Development of an in-line grout meter for improved quality control: January 1990 progress report

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5825318

Del Cul, G D; Gilliam, T M

Stabilization/solidification (S/S) technology is the most widely used technique for the treatment and ultimate disposal of both radioactive and chemically hazardous waste. Cement-based products, commonly referred to as grouts, are the predominate materials of choice due to their associated low processing costs, compatibility with a wide variety of disposal scenarios, and ability to meet stringent processing and performance requirements. It has long been recognized that there is a need for a monitor to use with freshly prepared grouts that would facilitate improved quality control. In the past, efforts in this area have not proven successful due to the fact that the freshly prepared grout tended to cake on the monitor probe, thus greatly reducing its effectiveness. This report documents progress to date on efforts at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in support of the Westinghouse Hanford Company Grout Technology Program to develop an in-line monitor for mix ratio verification and, hence, improved quality control in the Westinghouse Hanford Grout Treatment Facility (GTF). Data have been presented which show that the electrical resistance of freshly prepared grouts is linear with respect to grout mix ratio over a wide range of values. The data serve to establish the merits for application to the Westinghouse Hanford GTF. The data further establish that special care must be maintained during design and installation to ensure that the electrodes are properly sealed. The data also indicate that a separate meter will be required in order to assess waste-feed variations. In addition, the data provide guidance on future efforts to be addressed in subsequent progress reports. In particular, the data suggest that waste-feed variability may be the most important future task. Future efforts will be directed towards assessing the effects of (1) variation in waste solids content and (2) variation in waste dilution. 14 figs., 7 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5825318
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-11654; ON: DE91012999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
CEMENTS
MONITORING
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLIDIFICATION
ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS
CALIBRATION
CAPACITANCE
DESIGN
ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE
GROUTING
IONIC CONDUCTIVITY
METERS
MIXING RATIO
MIXTURES
MONITORS
PORTLAND CEMENT
PROGRESS REPORT
QUALITY CONTROL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
SOLIDS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CONTROL
DISPERSIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
IMPEDANCE
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
440800 - Miscellaneous Instrumentation- (1990-)