Energy - Nuclear

Lewatit® ion exchange resins and Lewabrane® membranes for the energy and nuclear industry.

Water-steam circuits are at the core of all thermal power plants that generate electricity from fossil or nuclear fuels. The water and steam serve as cooling medium and energy carrier.

Ion exchange resins help at numerous points to ensure the efficient, safe and reliable operation of these power plants over many years. For example, they are essential for the demineralization of the cooling and make-up water and for condensate polishing in the water-steam circuits. They are the only means of preventing scale formation and thus promoting optimal heat transfer on a continuous basis and effectively reducing or even preventing corrosion. These effects, together with the high regenerability of the resins, ensure long-term, economical power plant operation.

Particularly in treating the make-up water ion exchange is combined with membrane technology, for instance in the form of ultra-filtration and downstream reverse osmosis for pre-treating surface water. LANXESS markets Lewabrane® membrane elements for this application that have a long service life and low energy requirement.

In nuclear power plants, ion exchange resins are important components in the chemical and volume control system (CVCS) that controls and monitors water volumes and dissolved constituents in the cooling circuits. Selective ion exchange resins can remove radioactive and non-radioactive ions from the process water and wastewater streams. The water in the holding basins for spent fuel elements also is passed through ion exchange resins for treatment.

For these and other applications, LANXESS offers a comprehensive range of special ion exchange resins that are tailored to specific requirements.