Progress in converting the component test stand for vitrification operations
- West Valley Nuclear Services Company, Inc., NY (United States)
The West Valley Demonstration Project was initiated by Congressional Act in 1980. The directive was to solidify high-level radioactive waste remaining from commercial fuel reprocessing into a safe, durable product suitable for disposal in a Federal repository. The New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) owned site was to be managed by the Department of Energy (DOE). Their cooperative agreement stated that the work outlined by the 1980 Act was to be accomplished using the existing facilities at the site to the maximum extent possible. In 1981, West Valley Nuclear Services, Company, Inc. (WVNS) contracted with the Department of Energy to be the management and operating contractor of the site. WVNS` primary responsibility is the solidification of the high-level waste inventory. From late 1984 through 1989, full-scale nonradioactive testing was conducted in the Component Test Stand (CTS). This testing called FACTS, Functional and Checkout Testing of Systems, defined the correct sequence of events and functioning of equipment as well as verified the glass making process. The basic recipe for the glass was defined, and compliance with the Waste Acceptance Preliminary Specification was demonstrated. In keeping with the DOE/NYSERDA direct to maximize the use of existing facilities, a decision was made to convert the CTS into the Demonstration Project`s Vitrification Facility. This has presented schedule and equipment layout challenges due to the limited space within the original facility, since the footprint of the CTS was established well in advance of radioactive facility design. Innovative design and engineering techniques have provided the solution. Several time-efficient measures were employed during the conversion process to allow the designing and building of the facility to progress simultaneously.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (United States). Coll. of Engineering and Mines; New Mexico State Univ., University Park, NM (United States); Waste-Management Education and Research Consortium (WERC), Las Cruces, NM (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 111768
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940225--Vol.1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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