IONPURE EWT-CDISGBD CEDI Electrodeionization System for PWR Nuclear Power Plant Water Treatment

　　IONPURE EWT-CDISGBD is a continuous electrodeionization module engineered for power plant water treatment,applying electrodeionization systems for electronics manufacturing technology adapted to nuclear steam generator blowdown(SGBD)service.Operating continuously at 60°C and 7 bar,it replaces single-use nuclear-grade ion exchange resin,delivering product water below 0.1µS/cm with 90–95%recovery and tolerance for PWR corrosion inhibitors and reducing agents.

　　What Is a CEDI Module for Nuclear Power Plant Blowdown?

　　A CEDI module for nuclear power plant blowdown is an electrochemical water purification unit that removes ionic contaminants from steam generator blowdown water so it can be recycled to the main condenser or discharged within environmental limits.Unlike conventional mixed-bed demineralizers that consume nuclear-grade resin,it regenerates continuously using DC electric potential,eliminating chemical handling and solid radioactive waste generation.

　　This product is purpose-built for pressurized water reactor(PWR)secondary-side water chemistry.It tolerates the elevated temperature(up to 60°C)and chemical additives—such as ammonia,ethanolamine,and hydrazine—commonly used for pH control and oxygen scavenging in PWR steam cycles,conditions that degrade standard electronic-grade CEDI modules.

　　Key Specifications

　　Product Type:Continuous Electrodeionization Module for SGBD

　　Model:IONPURE EWT-CDISGBD

　　Maximum Continuous Operating Temperature:60°C(140°F)

　　Maximum Operating Pressure:7 bar(100 psi)

　　Typical Product Water Conductivity:<0.1µS/cm

　　Water Recovery:90–95%

　　Operating Voltage Range:0–375 VDC

　　Operating Current Range:1.0–10.0 A

　　Maximum Feed Water Conductivity:<25µS/cm(RO permeate)

　　Feed Water Pressure Range:1.4–7 bar(20–100 psi)

　　Feed Water Temperature Range:5–60°C(41–140°F)

　　Free Chlorine Tolerance:<0.02 ppm(as Cl₂)

　　Feed Water Hardness(as CaCO₃):<1.0 ppm

　　Feed Water Silica(SiO₂):<1.0 ppm

　　Sealing Technology:Double O-ring,leak-free design

　　Concentrate Loop:Not required(no salt injection,no concentrate recirculation)

　　Module Dimensions(L×Diameter):695.5 mm×574.2 mm(per manufacturer datasheet)

　　Certifications:CE Marked,ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 manufacturer facility certificates

　　Chemical Compatibility:Tolerant to ammonia,ethanolamine,morpholine,and hydrazine at typical PWR secondary-side concentrations

　　Technical Highlights

　　Patented instant hot-water capability eliminates temperature ramping.The module starts directly on 60°C blowdown water without a slow warm-up sequence.Conventional modules require gradual heating to prevent thermal shock and gasket damage;this design removes that constraint,enabling immediate restart after a shutdown and reducing operator procedure time.

　　Double O-ring sealing provides guaranteed leak-free operation at full pressure and temperature.Each intercompartment joint uses dual elastomeric seals,which prevents cross-leakage between the diluting and concentrating compartments even under thermal cycling.This is critical for on-line SGBD treatment where a leak could compromise main condenser feedwater chemistry.

　　No salt injection or concentrate recirculation required.Unlike many CEDI systems,the EWT-CDISGBD operates without a brine injection loop or concentrate recirculation pump.The electrode compartments operate on the conductivity of the blowdown water itself,simplifying hydraulic design,reducing ancillary equipment,and cutting installation footprint.

　　Chemical tolerance to PWR conditioning agents is validated.The module membrane and resin chemistry are selected to withstand continuous exposure to ammonia(up to 10 ppm as N),ethanolamine,morpholine,and hydrazine residuals.A common question is whether these chemicals cause irreversible fouling—testing confirms stable product water quality over continuous operation with no degradation of ion-exchange capacity after 4,000 hours under chemical exposure conditions.

　　High-temperature continuous operation directly addresses SGBD conditions.The module operates continuously at 60°C without cooling the blowdown stream upstream.This avoids the energy penalty,heat exchanger capital cost,and floor space associated with cooling the full blowdown flow before treatment—a significant plant layout advantage in congested auxiliary building areas.

　　Applications

　　PWR steam generator blowdown treatment for recycle:Polishes the blowdown from steam generators to reduce dissolved solids and suspended corrosion products,enabling continuous recycle to the main condenser hotwell.Eliminates the consumption and disposal of nuclear-grade ion exchange resin,which must be handled as solid radioactive waste.

　　Replacement of non-regenerable ion exchange vessels in nuclear balance-of-plant:Directly substitutes single-use mixed-bed demineralizers in the blowdown treatment skid,reducing annual resin procurement cost and minimizing spent resin drum handling and radwaste storage requirements.

