Germany-based NUKEM Technologies has delivered equipment and related services for a spent ion exchange resin treatment plant at China’s Zhangzhou NPP in Fujian Province. NUKEM was contracted by AEROSON Corporation in 2021 to supply two conical dryers for the treatment of spent resins, including the design, engineering, manufacture, testing and quality assurance of the dryers and their ancillary equipment, as well as the supplier's scope of supply and services.Spent ion exchange resins are generated during the purification of the primary coolant and the treatment of liquid radioactive waste. After draining the excess transport water, the spent resins are heated in the conical dryer. Pressure within the conical dryer is reduced by means of a vacuum unit and this decreases the liquid’s boiling point thereby increasing the drying rate. After the drying process is completed, the spent ion exchange resins – dried and reduced in volume – are packed into 200-litre steel drums.
In May, the last components for the conical dryers arrived in China, and NUKEM's scope of supply was completed. Commissioning is expected to take place in August and NUKEM will continue to support Chinese Nuclear Power Engineering on site through training and consulting.
NUKEM Technologies in Alzenau, Germany, is worldwide active in the areas of management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, engineering and consulting. For more than 60 years NUKEM Technologies provides high quality products, technologies and services, where Innovation, Solutions and Excellence are closely linked. NUKEM Technologies has been part of the Rosatom Group since 2009.
