For professionals only: tank cleaning in a nuclide laboratory
In most cases, even cleaning normal wastewater tanks is a job for professionals. So, this is certainly the case if the tanks are radioactive and have also been used for unknown toxins from a university laboratory.
The university awarded the contract for thorough cleaning, which is performed every 3 years in preparation for a leak test by the TÜV, to SAT Kerntechnik. SAT Kerntechnik is ROBUR’s specialist in dismantling nuclear technology systems and can draw on extensive experience in solving such challenges.
First of all, the remaining wastewater was properly drained and the sediment that was present for technical reasons was pumped off separately. The three 5-m³ tanks were then thoroughly cleaned on the inside using high-pressure cleaning lances inserted through apertures in the upper sections. As a precaution, the technicians wore full protection including chemical protective suits and masks. Cleaning must be carried out particularly thoroughly in preparation for the prescribed leak test. All weld seams must be clean and clearly visible.
The result was that both the cleaning and the subsequent inspection of all three tanks could be carried out smoothly in one day. A pleasant side effect: thanks to the speed of the experienced SAT staff, research work was hardly affected.
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