FY00 RESULTS FOR THE LOS ALAMOS LARGE SCALE DEMONSTRATION AND DEPLOYMENT PROJECT (LANL RELEASE NO: LA-UR/LA-CP 00-5558)

摘要

Los Alamos Large Scale Demonstration and Deployment Project (LSDDP) in support of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Deactivation and Decommissioning Focus Area (DDFA) is identifying and demonstrating technologies to reduce the cost and risk of management of transuranic element contaminated large metal objects, i.e. gloveboxes. DOE must dispose of hundreds of gloveboxes from Rocky Flats, Los Alamos and other DOE sites. Current practices for removal, decontamination and size reduction of large metal objects translates to a DOE system-wide cost in excess of $800 million, without disposal costs. In FY99 and FY00 the Los Alamos LSDDP performed several demonstrations on cost/risk savings technologies. Commercial air pallets were demonstrated for movement and positioning of oversized crates in neutron counting equipment. Air pallets are able to reduce annual operating costs by $200,000 and address the complete waste management inventory, whereas the baseline wheeled carts could address only 25% of the inventory. A gamma interrogation radiography technology was demonstrated to support characterization of the crates. The radiographs were extremely useful in guiding selection of crates for opening and the best locations for opening very large crated metal objects. The cost of radiography was $400 to $630 per crate, but the operating benefit is high. A second radiography demonstration evaluated a technology based on WIPP-type x-ray characterization of drums. This technology identified details as small as fasteners in the crates, an unpunctured aerosol can, and a vessel containing liquids. The cost of this technology is approximately $1100 per crate, but it provides greater detail than the gamma interrogation system. Another demonstration compared a Blade Cutting Plunger and reciprocating saw for removal of glovebox legs and appurtenances. The Blade Cutting Plunger costs were comparable to the baseline, and a significant safety advantage was reported. Late in FY00 a demonstratio n was conducted to evaluate a security camera as an option for documentation of the contents of waste packages. Qualitatively, the NTVision system showed potential for reduced record keeping and improved data quality control.