Gas monitoring systems in support of Waste tank 241-SY-101 hydrogen mitigation task
Twenty-four hazardous waste storage tanks at the Hanford Site in Richland Washington,,are identified as having the potential to build up gases, including hydrogen, nitrous oxide and ammonia, to a flammable level. Because this behavior was not addressed adequately by the facility Safety Analyses, the US Department of Energy (DOE) declared an Unreviewed Safety Question, placing the tanks on a Flammable Gas Watch List. Westinghouse Hanford Company (WHC) identified Waste tank 241-SY-101 (SY-101) as presenting the most serious safety concern. Generated gases collect in the sludge layer near the bottom of the tank. The accumulation creates a buoyancy that eventually overcomes the density and bonding strength of the bottom layer. When this happens, the gases detach and travel upward through a liquid layer to the vapor space above the tank crust. This event typically occurs at 90-day intervals and is completed within a couple hours. This allows a rapid buildup of hydrogen to potentially flammable levels in the tank vapor space.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10116401
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-SA--2074; CONF-940149--1; ON: DE94005489; BR: 35AF11201/35AF11202
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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