Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Decontamination of the product purification cell at the West Valley Demonstration Project. Final topical report, March 1984-January 1986

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5300047
This report describes the decontamination of the Product Purification Cell (PPC) at the West Valley Demonstration Project. The PPC is one of several cells in the former reprocessing plant required for use in support of the solidification of high-level waste. It became radioactively comtaminated during nuclear fuel reprocessing from 1966 to 1972. The PPC contained systems designed to purify and store concentrated plutonium and uranium solutions. This report describes the work performed to accomplish the objectives of removing existing piping and equipment from the larger north segment of the cell and of reducing radiation and contamination levels to allow installation of equipment for the Liquid Waste Treatment System (LWTS). Contaminated debris, piping, structure and twenty-four vessels inside the cell were removed, packaged and stored for future disposition. Twenty-eight vessels, with associated piping and structure were sealed behind a shield wall in the south side PPC since this space was not required for the LWTS. A mechanical arm was installed and tested to facilitate pipe cutting operations. After all piping, vessels and structure were removed, interior surfaces (walls, floor, and ceiling) of the cell were decontaminated to radiation and contamination levels that allowed entry without the use of protective clothing or respiratory protection. Debris sampling activities were initiated in March 1984 and the decontamination operations were completed in January 1986.
Research Organization:
West Valley Nuclear Services Co., Inc., West Valley, NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-81NE44139
OSTI ID:
5300047
Report Number(s):
DOE/NE/44139-10; ON: DE87000663
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English