Feasibility study: The application of cooling towers for reduction of Hanford Plant heat load to the Columbia River

摘要

Hanford production reactor operation requires the rejection of very large heat loads. At the present time the heat load is rejected to the Columbia River by the reactor effluent. At low river flows the hot effluent can have appreciable effects on river temperatures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and costs of Cooling Towers as a means of reducing the heat load rejected to the Columbia River. After evaluation of published information, available data, and Hanford plant conditions, it is concluded that: (1) That an induced draft cooling tower, because of its longer cooling range,, would be an effective cooling device for reduction of gross heat load rejected to the Columbia River. Additional study will be required to determine effective use on an area to area basis. (2) That a basically wood, counter-flow, induced draft cooling tower could be installed for approximately $1600 to $2000 per megawatt capacity. This cost is a probable minimum and might be increased by the cost of auxiliary features required for radiation control. (3) That additional study and developmental testing would be required to determine the extent of contamination problems which would result from the cooling tower installation. These problems would include the degree of contamination buildup both within the cooling tower and the surrounding area, the effect on operation and maintenance, and the economics and use of materials other than wood. (4) That certain areas of consideration which affect the installation of cooling towers at Hanford be studied. These areas (beyond the scope of this report) which require study are: cooling economics for reactors, total effluent facilities, and impact of atmospheric loading of contaminated moisture on the Hanford Plant area.