Heating, ventilating, air conditioning deactivation thermal analysis of the PUREX plant Page: 4 of 17
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HEATING, VENTILATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING
DEACTIVATION THERMAL ANALYSIS OF PUREX PLANT
William W. Chen and Robert A. Gregonis
Westinghouse Hanford Company
Richland, Washington
ABSTRACT
Thermal analysis was performed for the proposed PUREX exhaust system after
deactivation. The purpose of the analysis was to determine if condensation
will occur in a sufficient quantity to plug or damage the filtration
components. A heat transfer and fluid flow analysis was performed to evaluate
the thermal characteristics of the underground duct system, the deep bed glass
fiber (DBGF) filter No. 2, and the HEPA filters in the fourth filter building.
The analysis is based on the extreme variations of air temperature, relative
humidity, and dew point temperature using fifteen years of Hanford weather
data as a basis. The results will be used to evaluate the need for electric
heaters that are proposed for the PUREX canyon exhaust to prevent
condensation.
Results of the analysis indicate that a condition may exist in the underground
ductwork where the duct temperature can lead or lag the changes in the ambient
air temperature. This condition may contribute to condensation on the inside
surfaces of the underground exhaust duct. A worst case conservative analysis
was performed assuming that all of the water is removed from the moist air
over the inside surface of the concrete duct area in the fully developed
turbulent boundary layer while the moist air in the free-stream will not
condense. The total moisture accumulated in a 24 hour period is negligibly
small. Water puddling would not be expected. The results of the analyses
agree with the plant operating experiences.
The filters were designed to resist high humidity and direct wetting, filter
plugging due to slight condensation in the upstream duct is not a concern.
I. INTRODUCTION
The objective of this report is to document the results of a thermal analysis
that was performed for the proposed PUREX exhaust system after deactivation.
The purpose of the analysis was to determine if condensation will occur in a
sufficient quantity in the concrete duct to raise a concern and to plug or
damage the filtration components. A thermal and fluid flow analysis was
performed to evaluate the temperature characteristics of the underground duct
system, the deep bed glass fiber (DBGF) filter No. 2, and the HEPA filters in
the fourth filter building shown in Figure 1. The analysis is based on the
extreme variations of air temperature, relative humidity, and dew point
temperature using sixteen years of Hanford weather data as a basis. The
results will be used to evaluate the need for electric heaters that are being
considered for the PUREX canyon exhaust to prevent condensation.1
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Chen, W. W. Heating, ventilating, air conditioning deactivation thermal analysis of the PUREX plant, article, June 14, 1996; Richland, Washington. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc702364/m1/4/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.