　　High-temperature condensate polishing in fossil and cogeneration plants:Applicable to industrial power boilers where returned condensate temperature exceeds standard 45°C CEDI limits.The 60°C rated module polishes hot condensate without cooling,lowering facility steam demand and improving overall heat rate.

　　Ammoniated wastewater recovery from secondary-side drains:Treats low-conductivity waste streams containing ammonia and hydrazine from sampling lines and drains,recovering water for reuse rather than routing to a liquid radwaste system.

　　Selection Guidance

　　Suitable applications:

　　PWR secondary-side systems where steam generator blowdown temperature consistently exceeds 40°C and direct recycle to the condenser is desired—the module maintains performance at 60°C without pre-cooling

　　Plants aiming to eliminate off-site nuclear-grade resin disposal costs and reduce radwaste volume—payback is typically realized within 2–3 fuel cycles of operation

　　Retrofit into existing blowdown demineralizer skids where available footprint is limited and the hydraulic simplicity of no concentrate recirculation loop minimizes re-piping

　　Secondary water chemistry programs using ammonia or ethanolamine pH control and hydrazine oxygen scavenging,where CEDI chemical tolerance avoids expensive pretreatment

　　Not recommended for:

　　Applications requiring ultrapure water with resistivity above 18 MΩ·cm and ppt-level silica and boron,such as semiconductor wafer fabrication.The EWT-CDISGBD delivers<0.1µS/cm product,suitable for power cycle chemistry,but does not meet electronics-grade polishing requirements.For microelectronics ultra high purity water,select IONPURE VNX55-EX modules.

　　Low-temperature RO permeate polishing at typical 20–35°C without chemical additives.While the module will function,its thermal and chemical resilience features are underutilized.Standard LX or IP-LXM series modules provide equivalent performance at lower cost for conventional applications.

　　Feed water with hardness above 1.0 ppm or silica above 1.0 ppm.Hardness scaling at 60°C can irreversibly foul membranes;proper upstream RO and softening must be maintained.

　　FAQ

　　1.How does the EWT-CDISGBD reduce operating cost compared to nuclear-grade ion exchange resin?

　　The module eliminates the recurring purchase,handling,and disposal of non-regenerable nuclear-grade resin.Total cost of ownership is typically 40–60%lower over a five-year period,driven by zero resin replacement,reduced radwaste processing,and minimal operator intervention.The exact savings depend on blowdown flow rate and chemistry.

　　2.What is the price and cost range for the EWT-CDISGBD CEDI membrane stack?

　　The EWT-CDISGBD module typically ranges from 55,000to85,000 USD per unit,depending on project scope and supporting equipment.Prices fluctuate due to exchange rates,tariffs,and factory adjustments.For an accurate quotation and delivery terms,contact Beijing Zhongping Technology directly.

　　3.Can the EWT-CDISGBD module start up on hot blowdown water without a warm-up procedure?

　　Yes.The patented instant hot-water design allows direct startup with blowdown water at full 60°C temperature without gradual heating.No warm-up hold time or temperature ramp rate limit is required,which significantly reduces startup duration after steam generator chemistry stabilization.

　　4.What pretreatment or feed water quality is necessary before the EWT-CDISGBD?

　　Feed water must pass through upstream filtration and single-pass reverse osmosis to achieve conductivity below 25µS/cm,hardness below 1.0 ppm,silica below 1.0 ppm,and free chlorine below 0.02 ppm.Typical SGBD pre-filtration configuration includes a backwashable pre-filter and cartridge guard filter before the RO membrane.

　　5.Is the EWT-CDISGBD module tolerant to ammonia and hydrazine used in PWR secondary-side water chemistry?

　　Yes.The module membranes and resins are specifically formulated to withstand continuous exposure to ammonia up to 10 ppm,ethanolamine,and hydrazine up to 100 ppb without performance degradation or irreversible fouling.This has been validated through long-duration testing exceeding 4,000 hours under representative chemistry conditions.

　　6.What are the delivery time and lead time for the EWT-CDISGBD module?

　　Standard manufacturing lead time is 10 to 14 weeks ex-works.For outage-critical delivery schedules,Beijing Zhongping Technology can coordinate expedited production upon request.

　　7.Do you offer a trial,pilot,or on-site performance demonstration before purchase?

　　We arrange a factory witness test or,for qualified projects,an on-site pilot using a single module skid operated on a slipstream of the actual blowdown flow.This confirms product water quality,thermal stability,and chemical compatibility with the plant’s specific water chemistry prior to system-wide commitment.

　　8.What certifications or nuclear-grade qualifications does the EWT-CDISGBD hold?

　　The module is CE marked and manufactured under an ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified quality management system.For nuclear applications,the module can be supplied with a certified material test report and functional test certificate per the customer’s procurement specification.

　　9.What is the expected service life of the EWT-CDISGBD in PWR blowdown service?

　　Expected service life is 5 to 7 years under continuous 60°C operation with proper pretreatment.Life is determined by gradual membrane scaling and irreversible organic fouling;we recommend annual voltage trending and conductivity profiling to assess remaining useful life.Refurbishment and re-stack service are available.