WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT: VITRIFICATION CAMPAIGNSUMMARY AND PATH-FORWARD TO MELTER SHUT-DOWN

摘要

The vitrification campaign at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) is coming to a close andplans are now being made for flushing the waste-handling equipment and shutting down the meltingprocess. This paper will discuss the performance of the waste acceptance system designed to producean acceptable waste form, the activities planned to bring the vitrification campaign to a close, as well assome of the incidental successes and pitfalls experienced since the beginning of radioactive operations inJune 1996.The Waste Acceptance Performance Specifications (WAPS) provided the standards for vitrificationprocessing of high-level waste (HLW) at the WVDP. Production Records for the 250+ canisters ofvitrified high-level waste form suitable for deep geologic disposal (as of the summer of 2000) providethe data necessary for acceptance by the repository. This paper will review the data collected duringthe campaign, including waste form chemistry, radiochemistry, durability, canister fill-height, and theresults of smear testing to detect contamination on the canister.