Hot Resin Supercompaction

Category: Waste Management > Waste Treatment > Size/Volume Reduction
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The Westinghouse Hot Resin Supercompaction (HRSC) process is applied for volume reduction of organic bead and/or powder resin. The HRSC process has been implemented in Germany and Belgium. Another facility is under construction in China as part of a larger radwaste treatment facility.

Drying in a conical dryer is the key component of the Westinghouse HRSC process. This is a thermal process whereby water is evaporated from the ion exchange resins until 4 weight percent humidity is reached.

An additional option, the Westinghouse HRSC NextGen, grinds the resins before drying to reduce the drying time and to improve compactability. Grinding of bead resin results in a better volume reduction factor than pure bead resin processing.

The HRSC condensate system enables the filtering and the condensation of the steam from the conical dryer. The conical dryer is cleaned automatically.

Benefits

• Drying is a proven process used throughout the nuclear industry.
• Drying is relatively inexpensive and is comparable to incineration or cementation.
• Conical dryers are simple, reliable and easy to operate.
• No secondary waste is generated.
• Reduces spring-back effects.
• Results in a high-volume reduction of approximately 1.8 to 4 (depending on the resin).
• Produces
a stable mono-block matrix of compacted resin. • Both bead and powdered resins can be processed.
• Provides good volume reduction without creating gaseous effluents.
• Does not increase the specific activity (Bq/kg) of the waste.

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