Numerical Modeling and Performance Optimization Study of a Dehumidification Process in Nuclear Waste Storage

P. Geraldini[1]
[1]Sogin Spa, Rome, Italy
Published in 2013

One of the main parameters to consider during the nuclear waste storage design phase is the drum corrosion risk. The humid-air corrosion models available in literature predict that, for carbon steel, the phenomena start to become appreciable for relative humidity (RH) values close to 65%. In general, the corrosion rate increases exponentially with relative humidity above the RH threshold. To reduce the corrosion risk an alternative technique rather than installing HVAC system is using dehumidifiers. The main objective of this study is to develop a numerical model that replicates the functioning of industrial isothermal dehumidifiers in order to obtain indications about their performance. The geometry of the rad-waste interim storage and its thermo-physical properties, considered during simulations, are taken from a specific ongoing project while the characteristic functioning curves of the dehumidifiers represent the industrial state of art.