Westinghouse has developed a new, cutting-edge, patented process that significantly improves in-drum drying for more efficient volume reduction of liquid radioactive waste. This innovative technique crystallizes rather than drying liquid waste, resulting in a much higher quality stable waste form.
For more than four decades, evaporator concentrates and liquid radioactive waste have had problems in the quality of the condensate.
Salt crystallization at drum inner walls, bottom and liquid surface.
Salt crystals growing beyond the upper edge of the drum into the filling hood and voids.
Voids in the center of the final product, and salt encrustation of the filling hood contributed to a limited production Volume Reduction Factor (VRF) of 4.
Minimized voids
New operational process can be a stand-alone skid or requires minor additional hardware and controls to existing drying systems for ease in retrofitting.
The growing of salt stone above the upper edge is prevented by the new operational process which forms stone from bottom to top.
