Uranium, a dense and vital metal used in nuclear energy across the globe, is extracted through a process involving leaching tanks that separate it from the ore. Two of the world’s most well-known uranium processing sites, Ranger in Northern Australia and Rossing in Namibia, have been operating for decades. However, recent incidents involving leaks due to faulty tank linings and corrosion have raised serious concerns about the safety and sustainability of these aging facilities.
In December, the Ranger uranium-processing plant in Australia faced a major environmental disaster when over 1 million liters of radioactive liquid leaked from a massive 3-story steel leaching tank. The cause was traced back to a defective lining that led to severe internal corrosion. This incident followed a similar leak just days earlier at Rio Tinto's Rossing mine in Namibia, highlighting a growing pattern of failures in critical infrastructure.
At the Ranger site, a 1450-cubic-meter leaching tank developed a hole, leading to extensive wall corrosion. The tank eventually split and collapsed, causing damage to nearby equipment, including a crane. Post-incident inspections found that one of the six tanks showed signs of similar corrosion. Experts believe the combination of aging equipment and poor maintenance contributed to the failure. With all the tanks, pipes, and pumps having surpassed their 30-year design life, the risk of future accidents continues to rise.
Corrosion is a widespread problem for steel tanks globally, and the question isn't whether it will happen, but when. Fortunately, innovative solutions like HJ3’s CarbonSeal carbon fiber system can prevent such failures. Recently, a geothermal power plant with severely corroded primary clarifier and demister tanks turned to CarbonSeal for restoration.
The clarifier, standing 43 feet tall with a 125-foot diameter, had suffered significant structural damage due to corrosion on its walls, upper ring, and dome. To restore its integrity, four key areas were repaired: a wall patch, the connection between the sidewall and dome, the dome roof itself, and a 36-inch overflow pipe. The steel surfaces were cleaned using abrasive blasting, primed, and then reinforced with high-modulus paste before being wrapped with CarbonSeal carbon fiber. A chemical-resistant topcoat was applied to ensure long-term protection.
This repair provided the necessary 20-psi hoop strength to the vessel, ensuring its continued safe operation. HJ3 has successfully reinforced four clarifiers, two demisters, and one rock muffler for this client, saving them 80% in replacement costs. In addition, the project resulted in significant environmental benefits—preventing 602 tons of steel from going to landfills and avoiding 1,183 tons of CO2 emissions, as well as 36 million gallons of water that would have been used in manufacturing new tanks.
If you're facing corrosion issues in your steel tanks and want to explore durable, cost-effective solutions, consider HJ3’s CarbonSeal system. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help protect your infrastructure and reduce environmental impact.
Variable valve timing (VVT) solenoid or oil control valve controls the oil flow according to the engine speed and load. VVT solenoid is a vital part of the variable valve timing system.
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