Apparatus for purifying nuclear reactor coolant from radioactive materials and adjusting coolant ph

Abstract

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for purifying Liions from reactor coolant radioactive material and adjusting pH of the reactor coolant. The apparatus comprises a radioactive metal ion recovery unit comprising a first negative electrode member having a negative (−) electrode connected thereto and a first positive electrode member having a positive (+) electrode connected thereto, and an Li ion separation/concentration unit. The radioactive metal ion recovery unit is configured such that the reactor coolant discharged from the non-generative heat exchanger passes between the first negative electrode member and the first positive electrode member The Li ion separation/concentration unit comprises a second positive electrode member having a second positive (+) electrode connected to one side of the Li ion separation/concentration unit, a second negative electrode member having a negative (−) electrode connected to the other side of the Li ion separation/concentration unit, and a cation-exchange membrane provided between the second positive electrode member and the second negative electrode member and configured to pass a cation therethrough. The Li ion separation/concentration unit is configured such that the reactor coolant that passed through the radioactive metal ion recovery unit passes between the second positive electrode member and the cation-exchange membrane Accordingly, Liions, produced in the reactor coolant and passed through the cation-exchange membrane, move toward the second negative electrode member and are separated. The apparatus further comprises an Liconcentration tank configured to concentrate Liin a recycling process in which Liseparated from the Li ion separation/concentration unit is recycled again to the Li ion separation/concentration unit.