BENEFITS OF INNOVATIONS ON DEACTIVATION AND DECOMMISSIONING PROJECTS AT DOE’S PANTEX PLANT

摘要

The use of innovative technologies and approaches has played a key role in improving safety, minimizing waste,and reducing overall costs associated with the Deactivation and Decommissioning of excess facilities at the Department of Energy’s(DOE)Pantex Plant in Amarillo,Texas.In 2002, the Deactivation and Decommissioning Program at Pantex was comprised of the deactivation and decommissioning(D&D)of fuel systems,a former sewage treatment plant,and high explosive processing complexes.Innovations in these projects included decontamination and reuse of material potentially contaminated with listed wastes;remote methods of explosive equipment disassembly; and onsite recycling of demolition materials. rnD&D of explosive processing facilities have inherent hazards due to the accumulation of raw explosives and explosive dust in equipment,piping,ducting and wall cavities,which can detonate through shock,friction,or other heat producing devices.At inactive facilities,specially designed explosive charges are often used to desensitize,disassemble and decontaminate explosive process equipment and piping.Due to the Pantex Plant’s proximity to working weapons facilities,the use of explosives is strictly prohibited for D&D activities.An approved method using hydraulic oil to lubricate saws generates a mixture of waste oil and explosive material that has the potential to create friction,should the hydraulic oil not provide sufficient lubrication.Therefore,at Pantex,a high- pressure,low-volume water jet cutter was operated remotely to disassemble explosive equipment and piping.The high-pressure system also aided in the decontamination of the equipment and piping. This significantly reduced the amount and types of waste produced,while safely completing an inherently dangerous operation successfully. rnAs an alternative to transporting concrete to an offsite commercial recycler,a remote control,track- mounted,concrete crusher,with a magnetic belt,was used to crush the concrete onsite as part of the demolition process.The remote control crusher operated in tandem with the demolition excavator. Concrete was loaded directly into the crusher,avoiding the creation of large stockpiles.The crushed concrete was loaded directly into trucks from a belt loader.The concrete was immediately used in the construction of onsite roads.The magnetic belt separated out metal rebar.Metal separated from the concrete was loaded into roll-off bins for metal recycling.By crushing the concrete onsite,more concrete could be loaded into each truck,thus reducing the number of trucks that were escorted in and out of the security area,and saving as much as 30 minutes travel time per load.Therefore,this process safely reduced costs while maximizing recycling. rnThe former sewage treatment plant had processed wastewater from the Plant,including wastewater from an historic plating operation.