MERCURY REMEDIATION AT HYDROELECTRIC PLANT

HYDROELECTRIC PLANT MERCURY PROBLEM

Remtech Engineers was engaged by one of the largest hydroelectric turbine manufactures in the northeast to investigate, provide emergency PPE and decontamination procedures, and remediate the production facility mercury release.  Workers were found to have elevated mercury levels in their blood.

Mercury was found on building and reservoir concrete and metal surfaces.  The source of mercury was due to failure of a mercury bearing in the hydraulic reactor loop and test lab.

Remedial measures included draining and cleaning the reactor and reservoir, cleaning floors under the test loop, elemental mercury recovery from tanks, test loop, and production equipment components.

Personnel were trained on the use of mercury personnel protection and monitoring equipment.  Elevated mercury vapor background concentrations were linked to a nearby coal facility.

Mercury Remediation Activities

➢ Continuous monitoring of surfaces and building mercury vapor concentrations with a Lumex meter to determine exclusion zones, PPE zones, and clean zones

➢ Cleaning surfaces with HgX solution to convert elemental mercury to mercuric salts to stop mercury vaporization

➢ Steam cleaning & high pressure washing of surfaces

➢ Mechanical removal of mercury bound in rust and debris from concrete and metal surfaces

➢ Installation of controlled mercury vapor exhaust ventilation systems

➢ Forced air heaters used to increase building temperatures to 85o F to volatilize mercury

➢ Circulation of 15,000 gallons of HGX solution to decontaminate reactors and pipes

➢ Rinsing reactors and pipes with 40,000 gallons of clean water

➢ Collecting and disposing of mercury waste residues

➢ Definition of mercury exclusion zones that required PPE where mercury could not be removed from porous surfaces