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At least 361 records · Page 20

Sloshing in the Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen Propellant Tanks After Main Engine Cut Off

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center is designing and developing the Main Propulsion System (MPS) for Ares launch vehicles. Propellant sloshing in the liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LO2) propellant tanks after Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) was modeled using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) module of the computational fluid dynamics code, CFD-ACE+. The present simulation shows that there is substantial sloshing side forces acting on the LH2 tank during the deceleration of the vehicle after MECO. The LH2 tank features a side wall drain pipe. The side loads result from the residual propellant mass motion in the LH2 tank which is initiated by the stop of flow into the drain pipe at MECO. The simulations show that radial force on the LH2 tank wall is less than 50 lbf and the radial moment calculated based up through the center of gravity of the vehicle is predicted to be as high as 300 lbf-ft. The LO2 tank features a bottom dome drain system and is equipped with sloshing baffles. The remaining LO2 in the tank slowly forms a liquid column along the centerline of tank under the zero gravity environments. The radial force on the LO2 tank wall is predicted to be less than 100 lbf. The radial moment calculated based on the center of gravity of the vehicle is predicted as high as 4500 lbf-ft just before MECO and dropped down to near zero after propellant draining stopped completely.

Kim, Sura↗

A Computational Investigation for Determining the Natural Frequencies and Damping Effects of Diaphragm-Implemented Spacecraft Propellant Tanks

Spin-stabilization maneuvers are typically performed by spacecraft entering low-earth orbit to maintain attitude stability. These maneuvers induce periodic fluid movement inside the spacecraft's propellant tank known as fuel slosh, which is responsible for creating forces and moments on the sidewalls of the propellant tank. These forces and moments adversely affect spin-stabilization and risk jeopardizing the mission of the spacecraft. Therefore, propellant tanks are designed with propellant management devices (PMD's) such as barnes or diaphragms which work to counteract the forces and moments associated with fuel slosh. However, despite the presence of PMD's, the threat of spin-stabilization interference still exists should the propellant tank be excited at its natural frequency. When the fluid is excited at its natural frequency, the forces and moments acting on the propellant tank are amplified and may result in destabilizing the spacecraft. Thus, a computational analysis is conducted concerning diaphragm-implemented propellant tanks excited at their natural frequencies. Using multi-disciplinary computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software, computational models are developed to reflect potential scenarios that spacecraft propellant tanks could experience. By simulating the propellant tank under a wide array of parameters and variables including fill-level, gravity and diaphragm material and shape, a better understanding is gained as to how these parameters individually and collectively affect liquid propellant tanks and ultimately, spacecraft attitude dynamics.

Lenahen, Brian↗

Thermal Imaging for Inspection of Large Cryogenic Tanks

The end of the Shuttle Program provides an opportunity to evaluate and possibly refurbish launch support infrastructure at the Kennedy Space Center in support of future launch vehicles. One major infrastructure element needing attention is the cryogenic fuel and oxidizer system and specifically the cryogenic fuel ground storage tanks located at Launch Complex 39. These tanks were constructed in 1965 and served both the Apollo and Shuttle Programs and will be used to support future launch programs. However, they have received only external inspection and minimal refurbishment over the years as there were no operational issues that warranted the significant time and schedule disruption required to drain and refurbish the tanks while the launch programs were ongoing. Now, during the break between programs, the health of the tanks is being evaluated and refurbishment is being performed as necessary to maintain their fitness for future launch programs. Thermography was used as one part of the inspection and analysis of the tanks. This paper will describe the conclusions derived from the thermal images to evaluate anomalous regions in the tanks, confirm structural integrity of components within the annular region, and evaluate the effectiveness of thermal imaging to detect large insulation voids in tanks prior to filling with cryogenic fluid. The use of thermal imaging as a tool to inspect unfilled tanks will be important if the construction of additional storage tanks is required to fuel new launch vehicles.

Arens, Ellen↗

Thermographic Methods of Detecting Insulation Voids in Large Cryogenic Tanks

Four very large (900Kgal) cryogenic liquid hydrogen and oxygen storage tanks at Kennedy Space Center's LC-39 launch pads were constructed in 1965 to support the Apollo/Saturn V Program and continue to support the Space Shuttle Program. These double-walled spherical tanks with powdered insulation in the annular region, have received minimal refurbishment or even inspection over the years. Intrusively inspecting these tanks would mean a significant down time to the program as the cryogenic liquid and the perlite insulation would have to be removed which would be a significant task and long-term schedule disruption. A study of the tanks was performed to determine the extent to which performance and structural information could be revealed without intrusive inspection. Thermal images of the tanks were taken over a variety of environmental conditions to determine the best conditions under which to compare and use thermography as a health monitoring technique as the tanks continue to age. The settling and subsequent compaction of insulation is a serious concern for cryogenic tanks. Comparison of images from the tanks reveals significant variations in the insulation in the annual regions and point to the use of thermography as a way to monitor for insulation migration and possible compaction. These measurements, when combined with mathematical models of historical boil-off data provide key insight to the condition of the vessels. Acceptance testing methods for new tanks, before they are filled with cryogenic commodity (and thereby thermally cycled), are needed and we explore how thermography can be used to accomplish this.

