ABRASIVE-WATERJET TECHNIQUE FOR DECOMMISSIONING NUCLEAR FACILITIES

THIS RESEARCH ADDRESSES A NOVEL TECHNIQUE FOR "BULK CONCRETE" REMOVAL IN NUCLEAR FACILITIES FOR DECONTAMINATION AND DECOMMISSIONING PURPOSES. THIS TECHNIQUE EMPLOYS ABRASIVE-WATERJETS TO CUT DEEP KERFS IN CONCRETE, AS WELL AS REBARS. THE FEASIBILITY OF ACHIEVING DEEP CUTS (> 2 FT.) AS WELL AS CONTAINMENT OF CONTAMINATED MATERIALS WILL BE INVESTIGATED IN THIS PHASE OF RESEARCH. INFORMATION ON "IDEAL" DEMOLITION TOOL CHARACTERISTICS WILL BE GATHERED FROM PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN DECOMMISSIONING ACTIVITIES. THIS "IDEALIZED" TOOL CONCEPT WILL GUIDE OUR APPROACH IN DESIGNING ABRASIVE-WATERJET NOZZLES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEVICES. NOZZLES WILL BE TESTED TO ACHIEVE DEEP AND PRECISE CUTS IN CONCRETE SAMPLES SIMILAR TO WHAT IS USED IN NUCLEAR FACILITIES. ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON CONTAINMENT OF WATER, ABRASIVES AND CUTTINGS. THE FEASIBILITY OF RECYCLING WATER AND ABRASIVES WILL BE INVESTIGATED. THE FINAL REPORT WILL CONTAIN INFORMATION ON COST ANALYSIS AND COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH OTHER TECHNIQUES.