Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning
The thermal cutting of contaminated or activated metals during decommissioning nuclear power plants inevitably results in the release of radioactive aerosol. Since radioactive aerosols are pernicious particles that contribute to the internal dose of workers, air conditioning units with a HEPA filter...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Nuclear Engineering and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S173857332300058X |
| _version_ | 1797823784323907584 |
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| author | Hee Kwon Ku Min-Ho Lee Hyunjin Boo Geun-Dong Song Deokhee Lee Kaphyun Yoo Byung Gi Park |
| author_facet | Hee Kwon Ku Min-Ho Lee Hyunjin Boo Geun-Dong Song Deokhee Lee Kaphyun Yoo Byung Gi Park |
| author_sort | Hee Kwon Ku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The thermal cutting of contaminated or activated metals during decommissioning nuclear power plants inevitably results in the release of radioactive aerosol. Since radioactive aerosols are pernicious particles that contribute to the internal dose of workers, air conditioning units with a HEPA filter are used to remove radioactive aerosols. However, a HEPA filter cannot be used permanently. This study evaluates the efficiency and lifetime of filters in actual metal cutting condition using a plasma arc cutter and a high-resolution aerosol detector. The number concentration and size distribution of aerosols from 6 nm to 10 μm were measured on both the upstream and downstream sides of the filter. The total aerosol removal efficiency of HEPA filter satisfies the standard of removing at least 99.97% of 0.3 μm airborne particles, even if the pressure drop increases due to dust feeding load. The pressure drop and particle size removal efficiency at 0.3 μm of the HEPA filter were found to increase with repeated cutting experiments. By contrast, the efficiency of used HEPA filter reduced in removing nano-sized aerosols by up to 79.26%. Altogether, these results can be used to determine the performance guidance and replacement frequency of HEPA filters used in nuclear power plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:29:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9932bd7fd2314df182796c124914970e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1738-5733 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:29:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nuclear Engineering and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9932bd7fd2314df182796c124914970e2023-05-19T04:45:12ZengElsevierNuclear Engineering and Technology1738-57332023-05-0155518301837Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioningHee Kwon Ku0Min-Ho Lee1Hyunjin Boo2Geun-Dong Song3Deokhee Lee4Kaphyun Yoo5Byung Gi Park6FNC Technology Co., Ltd., 13 Heungdeok 1-ro, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16954, Republic of Korea; Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, 31538, Republic of KoreaFNC Technology Co., Ltd., 13 Heungdeok 1-ro, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16954, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, 31538, Republic of KoreaFNC Technology Co., Ltd., 13 Heungdeok 1-ro, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16954, Republic of KoreaSOLTI Co., Ltd., 106, Gongdan 1-daero 322 Beon-gil, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do, 15113, Republic of KoreaCentury Co., Magok Jungangro 86, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 107801, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, 31538, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author.The thermal cutting of contaminated or activated metals during decommissioning nuclear power plants inevitably results in the release of radioactive aerosol. Since radioactive aerosols are pernicious particles that contribute to the internal dose of workers, air conditioning units with a HEPA filter are used to remove radioactive aerosols. However, a HEPA filter cannot be used permanently. This study evaluates the efficiency and lifetime of filters in actual metal cutting condition using a plasma arc cutter and a high-resolution aerosol detector. The number concentration and size distribution of aerosols from 6 nm to 10 μm were measured on both the upstream and downstream sides of the filter. The total aerosol removal efficiency of HEPA filter satisfies the standard of removing at least 99.97% of 0.3 μm airborne particles, even if the pressure drop increases due to dust feeding load. The pressure drop and particle size removal efficiency at 0.3 μm of the HEPA filter were found to increase with repeated cutting experiments. By contrast, the efficiency of used HEPA filter reduced in removing nano-sized aerosols by up to 79.26%. Altogether, these results can be used to determine the performance guidance and replacement frequency of HEPA filters used in nuclear power plants.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S173857332300058XHEPA filterAerosol removal efficiencyPlasma arc cuttingRadioactive aerosolNuclear power plant decommissioning |
| spellingShingle | Hee Kwon Ku Min-Ho Lee Hyunjin Boo Geun-Dong Song Deokhee Lee Kaphyun Yoo Byung Gi Park Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning Nuclear Engineering and Technology HEPA filter Aerosol removal efficiency Plasma arc cutting Radioactive aerosol Nuclear power plant decommissioning |
| title | Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning |
| title_full | Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning |
| title_fullStr | Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning |
| title_short | Performance assessment of HEPA filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning |
| title_sort | performance assessment of hepa filter to reduce internal dose against radioactive aerosol in nuclear decommissioning |
| topic | HEPA filter Aerosol removal efficiency Plasma arc cutting Radioactive aerosol Nuclear power plant decommissioning |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S173857332300058X |
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