Development of an Underwater Cutting Process for Dismantlement and Size Reduction--Waterjet Technology, Inc., 21414 68th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032-2416; (253) 872-1925
Mr. Pete Miles, Principal Investigator
Mr. David Lierman, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-98ER82711
Amount: $74,953

One of the Nation's greatest environmental cleanup problems is the decommissioning and deactivation of nuclear weapon production facilities. This project will develop a new underwater cutting method using ultrahigh-pressure abrasive-suspension jets for the rapid and cost effective removal of components from the facilities and for reducing the size of contaminated materials for safe disposition. This technology is a significant improvement over conventional abrasive-waterjet technology because it can achieve higher cutting efficiencies while reducing secondary waste streams by 85%. Phase I will determine the overall feasibility of the underwater abrasive-suspension-jet cutting technology. This will be accomplished by determining the underwater cutting capability, developing a polymerless abrasive suspension and an underwater cutting nozzle, and evaluating the feasibility of recycling the abrasives.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The underwater abrasive-suspension-jet cutting technology can be applied to underwater reactor maintenance, deep ocean maintenance and salvage operations, and surface decontamination. The abrasive-suspension-jet cutting process can also be applied to all routine cutting operations that are currently being conducted with abrasive-waterjets and lasers.