Improving Efficiency with 3-D Imaging: Technology Essential in Removing Plutonium Processing Equipment from Plutonium Finishing Plant Gloveboxes

Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Radwaste Solutions, 15(5):26-31

OSTI ID:939584

Crow, Stephen H; Kyle, Richard N; Minette, Michael J

The Plutonium Finishing Plant at Hanford, Washington began operations in 1949 to process plutonium and plutonium products. Its primary mission was to produce plutonium metal, fabricate weapons parts, and stabilize reactive materials. These operations, and subsequent activities, were performed in remote production lines, consisting primarily of hundreds of gloveboxes. Over the years these gloveboxes and processes have been continuously modified. The plant is currently inactive and Fluor Hanford has been tasked to clean out contaminated equipment and gloveboxes from the facility so it can be demolished in the near future. Approximately 100 gloveboxes at PFP have been cleaned out in the past four years and about 90 gloveboxes remain to be cleaned out. Because specific commitment dates for this work have been established with the State of Washington and other entities, it is important to adopt work practices that increase the safety and speed of this effort. The most recent work practice to be adopted by Fluor Hanford D&D workers is the use of 3-D models to improve the efficiency of cleaning out radioactive gloveboxes at the plant. The use of 3-D models has significantly improved the work planning process by providing workers with a clear image of glovebox construction and composition, which is then used to determine cleanout methods and work sequences. The 3-D visual products enhance safety by enabling workers to more easily identify hazards and implement controls. In addition, the ability to identify and target the removal of radiological materials early in the D&D process provides substantial dose reduction for the workers.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 939584
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-61329; TRN: US0806777
• Journal Information: Radwaste Solutions, 15(5):26-31, Vol. 15, Issue 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
SURPLUS NUCLEAR FACILITIES
GLOVEBOXES
PLUTONIUM
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
REMOVAL
DECOMMISSIONING
DECONTAMINATION
IMAGES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
PRODUCTIVITY
Plutonium Finishing Plant
D&D
3D-Modeling