Rapid dewatering system performance at several utility sites

The author's company conceptualized an advanced waste dewatering underdrain design for its radwaste containers as a result of its use of geotextile materials in its hazardous waste site remediation activities in the mid-1980's. The results from full scale testing in 1987 and field applications throughout 1988 with various wastes at several plant sites demonstrated the superior processing speed and volumetric efficiency of these underdrain materials. The objective of processing in one eight hour shift a 215 cu. ft. container from start of powdered resin waste transfer to dewatering end point was demonstrated during in-house testing and under plant conditions. The paper describes the geotextile materials, underdrain design, external processing equipment used, and the performance with several different waste streams at four plant sites. Overall waste volume reductions and dewatering rates are presented in each case. These performance parameters are compared with those achieved by other designs and materials