Decision analysis for continuous cover gas monitoring of Ferrocyanide Watch List tanks
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
This document pertains to underground waste storage tanks at the Hanford Site that have been identified to potentially contain a significant amount of ferrocyanide compounds. This document evaluates the need for continuously monitoring the headspace vapors in Ferrocyanide Watch List tanks to detect flammable gases or gases that could indicate the occurrence of a propagating ferrocyanide-nitrate/nitrite reaction. The results of modeling studies and gas monitoring, and sludge sample analyses of actual ferrocyanide tank wastes have indicated no need to continuously monitor the vapor spaces in ferrocyanide tanks. This conclusion is based in part on the following factors: (1) a study performance on waste aging suggests that the ferrocyanide has degraded in the tanks during the more than 35 years of storage; therefore, the ferrocyanide is not present in concentrations that could support an exothermic reaction, also, the moisture present in the waste is sufficient to preclude a self-sustaining (propagating) ferrocyanide-nitrate reaction; (2) evaluation of core sample results from Tank 241-C-109 and Tank 241-C-112 support laboratory studies showing that ferrocyanide has degraded and the fuel concentration in the tanks is considerably lower than postulated by flowsheet simulants; (3) no gases have been identified that would indicate the occurrence of a ferrocyanide nitrate/nitrite reaction; additionally, a self-sustaining ferrocyanide nitrate/nitrite reaction is not possible under current and future planned storage conditions. After reviewing the available information, it is evident that there would be little safety benefit from continuous in-tank vapor monitoring, and the time and commitment of operations schedule and equipment funds are not justified in the face of competing needs.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10173100
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-EP-0743; ON: DE94016459; BR: 35AF11201/35AF11202; TRN: 94:015599
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jul 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
HANFORD RESERVATION
STORAGE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
SAFETY ANALYSIS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
FERROCYANIDES
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIONS
FLAMMABILITY
NITRATES
NITRITES
SLUDGES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
DECOMPOSITION
AGE DEPENDENCE
054000
052002
HEALTH AND SAFETY
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE