Selected in-tank property measurement methods for Hanford Site single-shell tanks.

摘要

The Westinghouse Hanford Company operates the Hanford Site in Washington State for the US Department of Energy. As part of an agreement between the US Department of Energy, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Washington State Department of Ecology, Westinghouse Hanford Company has undertaken to clean up the underground tanks located on the Site. These tanks store various radioactive and hazardous wastes produced from chemical processes to refine spent nuclear fuel into defense materials. As part of the cleanup process, equipment must be developed to remove the waste. To design this equipment, the waste must be characterized by its mechanical properties and simulated waste must be made to emulate these properties for equipment testing. A survey of available remote (in-tank) and laboratory techniques was undertaken and the resulting plan to gather all the necessary information involves a three-step approach: laboratory measurements, laboratory measurements on historical synthetic waste mixtures, and in-tank measurements. A list of mechanical properties to be gathered is also included. 3 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.