Development and testing of an electrochemical separation process for cutting activated steel components

Electrochemical decontamination has a great importance for the decommissioning works at KRB A. By this method the metal surface is slightly removed due to a galvanic process in an electrolytic solution. Using the same principle it is also possible to remove material locally (ECM-technique). Many advantages of this method indicated that it could be used for cutting activated steel during decommissioning of nuclear power plants. In the frame of this research contract, experiments with non-active material from a reactor pressure vessel were investigated. The essential results demonstrated - which procedures and cathodes are suitable for high cutting velocities - and which amount of sludge (waste) will be produced in the electrolyte. The research programme has been carried out in cooperation with AEG-Elotherm, Remscheid. The test facility, the execution as well as the evaluation of the experiments were made by AEG-Elotherm