Commercial Operations
Studsvik Processing Facility (SPF), Erwin, TN
History
The patented THOR® process developed by Studsvik has been in use for over seven years at the SPF in Erwin, Tennessee to treat radioactive waste for the commercial nuclear industry. Before commercial operations began, Studsvik conducted bench, pilot scale and engineering scale steam reforming demonstrations to develop process performance data and operating parameters using leased and Studsvik-owned hardware at the Hazen Research in Colorado. In just 30 months, Studsvik completed demonstrations, conceptual and detailed design, procurement, construction, cold start-up, readiness assessment, and hot start-up.
Overview
The SPF is licensed for the handling and processing of radioactive waste by the State of Tennessee, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission agreement state. The facility has been in continuous operation since 1999 and processes waste on a 24/7 basis. Studsvik provides a wide range of radioactive waste packaging, transportation, processing, and disposal services at standard commercial rates to waste generators throughout the United States. Slurry wastes with high water, high organic, and iron content with contact dose rates of up to 500 R/hr have been received, processed, and packaged for disposal. The heavily shielded SPF can receive and remotely process liquid and solid LLW at feed rates of over 1,000 lbs/hr. Plant operations have proven safe and efficient, while providing a high rate of availability. A process overview of the facility is shown below.
Lessons Learned in the start-up and over seven years of radioactive operations have been incorporated into the steam reforming systems proposed by TTT to treat DOE streams.
Metrics
Waste Processing at the SPF have demonstrated the following achievments:
- Radionuclide retention in solids products has been >99.99999%
- Cs >99.9999991%
- Tc >99.999998%
- Co >99.9999995%
Over 200,000 cu. ft. of highly radioactive ion exchange resins, carbon, oils, plastic, cellulose, and other organic and aqueous wastes have been processed at SPF for more than 42 customers, including most nuclear power stations and nuclear fuel vendors in the United States.
Over 1,600 shipments of final product have been achieved.
For more information on the SPF CLICK HERE.
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Click the files below to access more SPF pictures.
- SPF Feed Container
- SPF Process Vessels
- SPF Process Equipment
- SFP Quencher
- Shielding
- Suppport Equipment
- Final Disposal