Working Principle
In nuclear power plants, boric acid is added to the primary loop to control reactivity, but this can lead to issues with dissolved silica in the boron-containing water. Membrane separation technology utilizes specialized nanofiltration membranes to separate dissolved silica and boric acid in water. The process operates as follows:
Nanofiltration Membrane Separation: The nanofiltration membranes are designed with selective permeability, effectively separating boric acid and silicic acid from water. The membrane's pore size allows water molecules to pass through while blocking larger molecules such as silicic acid and silica colloids
Concentration Adjustment: The membrane action reduces the silica concentration in the water pool to approximately 400 ppb, while minimizing the loss of boric acid to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plant.
Waste Liquid Reduction: The technology reduces the volume of waste liquid discharged, thereby lowering the environmental impact.