BPEO study for a new effluent treatment plant for a reactor in decommissioning

Objective:

To demonstrate the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO) principle in support of regulatory submissions under RSA 93.

Added value to client:

The client has been able to demonstrate that the new plant is being designed according to the principle of BPEO.

Activity:

RM Consultants Ltd (RMC) carried out a quantitative BPEO study in association with a number of qualified experts from the clients operations and environmental departments.

The effluent treatment plant was designed for dealing with liquid effluent during the operational phase of the reactor. This facility is now redundant and is undergoing decommissioning. A new requirement was identified to treat the reactor decommissioning liquors.

A range of possible treatment technologies was developed and analysed using multi-attribute analysis (MAA) methods. Four options remained after the initial screening.

Subsequently, a rigorous quantitative methodology was employed to establish the BPEO. Effluent treatment using ion-exchange technology was identified as the BPEO.

This conclusion was tested and proved to be robust by way of a sensitivity analysis that varied the assumptions used in the quantitative study.