Extraction of insoluble corrosion products from the water circuits of nuclear power stations by electromagnetic filtration

The separation of insoluble ferromagnetic corrosion products which are in the form of submicronic particles suspended in water at low concentration can proceed at high rate by electromagnetic filtration. At increasing temperatures, but sufficiently below the Curie point of the particles, the efficiency of an electromagnetic filters is considerably improved. The physical characteristics of the filter which exert high influence on its critical filtration rate and its usable capacity are evaluated and taken into account to optimize the controllable operating conditions. Other insoluble corrosion products, non-ferromagnetic in nature, are very efficiently retained in the ferritic slurry. The potential of electromagnetic filter application in the nuclear industry is discussed on the basis of the experimental results obtained from loop tests