Aerosol Characterization and Particle Scrubbing Efficiency of Underwater Operations during Laser Cutting of Steel Components for Dismantling of Nuclear Facilities

Abstract

The goal of this article is to provide results on aerosol particles emissions of a laser Nd:YAG cutting technique used for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. In particular, the study aims at characterizing the aerosol emitted during the cutting of steel specimens of different thicknesses and to study particulate emissions for cuts in air and under water. To do so, we calculate the emitted aerosol mass per unit area of cut. Overall, it was found that the mass of aerosol per unit area of cut by laser cutting decreases when the laser power and cutting speed increase. We also examine the performance of the height of the water column above the cut on the particle collection efficiency. We found that the driving phenomenon for particle collection is the scrubbing of particles by bubbles present in the water column. When cuts are realized under water, the production of aerosol particles mass per unit area of cut is reduced by a factor of 10 and limited below 70 g m -2 .

Characterization of chemical composition and particle size distribution of aerosols released during laser cutting of fuel debris simulants

“…The increase in mass median diameter can be interpreted by more agglomeration of fine particles due to presence of water, this phenomenon being studied and explained through recent simulations [31]. Generally, these results are consistent with previous study of aerosols generated by laser cutting of stainless steel and characterized by submicron particle sizes [32].…”

Laser Cutting Technologies and Corresponding Pollution Control Strategy

“…Iron, chromium, and nickel were found in more than 50% in the samples. Peillon et al [89] studied the aerosol particle emissions of a Nd/YAG laser cutting technique used for the decommis-sioning of nuclear facilities. It was found that the mass of aerosol per unit area of laser cutting decreased when the laser power and cutting speed increased.…”

Design of an Inhalation Chamber and Metrology Assessment to Study Tungsten Aerosol Neurotoxic Effects

“…Concern is raised in terms of potential health risks for exposed workers, in particular in mines, during nuclear fuel cycle operations, and dismantling of nuclear facilities (Anderson et al, 2016;Samson et al, 2016). These activities can result in particle resuspension or direct emission of aerosols (Peillon et al, 2017;Chae et al, 2019) in the air in workplace areas.…”