RWE Nukem has begun processing liquid waste at the Calvert Cliffs station owned by Constellation Nuclear, on a multi-year basis. The company will provide a 30gpm advanced liquid waste system (Alcon) to reduce the plant’s Curie release and to support its goal of entering into INPO’s first quartile performance level. Confirmatory testing will be performed by Calvert Cliffs and RWE Nukem to benchmark system performance against the plant’s existing process system on actual waste streams.
The Alcon system comprises a high-tech membrane and ion exchange combination. According to RWE Nukem, the membrane removes virtually all of the suspended solids from the waste, which is then directed to the ion exchange for the removal of remaining dissolved solids. The system then retains the waste in a high-integrity container, so no off-site processing or thermal treatment of membrane reject is necessary.
To date, RWE Nukem has received long-term contracts for similar systems at Ameren/UE’s Callaway, Consumer Energy’s Palisades and North Atlantic Energy Company’s Seabrook nuclear stations.
At Calvert Cliffs, the company will supply ion exchange resins, ion specific media, personnel and other related services.
