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| S A F E , S E C
U R E R A D I O A C T I V E M A T E R I A L S D
I S P O S I T I O N |
| www.duratekinc.com |
Pilgrim Station Awards Duratek
Make-Up Water Contract
by Tim Carraway |
 Pilgrim
Nuclear Station, a 665-megawatt boiling water reactor (BWR),
owned by Entergy Nuclear and located in Massachusetts, has been
in operation since September 1972. Duratek has operated its
membrane-based liquid waste processing system (Thermex) at the
Pilgrim Nuclear Station since 1997. Liquid waste processing
systems in BWRs such as the Pilgrim plant are designed to maximize
the recycling of wastewater back to the main plant. This requires
that the processing system consistently deliver a large volume
of high purity effluent water. As a result, processing focuses
on the removal of all ionic species, organic matter, and particulate.
Duratek's Thermex system has successfully processed over 88
million gallons of Pilgrim's radioactive wastewater to date
and has allowed the nuclear power plant to reduce its secondary
waste generation volume, effluent conductivity, effluent Total
Organic Carbon (TOC), personnel radiation exposure, and liquid
discharges to the environment.
In January 2003, Duratek's Thermex contract was extended for
five years. In addition, Duratek was awarded a five-year contract
to provide equipment and on-site services to provide make-up
water for Pilgrim Nuclear Station. This represents a significant
expansion of Duratek's liquid waste processing capabilities.
Utilities are required to use a certain amount of water from
sources other than freshwater supplies (e.g., rivers, lakes,
etc.). In Pilgrim's case, the make-up water will come from city
water (not plant waste water). Duratek's new Make-Up Water Processing
System (MUWPS) will treat the water in order to render it useful
for plant operations. Specifically, it is designed to remove
ions and particles to reduce the TOC, sulfates, chlorides, silica,
and calcium. The primary components of MUWPS include reverse
osmosis vessels and an electrode ionization unit. Upon exiting
the MUWPS, the water will be sent to Pilgrim's Demineralized
Water Storage Tank/Condensate Water Storage Tanks before being
used by the plant. |
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