Plugging and unplugging of waste transfer pipelines

摘要

This project, which began in FY97, involves both the flow loop research on211u001eplugging and unplugging of waste transfer pipelines, and the large-scale 211u001eindustrial equipment test of plugging locating and unplugging technologies. In 211u001eFY98, the related work was performed under the project name 'Mixing, Settling, 211u001eand Pipe Unplugging of Waste Transfer Lines.' The mixing, settling, and pipeline 211u001eplugging and unplugging are critical to the design and maintenance of a waste 211u001etransfer pipeline system, especially for the High-Level Waste (HLW) pipeline 211u001etransfer. The major objective of this work is to recreate pipeline plugging 211u001econditions for equipment testing of plug locating and removal and to provide 211u001esystematic operating data for modification of equipment design and enhancement of 211u001eperformance of waste transfer lines used at DOE sites. As the waste tank clean-211u001eout and decommissioning program becomes active at the DOE sites, there is an 211u001eincreasing potential that the waste slurry transfer lines will become plugged and 211u001eunable to transport waste slurry from one tank to another or from the mixing tank 211u001eto processing facilities. Transfer systems may potentially become plugged if the 211u001esolids concentration of the material being transferred increases beyond the 211u001ecapability of the prime mover or if upstream mixing is inadequately performed. 211u001ePlugging can occur due to the solids' settling in either the mixing tank, the 211u001epumping system, or the transfer lines. In order to enhance and optimize the 211u001eslurry's removal and transfer, refined and reliable data on the mixing, sampling, 211u001eand pipe unplugging systems must be obtained based on both laboratory-scale and 211u001esimulated in-situ operating conditions.