- Author
- Johnson, G. D.
- Title
- Fiscal Year 1992 Program Plan for Evaluation and Remediation of the Generation and Release of Flammable Gases in Hanford Site Waste Tanks.
- Coporate
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
- WHC-EP-0537, January 1992, 85 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- DE-AC06-87RL10930
- Keywords
- flammable gases | safety | sampling | tanks (containers) | gas mixtures
- Abstract
- The Waste Tank Flammable Gas Stabilization Program was established in 1990 to provide for resolution of a major safety issue identified for 23 of the high-level waste tanks at the Hanford Site. This safety issue involves flammable gas mixtures, consisting mainly of hydrogen, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen, that are generated and periodically released in concentrations that exceed the lower flammability limit. Initial activities of the program have been directed at Tank 241-SY-101 because it exhibits the largest risk. Activities conducted in fiscal year (FY) 1991 included waste sampling, waste sample analysis, development of tank models, conducting laboratory tests with synthetic wastes, upgrading of tank instrumentation and ventilation systems, evaluation of new methods for characterizing waste, and development of remedial actions. In addition to the work being conducted to resolve the flammable gas issue, programs have been established to develop corrective actions for high priority safety issues associated with potential explosive mixtures of ferrocyanides in tanks, potential organic nitrate reactions in taks, and for the continued cooling for heat generation in Tank 106-C. The purpose of this document is to provide a brief description of the FY 1992 priorities, logic, work breakdown structure (WBS) and task descriptions for the Waste Tank Flammable Gas Stabilization Program. A major change for FY 1992 involves the core sampling and sample analyses. All activities associated with these tasks will be conducted under the Tank Waste Characterization Program (1N4). Resource requirements for the Waste Tank Flammable Gas Stabilization program for fiscal years beyond 1992 are given in the Waste Tank Safety Program Overview Plan.