Assessment of nuclear safety and nuclear criticality potential in the Defense Waste Processing Facility. Revision 1

Technical Report · Tue Jul 20 00:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10176794· OSTI ID:10176794

Ha, B C

The S-Area Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) will initially process Batch 1 sludge in the sludge-only processing mode, with simulated non-radioactive Precipitate Hydrolysis, Aqueous (PHA) product, without the risk of nuclear criticality. The dilute concentration of fissile material in the sludge combined with excess of neutron absorbers during normal operations make criticality throughout the whole process incredible. Subsequent batches of the DWPF involving radioactive precipitate slurry and PHA will require additional analysis. Any abnormal or upset process operations, which are not considered in this report and could potentially separate fissile material, must be individually evaluated. Scheduled maintenance operation procedures are not considered to be abnormal.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 10176794
• Report Number(s): WSRC-RP--93-692-Rev.1; ON: DE93019275
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052001
054000
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CRITICALITY
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
WASTE PROCESSING