The use of aluminum sulfate for 100 Areas' process water coagulation

Abstract

Increases in power levels of the Hanford Piles have resulted in increased demands for process cooling water to the extent that the present filter plants are now operating at or above their design capacity. Further power level increases requiring even more cooling water may demand the operation of the filters considerably above design capacity. It has been proposed that by the use of aluminum sulfate, or filter alum, as a process water coagulant and activated silica as a coagulation aid, the present filter plant capacities could be increased appreciably. In order to investigate the effects of alum-treated water on pile operation, a full-pile production test was authorized in which alum was substituted for the standard ferric sulfate coagulant. This test was started in the 100-F Area on October 10, 1951. The results of the first thirty days of operation were presented in a previous report and served as a basis of the decision to proceed with installation of the activated silica addition facility. This report presents the data, results and conclusions obtained from the start of the test until its termination of December 28, 1951, when the addition of activated silica began.