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Title: Nonradioactive air emissions notice of construction, Project W-320, 241-C-106 tank sluicing

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/353266· OSTI ID:353266

This document serves as a Notice of Construction for the Phase 2 activities of Project W-320, 241-C-106 Tank Sluicing, pursuant to the requirements of Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) 173-400 and 173-460. Phased permitting for Project W-320 was discussed with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) on November 2, 1993. In April 1994, it was deemed unnecessary because the Phase 1 activities did not constitute a new source of emissions and therefore did not require approval from Ecology. The 241-C-106 tank is a 2-million liter capacity, single-shell tank (SST) used for radioactive waste storage since 1947. Between mid-1963 and mid-1969, 241-C-106 tank received high-heat waste, PUREX (plutonium-uranium extraction) Facility high-level waste, and strontium-bearing solids from the strontium and cesium recovery activities. In 1971, temperatures exceeding 99 C were observed in the tank, and therefore, a ventilation system was installed to cool the tank. In addition, approximately 22,712 liters of cooling water are added to the tank each month to prevent the sludge from drying out and overheating. Excessive drying of the sludge could result in possible structural damage. The current radiolytic heat generation rate has been calculated at 32 kilowatts (kW) plus or minus 6 kW. The 241-C-106 tank was withdrawn from service in 1979 and currently is categorized as not leaking. The heat generation in 241-C-106 tank has been identified as a key safety issue on the Hanford Site. The evaporative cooling provided by the added water during operation and/or sluicing maintains the 241-C-106 tank within its specified operating temperature limits. Project W-320, 241-C-106 Tank Sluicing, will mobilize and remove the heat-generating sludge, allowing the water additions to cease. Following sludge removal, the 241-C-106 tank could be placed in a safe, interim stabilized condition. Tank-to-tank sluicing, an existing, proven technology, will provide the earliest possible closure of this safety issue. The sluicing will also fulfill a Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement) milestone to resolve the high-heat issue and demonstrate waste retrieval. The waste will be transferred to 241-AY-102 tank, a double-shell tank (DST) with greater heat load capacity than the 241-C-106 tank.

Research Organization:
Fluor Daniel Hanford, Inc., Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-96RL13200
OSTI ID:
353266
Report Number(s):
DOE/RL-95-62-Rev.1; ON: DE99050476; BR: EW3130010; TRN: AHC29923%%98
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 28 Jan 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English