Ronald Jay Morris

US Patent:

6506955, Jan 14, 2003

Filed:

May 10, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/568434

Inventors:

David W. Wilson - Pasco WA
Ronald Morris - Fountain Inn SC
Peter M. Newton - Richland WA
Gregory D. Paul - Kennewick WA
Thomas J. Gammon - Richland WA
John Michael Parke - Kennewick PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21F 900

US Classification:

588 1

Abstract:

A boiling water reactor is chemically decontaminated by circulating a decontamination solution through reactor recirculation loops and the annulus region of a reactor pressure vessel that surrounds the central core region while bypassing the central core region. The decontamination solution may also be circulated between the annulus region and a lower internals region while bypassing the central core region. The solution dissolves or breaks down metal oxide layers on the surfaces of the boiling water reactor. The metal oxide layers in the central core region and the activated metal ions contained in these layers, which do not substantially contribute to personnel exposure, are not released and, therefore, do not need to be removed from the solution.