Duquesne Light Company

Location: Shippingport, Pennsylvania

Structure: Beaver Valley Power Station

Problem

The projects buildings identified as Building #I, Hazardous Waste Storage and Building #2, Nonhazardous Oil Storage are located at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station and are used to store liquid and dry materials. Both buildings have concrete floors which have been treated and protected by Surtreat Corp. to prevent contamination in case of accidental spills. 

Building #1 has an approximate inside dimension of 1S’ x 30′ for a area of 450 sq. ft. The building is used to store steel cabinets which hold hazardous waste prior to disposal. The floor was previously epoxy painted. The coating failed and, in some areas, had to be removed prior to the SURTREAT® process. SURTREAT® will resist penetration by strong organic solvents and attack by strong acids.

Prior to the SURTREAT® treatment the floor was exposed to water leakage from the perimeter wall. The outside walls were also sealed to prevent moisture entering the building. The interior wall was treated to prevent any spilled materials penetrating the wall One side of the building is showing exterior deterioration due to exposure. Additional applications of SURTREAT® were applied to this area to prevent further deterioration. The SURTREAT® process seals and hardens concrete surfaces and provides protection against acid and salt attack.

Building #2 floor area is similar to Building # l. The floor was stained from previous oil spills. This is a nonhazardous area therefore not as critical in regard to spilled product. The floor was cleaned and given a SURTREAT® application that will resist oil spills and staining.

SURTREAT® is a water-based formation of nonhazardous chemicals which penetrate into the concrete surfaces to solidify and seal pores and micro-cracks. It also reacts with the concrete to make it resistant to attack by acids and bases. SURTREAT® is nonflammable. SURTREAT® treated concrete floors will resist penetration by organic and inorganic liquids and to reaction with strong acids.

The floor in Building #l had experienced deterioration, pitting and cracking due to extended service. In order to provide complete sealing a high performance phenolic based coating (Carboline-305) was applied after the SURTREAT® application.

Solution

SURTREAT® is a proprietary, water based, environmentally friendly solution of activators and migratory aids that inhibits rebar corrosion, increases strength and reduces porosity in reinforced concrete.

SURTREAT® Solutions

• Inhibits salt, water, air and contaminates from penetrating the concrete and forms a better seal in the pores and micro cracks

• Controls pH and maintains the high alkalinity in the  concrete and is highly acid resistant

• Migrates to the rebar in liquid and ionic phase and reacts to form a very stable passivating film – more stable than in new concrete

• Converts rust to a stable, inert compound – and increases compressive, flexural, and tensile strength. Also increases hardness and abrasion resistance

Scope of Work: Building #1 Floor – Hazardous Waste Storage

Surface Preparation

The old coating was removed using a steel shot abrasion system (Blastrac) and rotating head scarifer in the comers and edges. This was followed by manual scraping to remove loose materials from the walls and edges of the floor. The floor was then vacuumed clean.

SURTREAT® Applications

Two applications of SURTREAT-GPHP were made on successive days to the floor and lower wall area. The SURTREAT® was allowed to flow into cracks and holes and to seal and stabilize the floor. The floor was inspected between applications. Chemical residue purged by the SURTREAT® process was removed. After the final SURTREAT® application the floor surface was noticeably harder and was inert to reaction with hydrochloric acid and penetration of organic liquids.