Rockwell Hanford Operations: Chemical Processing Programs: Monthly status report

Technical Report · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6821868

During the first half of August, 90 metric tonnes uranium (MTU) of zircaloy-clad N-Reactor fuel were charged to the PUREX dissolvers; bringing the FY 1986 total to 1077 MTU. The N-Cell bi-monthly inventory, initiated July 16, was satisfactorily completed. PUREX waste volumes continued well below the PUREX projections. Cladding Removal Waste (CRW) was 29% below projections, Neutralized Zirflex Acid Waste (NZAW) was 56% below projections, and miscellaneous waste was 58% below projections. The UO/sub 3/ plant began its third FY 1986 on August 25. Through August month-end, the current campaign had produced 140 MTU. Early in the campaign the plant reached a record production rate of approximately 40 MTU/day or 108% of flowsheet. 46 MTU of UO/sub 3/ were shipped to the Feed Materials Production Center. The RMC Line was shut down on August 13 due to an unacceptable number of contamination incidents, criticality specification concerns, and mechanical problems precluding continued RMC operations. Corrective action has been taken which includes; (1) removal and replacement of appropriate hood gloves on HC-9B; (2) new design and installation of inner glove rings; (3) removal of glass and decontamination of panels; (4) review of problems with personnel; (5) review of procedures by operators and engineers; (6) review of feed pump failures; and (7) conduct refresher training courses for RMC personnel. The RMC line will be restarted in early September. Plutonium metal production for the month was 2% of the FY 1986 annual commitment, bringing the FYTD total to 58% vs a plan of 87%. Plutonium metal shipments for the month were 1% of the annual commitment plan bringing the FYTD shipment total to 55% vs a FYTD commitment plan of 77%. Metal shipments for FY 1986 are now forecast to be 66% of the original commitment. Extension of the RMC campaign into October will regain the lost FY 1986 production to approximately 88% of the original commitment.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Richland, WA (USA). Rockwell Hanford Operations
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-77RL01030
• OSTI ID: 6821868
• Report Number(s): RHO-PB-SR-10-B-CP-Aug.86; ON: DE87007169
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing