Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, has successfully tested a remote welding process to seal radioactive waste containers prior to hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Since the 1990s, a variety of radioactive and hazardous waste forms have been remotely treated using HIP during trials within Idaho National Laboratory (INL) hot cells. For HIP treatment at INL, waste was loaded into a stainless-steel or aluminum canister, which was evacuated, seal welded, and placed in a HIP furnace. HIP simultaneously heats and pressurizes the waste, reducing its volume and increasing its stability, thus lowering the cost and risk associated with disposal. Weld integrity must be ensured in order to prevent the spread of contamination during HIP. This paper presents a process for sealing HIP canisters remotely using modified, commercially available equipment. This process includes evacuation, heating, welding, and weld inspection. The process and equipment have proven to reliably seal canisters in continued HIP trials.
Five-Year Implementation Plan For Advanced Separations and Waste Forms Capabilities at the Idaho National Laboratory (FY 2011 to FY 2015)