval to solidify andplace the waste into long-term storage, in lieu ofincineration.
Primary Value of ImprovementNochar solidification provided a long-term storagesolution instead of incineration and saved AECLsignificant costs. The technology also eliminated aneed to transport contaminated material across "ninternational border.
Proiect Success Summary~ Project was accomplished ahead of schedule, only 8 working days.~ Project was accomplished within budget and provided significant
cost savings as outlined on page (1) of this fact sheet.~ A specially modified paddle / ribbon mixer was adapted to the
project, which performed flawlessly~ Ninety Eight batches of waste were mixed which stabilized over
10,000 liters of radioactive organic liquid.~ Four specific polymer formulas were developed by Nocha.rlID
Corporation to address the exact characteristics of the waste, thusall aqueous, organic and chemical constituents were identified andsolidified efficiently.
~ Efficient polymer formulas and well designed mixing equipmentproduced highly successful solidification. Batches were stabilizingfor transfer into stainless steel B-25 boxes in as little as 9 seconds.
~ With the efficiency of the polymer, all work was completed withfew safety concerns and in an ALARA manner throughout.
~ Nochar PetroBond@stabilized the waste into a dense rubberymaterial almost upon contact with no possible evidence of freeliquid or easily spread contamination.
~ The custom designed mixing operation was able to produce a fluidslurry mixture as it entered the box and thus made use of everycubic inch of space.
~ Use of Nochar produced minimal expansion: maximum 20% withN960 and 10% with N910 polymers.
~ Solidified material receded back into the box over time, thusforming a more dense solidified mass and allowing additionalwaste to be deposited in the box as the mass "cured".
~ Solidification with Nocha.rlIDshowed 50% average reduction indose rates at contact with the disposal container, and significantreduction in loose contamination or the potential spread of it.
~ Nochar raw polymer was easy to transport to the mixer and handle,produced no IH or safety concerns, and only has a dust hazardwhen used in large quantities as outlined on the MSDS.
~ Nochar polymer technology allowed for large variations in un-treated waste characterization and analysis, thus still producing ahighly acceptable solidified waste form yet.
~ This application at ABCL Whiteshell proved Nochar polymers asa significant technology to be implemented throughout theIndustry for use in "safe store" long term nuclear waste storage.
