Vitrification of DOE Simulated Radioactive Waste by Induction-Heated Cold-Crucible Melter Technology

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Aloy ◽  
R. A. Soshnikov ◽  
D. B. Lopukh ◽  
D. F. Bickford ◽  
C. C. Herman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Percent ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Glass Product ◽  
Cold Crucible ◽  
Khlopin Radium Institute ◽  
Melt Temperature ◽  
Radium Institute ◽  
The Us ◽  
High Level

Certain waste streams of the US DOE contain radioactive refractory oxides and other components like aluminum zirconium and chromium, which present difficulties during their processing and immobilization. The vitrification of such waste in joule-heated melters at high waste loading is possible only at a temperature exceeding 1150°C. The Khlopin Radium Institute (St.-Petersburg, Russia) jointly with the US Department of Energy has performed a feasibility study on the suitability of the Cold-Crucible Induction Heated Melter (CCIM) technology for the single-stage solidification of a surrogate sludge (C-106/AY-102 HLW Simulant), similar in composition to the High Level Waste (HLW) found at DOE’s Hanford Site (Richland, USA). During the experiments, slurry of simulated sludge and glass formers was metered directly to the CCIM, melted, and the glass product was poured from the melter. The melts were conducted at a mean melt temperature of 1350°C. The experiments produced borosilicate glass wasteforms with a waste oxide loading of 70 weight percent. According to the X-Ray diffraction analysis, the final product had a glass-crystalline structure. The crystalline phase was represented by spinel, (Fe,Mn)Fe2O4, uniformly distributed over the wasteform. The chemical durability of the samples was tested by the Product Consistency Test (PCT), and was considered durable according to the DOE specifications for HLW. In the course of the experiments, data were accumulated on the specific electric power consumption and the throughput of the facility.

scholarly journals High Level Waste (HLW) Vitrification Experience in the US: Application of Glass Product/Process Control to Other HLW and Hazardous Wastes

2008 ◽  
Vol 1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol M. Jantzen ◽  
James C. Marra
Keyword(s):  
Process Control ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Glass Product ◽  
Mechanistic Models ◽  
Glass Waste ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Feed Composition ◽  
Feed Forward ◽  
Bonding Structure ◽  
High Level

AbstractVitrification is currently the most widely used technology for the treatment of high level radioactive wastes (HLW) throughout the world. At the Savannah River Site (SRS) actual HLW tank waste has successfully been processed to stringent product and process constraints without any rework into a stable borosilicate glass waste since 1996. A unique “feed forward” statistical process control (SPC) has been used rather than statistical quality control (SQC). In SPC, the feed composition to the melter is controlled prior to vitrification. In SQC, the glass product is sampled after it is vitrified. Individual glass property models form the basis for the “feed forward” SPC. The property models transform constraints on the melt and glass properties into constraints on the feed composition. The property models are mechanistic and depend on glass bonding/structure, thermodynamics, quasicrystalline melt species, and/or electron transfers. The mechanistic models have been validated over composition regions well outside of the regions for which they were developed because they are mechanistic. Mechanistic models allow accurate extension to radioactive and hazardous waste melts well outside the composition boundaries for which they were developed.

Materials Interface Interactions Test (MIIT); in-Situ Testing of Simulated Hlw Forms in Salt- Performance of Srs Simulated Waste Glass After up to 5 Years of Burial at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

1991 ◽  
Vol 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.G. Wicks ◽  
A.R. Lodding ◽  
P.B. Macedo ◽  
D.E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
The United States ◽  
Waste Glass ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTThe first field tests conducted in the United States involving burial of simulated high-level waste [HLW] forms and package components, were started in July of 1986. The program, called the Materials Interface Interactions Test or MIIT, is the largest cooperative field-testing venture in the international waste management community. Included in the study are over 900 waste form samples comprising 15 different systems supplied by 7 countries. Also included are approximately 300 potential canister or overpack metal samples along with more than 500 geologic and backfill specimens. There are almost 2000 relevant interactions that characterize this effort which is being conducted in the bedded salt site at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The MIIT program represents a joint endeavor managed by Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., and Savannah River Laboratory in Aiken, S.C. and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Also involved in MIIT are participants from various laboratories and universities in France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In July of 1991, the experimental portion of the 5-yr. MIIT program was completed. Although only about 5% of all MIIT samples have been assessed thus far, there are already interesting findings that have emerged. The present paper will discuss results obtained for SRS 165/TDS waste glass after burial of 6 mo., 1 yr. and 2 yrs., along with initial analyses of 5 yr. samples.

