Drum venting system design and fabrication

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:186500

Ballard, E O; Derr, E D; Gainer, K ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States); and others

Since 1970, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has accumulated more than 30000 drums of transuranic (TRU) waste. This waste is stored in unvented steel drums in above - and belowground storage units covered with several feet of earth. To meet current regulatory requirements for storage of this waste, the containers must be retrieved from their current storage units and be placed in aboveground facilities that enable visual inspection of the waste containers. The waste contained in many of these drums has the potential to generate flammable gases. Flammable gases can be generated by radiolytic decomposition of hydrogenous materials, biological decomposition of organic material, corrosion of waste items, or by the nature of the waste itself (i.e., volatile organic compounds contained in the waste). The concentration of flammable gases within the drums must be determined, and if above safety limits, it must be eliminated before these containers can be safely handled and stored. The drum venting system (DVS) was developed to provide a self-contained, portable, computer-controlled device that will be used to remotely penetrate drum lids, sample and analyze the drum head-space gases, purge flammable gases as necessary, and install high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-grade filters into the drum lids to enable safe handling and storage. The installed vents will also prevent the future buildup of flammable gases within the drums. The DVS must be able to completely contain pressures and drum contents should the flammable gases inside a drum be ignited during the drum- venting process. Although an ignition and deflagration are unlikely, personnel safety and environmental protection are imperative, resulting in a sophisticated system configuration for a relatively simple venting and HEPA filter installation process.

• OSTI ID: 186500
• Report Number(s): CONF-950601--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 72; ISSN TANSAO; ISSN 0003-018X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
CONTAINERS
FILTERS
FLAMMABILITY
GASES
IGNITION
INSTALLATION
MITIGATION
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
VENTS
WASTE RETRIEVAL