Development of high-pressure dry ice blasting method for decontamination (III); Barrel type- and vacuum type- dry ice blasting methods

not registered; not registered ; not registered; Tanimoto, Kenichi

In order to decrease radioactivity of high-level radioactive wastes to low-level (lower than 500 Sv/h), the dry-ice blasting method has been developing. This method can decontaminate radioactive wastes up to 10 in decontamination factor, and can minimize the secondary generated wastes. However, the method was not applicable to smaller and lighter objects because the objects scatter with the blasting flow. Two types of decontamination method, which are a barrel type- and a vacuum type- dry ice blasting methods, therefore, were planned. The barrel type method can decontaminate smaller solid wastes with preventing the scattering of the wastes by blast pressure. The vacuum type method has advantages to localize and collect the removed contamination from larger wastes. In this work, their basic efficiency on decontamination were investigated experimentally using painted specimens simulating contaminated wastes. Results are as follows. (1)In the experiment on the barrel type method, distance between blast nozzle and specimens, blast pressure, blast duration and rotational speed of barrel were changed within a range of 70250 mm, 715kgf/cm, 90300 second and 530 r.p.m. respectively. Decontamination efficiencies were determined with measuring differential weight of specimens between before and after the experiment. As the result, it was clarified that the suitable distance was 150mm, that the efficiency wasn't improved in the pressure more than 10kg/cm, that the rotational speed was not so dominant, and that the dominant parameter on the efficiency was the duration. The decontamination efficiency rose up with the duration within 300 sec. (2)In the experiment on the vacuum type method, blast pressure and blast duration were changed within a range of 46kgf/cm, and 60180 second, respectively. Top of a vacuum cover was also opened or closed. Decontamination efficiencies were determined with measuring area of ...