Project Synopsis
Provide process engineering support for the development of facilities design for radioactive liquid waste processing units in an effort to clean and decommission large waste storage tanks at the federal site in Aiken, SC.
Project Summary
In a staff augmentation role to the client’s Project Management, Design and Construction Department, Process Engineering Associates, LLC (PROCESS) supported development of facilities design for radioactive liquid waste processing units in an effort to clean and decommission large waste storage tanks at the federal site in Aiken, SC. Large quantities of waste byproducts from the processing of nuclear materials for national defense, research, and medical programs currently reside in large storage tanks. Sludge and salt solids and solutions containing plutonium, americium, strontium, and cesium must be removed from the tanks to separate the high-activity materials from the voluminous low-activity materials. Emptied tanks must be cleaned to acceptable contamination levels prior to separation from service utilities and decommissioning by filling with grout. Various chemical compositions and tank configurations dictate the application of numerous processes/equipment for the safe and effective waste removal and subsequent decommissioning.
Specifically, PROCESS’ tasks included:
- Developed detailed design documents for the necessary facilities modifications for the removal of a salt mound within a specific waste tank. Salt mounds have been created over the years of storage by the evaporation and cooling of the salt solution contained in the various tanks. Work scope included preparation of revised P&IDs to capture configuration changes, hydraulic calculations necessary for the salt removal (including piping and pumping facilities), and leading the interface with civil, structural, electrical, and instrumentation engineering disciplines required to develop the design package.
- Developed detailed process design documents for the necessary facilities modifications for the removal of residue and liquid within the annulus of a specific waste tank. The annulus materials included both liquid salt solution and solid salt cake on the floor of the annulus. Evaluated alternative methods for removing residual water from the tank in preparation of closure activities following annulus cleaning. Other scope included preparation of revised P&IDs to capture configuration changes, hydraulic calculations necessary for the residual removal ( including piping and pumping facilities), and the interface with civil, structural, electrical, and instrumentation required to develop the design package.
- Developed detailed process design documents for the necessary facilities modifications for ongoing operations of processing facilities to encapsulate high activity materials. This included preparation of equipment design modification, procurement specification, and vendor fabrication review documents. Interfaced with installation team of civil, structural, electrical and instrumentation to facilitate the modification to the facilities.
Industry Type
Radioactive Waste Storage and Treatment
Utilized Skills
- Process design
- Equipment specification
- Detail engineering phase process engineering support.