Hanford bulk vitrification technology status
- AMEC Nuclear Holdings Ltd., GeoMelt Division, Richland, Washington (United States)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington (United States)
Research and testing was initiated in 2003 to support the selection of a supplemental treatment technology for Hanford low-activity wastes (LAWs). AMEC's bulk vitrification process was chosen for full-scale demonstration, and the Demonstration Bulk Vitrification System (DBVS) project was started in 2004. Also known as In-Container Vitrification{sup TM} (ICV{sup TM}), the bulk vitrification process combines soil, liquid LAW, and additives (B{sub 2}O{sub 3} and ZrO{sub 2}); dries the mixture; and then vitrifies the material in a batch feed-while-melt process within a disposable, refractory-lined steel container. The DBVS project was initiated with the intent to engineer, construct, and operate a full-scale bulk vitrification pilot-plant to treat LAW from Tank 241-S-109 at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site. Since the beginning of the selection process in 2003, testing has utilized crucible-scale, engineering-scale, and full-scale bulk vitrification equipment. Crucible-scale testing, coupled with engineering-scale testing, helps establish process limitations of selected glass formulations. Full-scale testing provides critical design verification of the ICV{sup TM} process both before and during operation of the demonstration facility. Initial testing focused on development and validation of the melt container and the glass formulation. Subsequent testing was focused on improvements to the baseline configuration. Challenges have been identified and met as part of the parallel testing and design process. A 100% design package for the pilot plant is complete and has been submitted to DOE for review. Additional testing will be performed to support both the DBVS project and LAW treatment for the full Hanford mission. In the near term, this includes testing some key equipment components such as the waste feed mixer-dryer and other integrated subsystems, as well as waste form process improvements. Additional testing will be conducted to verify that the system is adaptive to changing feed streams. This paper discusses the progress of the bulk vitrification system from its inception to its current state-of- the-art. Specific attention will be given to the testing and process design improvements that have been completed over the last year. These include the completion of full-scale ICV{sup TM} Test FS38C as well as process improvements to the feeding method, temperature control, and molten ionic salt separation control. AMEC is adapting its ICV{sup TM} technology for this application with technical and analytical support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and design support from DMJN H and N. CH2M HILL Hanford Group, Inc. is the Prime Contractor for the DOE Office of River Protection for the DBVS contract. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21290834
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-09-WM-07236; TRN: US10V0159038245
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: WM'07: 2007 Waste Management Symposium - Global Accomplishments in Environmental and Radioactive Waste Management: Education and Opportunity for the Next Generation of Waste Management Professionals, Tucson, AZ (United States), 25 Feb - 1 Mar 2007; Other Information: Country of input: France; 6 refs
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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