Lessons Learned in Preparing for a Primary Heat Transport System Chemical Decontamination

Abstract

As a global market leader in chemical decontamination technology, Westinghouse has experienced the lessons learned associated with preparing for the chemical decontamination of the Primary Heat Transfer System in a CANDU® reactor. This paper presents those lessons learned, and the challenges found in performing studies for design considerations.When a decision is made to refurbish a CANDU® reactor, the owner faces constraints in dose, schedule and quality.  This paper examines the effects of these constraints, and the developments made to improve results in areas such as: existing and post decontamination system capabilities, solvent selection criteria for optimum results, process methodology efficiency gains, selection of systems for retention or replacement and cost-benefit analysis for dose reduction goals.