Characterizing radionuclides in the B Plant HEPA filters

Conference · Mon Jan 26 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:10148927

Roege, P E

B Plant was built during World War II to separate plutonium for nuclear weapons from reactor fuel. Later, the plant was re-equipped and used to separate radioactive fission products from the Hanford Site`s nuclear processing waste tanks. The facility is now being deactivated: eliminating, stabilizing, and documenting existing hazards to allow safe surveillance and maintenance pending a final disposition which is yet to be determined. The processing areas of the plant, including process cells and exhaust air system, are heavily contaminated with radioactive cesium and strontium from the tank waste separation process. However, detailed characterization is difficult because many of these areas are inaccessible because of physical barriers and high radiological dose rates. The five existing canyon high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters were thought to contain a significant fraction of the inventory, but estimates were highly uncertain. This paper describes the process used to inspect and characterize the radionuclide content in one of these filters. The investigation required a collaborative effort among field and technical personnel. Sophisticated computer modeling and detector technologies were employed in conjunction with sound radiological control and field work practices. The outcome of the effort was a considerable reduction in the filter inventory estimate, accompanied by a greatly improved level of confidence in the data. The information derived from this project will provide a sound basis for future decisions regarding filter disposition.

• 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: 10148927
• Report Number(s): HNF--1745-FP; CONF-980520--; ON: DE99050526; BR: EW7002010
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

054000
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
CESIUM 137
FILTERS
HANFORD RESERVATION
HEALTH AND SAFETY
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
REMEDIAL ACTION
STRONTIUM 90