Full-Scale IX Resin Decontamination System Deployment

Abstract

Ion exchange (IX) resin is used in CANDU power plants to purify both light and heavy water, and it collects a significant amount of carbon-14 (C-14) during the operation. The spent IX resin is typically stored at the plant's waste management area until a permanent disposal solution becomes available. However, the management of spent IX resin comes with challenges; first, spent IX resin represents a significant portion of intermediate-level waste generated from a CANDU station, and second, the resin is an organic material that degenerates over time and may release as radioactive carbon dioxide gas that is harder to manage.

Typically, CANDU utilities dewater spent IX resin to reduce the storage volume and management expenses. Some utilities further considered treating the resin to dry them completely or even to remove C-14.

Hatch's technology partner, Sunkwang T&S in South Korea, has been developing the spent IX resin treatment and C-14 capture system based on patented microwave heating in the past few years, and it is currently going through the full-scale system installation at Wolsong Nuclear Generating Station in South Korea. This paper presents the technology development background and the current system configurations for the Sunkwang IX resin treatment technology.