Double-Shell Tank Visual Inspection Changes Resulting from the Tank 241-AY-102 Primary Tank Leak

Conference · Thu Nov 14 04:00:00 EST 2013

OSTI ID:1105990

Girardot, Crystal L. ^[1]; Washenfelder, Dennis J. ^[1]; Johnson, Jeremy M. ^[2]; Engeman, Jason K. ^[1]

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1. Washington River Protection Solutions, Richland, WA (United States)
2. USDOE Office of River Protection, Richland, WA (United States)

As part of the Double-Shell Tank (DST) Integrity Program, remote visual inspections are utilized to perform qualitative in-service inspections of the DSTs in order to provide a general overview of the condition of the tanks. During routine visual inspections of tank 241-AY-102 (AY-102) in August 2012, anomalies were identified on the annulus floor which resulted in further evaluations. In October 2012, Washington River Protection Solutions, LLC determined that the primary tank of AY-102 was leaking. Following identification of the tank AY-102 probable leak cause, evaluations considered the adequacy of the existing annulus inspection frequency with respect to the circumstances of the tank AY-102 1eak and the advancing age of the DST structures. The evaluations concluded that the interval between annulus inspections should be shortened for all DSTs, and each annulus inspection should cover > 95 percent of annulus floor area, and the portion of the primary tank (i.e., dome, sidewall, lower knuckle, and insulating refractory) that is visible from the annulus inspection risers. In March 2013, enhanced visual inspections were performed for the six oldest tanks: 241-AY-101, 241-AZ-101,241-AZ-102, 241-SY-101, 241-SY-102, and 241-SY-103, and no evidence of leakage from the primary tank were observed. Prior to October 2012, the approach for conducting visual examinations of DSTs was to perform a video examination of each tank's interior and annulus regions approximately every five years (not to exceed seven years between inspections). Also, the annulus inspection only covered about 42 percent of the annulus floor.

• Research Organization: Hanford Site (HNF), Richland, WA (United States); Washington River Protection Solutions, Richland, WA (United States); USDOE Office of River Protection, Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)
• DOE Contract Number: AC27-08RV14800
• OSTI ID: 1105990
• Report Number(s): TOC-PRES--13-3415-FP-Rev0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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