Adaptation of CCIM Technology for HLW Treatment: Results of Research and Development

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Lebedev ◽  
Sergey Stefanovsky ◽  
Alexander Kobelev ◽  
Fyodor Lifanov ◽  
Sergey Dmitriev
Keyword(s):  
High Level Waste ◽  
Cold Crucible ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
Treatment Results ◽  
Auxiliary Equipment ◽  
Automated Control ◽  
Automated Control System ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
High Level ◽  
River Site

Results of feasibility tests of application of Cold Crucible Inductive Melting (CCIM) technology to high level waste (HLW) treatment on examples of Savannah River Site, USA, and PA “Mayak”, Russia, HLW, carried out at SIA Radon, and results of design of new perspective bench-scale HLW vitrification facility are presented in this report. Full-scale low level waste (LLW) vitrification plant is under operation at Radon since 2003. Successful Radon experience aroused an interest to this technology from US DOE. Since 2001 Radon performed tests on vitrification of surrogates of various types of HLW stored at US DOE Sites. Process variables were determined and vitrified wastes were characterized in details. Since 2007 Radon was a subcontractor in the project on design and construction of a new CCIM based vitrification facility at PA “Mayak”. From preliminary tests on Mayak HLW surrogates the main technological features of CCIM process were determined and principles of the process control were formulated. Radon performed the design of the cold crucible and automated control system. On the base of analysis of previously and newly obtained data the main requirements to designing of cold crucible melters and auxiliary equipment, intended for actual HLW treatment, were worked out.

Improved Third Generation Peristaltic Crawler for Removal of High-Level Waste Plugs in United States Department of Energy Hanford Site Pipelines

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Vazquez ◽  
Tomas Pribanic
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Testing ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Pipeline System ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Test Bed ◽  
Hanford Site ◽  
High Level

There are approximately 56 million gallons (212km3) of high level waste (HLW) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hanford Site. It is scheduled that by the year 2040, the HLW is to be completely transferred to secure double-shell tanks (DST) from the leaking single-tanks (SST) via transfer pipeline system. Blockages have formed inside the pipes during transport because of the variety in composition and characteristics of the waste. These full and partial plugs delay waste transfers and require manual intervention to repair, therefore are extremely expensive, consuming millions of dollars and further threatening the environment. To successfully continue the transfer of waste through the pipelines, DOE site engineers are in need of a technology that can accurately locate the blockages and unplug the pipelines. In this study, the proposed solution to remediate blockages formed in pipelines is the use of a peristaltic crawler: a pneumatically/hydraulically operated device that propels itself in a worm-like motion through sequential fluctuations of pressure in its air cavities. The crawler is also equipped with a high-pressure water nozzle used to clear blockages inside the pipelines. The crawler is now in its third generation. Previous generations showed limitations in its durability, speed, and maneuverability. Latest improvements include an automation of sequence that prevents kickback, a front-mounted inspection camera for visual feedback, and a thinner wall outer bellow for improved maneuverability. Different experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the improvements of crawler relative to its predecessors using a pipeline test-bed assembly. Anchor force tests, unplugging tests, and fatigue testing for both the bellow and rubber rims have yet to be conducted and thus results are not presented in this research. Experiments tested bellow force and response, cornering maneuverability, and straight line navigational speed. The design concept and experimental test results are reported.

Cold Crucible Vitrification of U-bearing SRS SB4 HLW Surrogate

2010 ◽  
Vol 1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Stefanovsky ◽  
Alexander Ptashkin ◽  
Oleg Knyazev ◽  
Olga Stefanovsky ◽  
James C Marra
Keyword(s):  
High Level Waste ◽  
Cold Crucible ◽  
Savannah River ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Alumina Crucible ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Xrd Study ◽  
Processing Facility ◽  
High Level ◽  
River Site

AbstractSavannah River Site Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) Sludge Batch 4 (SB4) high level waste (HLW) simulant at 55 wt % waste loading was produced in the demountable cold crucible and cooled to room temperature in the cold crucible. Appreciable losses of Cs, S and Cl took place during the melting. A second glass sample was subjected to canister centerline cooling (CCC) regime in an alumina crucible in a resistive furnace. X-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed that the glass blocks were composed of vitreous and spinel structure phases. No separate U-bearing phases were found.

scholarly journals Glass Formulation Development in Support of Melter Testing to Demonstrate Enhanced High Level Waste Throughput

2008 ◽  
Vol 1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Marra ◽  
Kevin M. Fox ◽  
David K. Peeler ◽  
Thomas B. Edwards ◽  
Amanda L. Youchak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Product Quality ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
High Alumina ◽  
High Level Waste ◽  
Alumina Concentration ◽  
Formulation Development ◽  
Technology Innovations ◽  
Glass Formulation ◽  
Waste Loading ◽  
High Level

AbstractThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently processing high-level waste (HLW) through a Joule-heated melter (JHM) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) and plans to vitrify HLW and Low activity waste (LAW) at the Hanford Site. Over the past few years at the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF), work has concentrated on increasing waste throughput. These efforts are continuing with an emphasis on high alumina concentration feeds. High alumina feeds have presented specific challenges for the JHM technology regarding the ability to increase waste loading yet still maintain product quality and adequate throughput. Alternatively, vitrification technology innovations are also being investigated as a means to increase waste throughput. The Cold Crucible Induction Melter (CCIM) technology affords the opportunity for higher vitrification process temperatures as compared to the current reference JHM technology. Higher process temperatures may allow for higher waste loading and higher melt rate.Glass formulation testing to support melter demonstration testing was recently completed. This testing was specifically aimed at high alumina concentration wastes. Glass composition/property models developed for DWPF were utilized as a guide for formulation development. Both CCIM and JHM testing will be conducted so glass formulation testing was targeted at both technologies with a goal to significantly increase waste loading and maintain melt rate without compromising product quality.

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