Arens, Ellen↗

Large-Scale Liquid Hydrogen Tank Rapid Chill and Fill Testing for the Advanced Shuttle Upper Stage Concept

Cryogenic upper stages in the Space Shuttle program were prohibited primarily due to a safety risk of a 'return to launch site' abort. An upper stage concept addressed this concern by proposing that the stage be launched empty and filled using shuttle external tank residuals after the atmospheric pressure could no longer sustain an explosion. However, only about 5 minutes was allowed for tank fill. Liquid hydrogen testing was conducted within a near-ambient environment using the multipurpose hydrogen test bed 638.5 ft3 (18m3) cylindrical tank with a spray bar mounted longitudinally inside. Although the tank was filled within 5 minutes, chilldown of the tank structure was incomplete, and excessive tank pressures occurred upon vent valve closure. Elevated tank wall temperatures below the liquid level were clearly characteristic of film boiling. The test results have substantial implications for on-orbit cryogen transfer since the formation of a vapor film would be much less inhibited due to the reduced gravity. However, the heavy tank walls could become an asset in normal gravity testing for on-orbit transfer, i.e., if film boiling in a nonflight weight tank can be inhibited in normal gravity, then analytical modeling anchored with the data could be applied to reduced gravity environments with increased confidence.

Flachbart, R. H.↗

Compatibility of the Radio Frequency Mass Gauge with Composite Tanks

The radio frequency mass gauge (RFMG) is a low-gravity propellant quantity gauge being developed at NASA for possible use in long-duration space missions utilizing cryogenic propellants. As part of the RFMG technology development process, we evaluated the compatibility of the RFMG with a graphite-epoxy composite material used to construct propellant tanks. The key material property that can affect compatibility with the RFMG is the electrical conductivity. Using samples of 8552IM7 graphite-epoxy composite, we characterized the resistivity and reflectivity over a range of frequencies. An RF impedance analyzer was used to characterize the out-of-plane electrical properties (along the sample thickness) in the frequency range 10 to 1800 MHZ. The resistivity value at 500 MHz was 4.8 ohm-cm. Microwave waveguide measurements of samples in the range 1.7 2.6 GHz, performed by inserting the samples into a WR-430 waveguide, showed reflectivity values above 98. Together, these results suggested that a tank constructed from graphite-epoxy composite would produce good quality electromagnetic tank modes, which is needed for the RFMG. This was verified by room-temperature measurements of the electromagnetic modes of a 2.4 m diameter tank constructed by Boeing from similar graphite-epoxy composite material. The quality factor Q of the tank electromagnetic modes, measured via RF reflection measurements from an antenna mounted in the tank, was typically in the range 400 Q 3000. The good quality modes observed in the tank indicate that the RFMG is compatible with graphite-epoxy tanks, and thus the RFMG could be used as a low-gravity propellant quantity gauge in such tanks filled with cryogenic propellants.

Radio frequencies↗

Zero-Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) Experiment: Ground-Based Validation of Self-Pressurization and Pressure Control Two-Phase CFD Model

Integral to all phases of NASA's projected space and planetary expeditions is affordable and reliable cryogenic fluid storage for use in propellant or life support systems. Cryogen vaporization due to heat leaks into the tank from its surroundings and support structure can cause self-pressurization relieved through venting. This has led to a desire to develop innovative pressure control designs based on mixing of the bulk tank fluid together with some form of active or passive cooling to allow storage of the cryogenic fluid with zero or reduced boil-off. The Zero-Boil-Off Tank (ZBOT) Experiments are a series of small scale tank pressurization and pressure control experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that use a transparent volatile simulant fluid in a transparent sealed tank to delineate various fundamental fluid flow, heat and mass transport, and phase change phenomena that control storage tank pressurization and pressure control in microgravity. The hardware for ZBOT-1 flew to ISS on the OA-7 flight in April 2017 and operations are planned to begin in September 2017, encompassing more than 90 tests. This paper presents preliminary results from ZBOT's ground-based research delineating both pressurization and pressure reduction trends in the sealed test tank. Tank self-pressurization tests are conducted under three modes: VJ heating, strip heating and simultaneous VJ and strip heating in attempt to simulate heat leaks from the environment, the support structure and both. The jet mixing pressure control studies are performed either from an elevated uniform temperature condition or from thermally stratified conditions following a self-pressurization run. Jet flow rates are varied from 2-25 cm/s spanning a range of jet Re number in laminar, transitional, and turbulent regimes and a range of Weber numbers covering no ullage penetration, partial penetration and complete ullage penetration and break-up (only in microgravity). Numerical prediction of a two-phase CFD model are compared to experimental 1g results to both validate the model and also indicate the effect of the residual non-condensable gas on evolution of pressure and temperature distributions in the tank during pressurization and pressure control.

microgravity evaporation condensatio↗

SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop Multi-Node Settled and Unsettled Propellant Tank Modeling of Zero Boil Off Test

Cryogenic propellant storage tank self-pressurization involves complex physical phenomena which are usually analytically modelled via complex multidimensional CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) codes. Unfortunately these codes, even when modelling axisymmetric domains, may take weeks or longer to obtain transient pressure and temperature information for relatively short periods of time (several seconds to several hours). Propellant tank storage end-to-end mission simulations can last a duration of days to weeks to months. Multi-node modelling of propellant tanks is a viable alternative to traditional CFD modelling and presents the advantage of greatly reduced run times on the order of hours and days compared to the weeks or longer for CFD codes. A multi-node model represents the fluid within the storage tank, as well as the storage tank itself, as a fluid-thermal network. This type of setup is not necessarily geometrically based. This can be accomplished using a commercial generalized fluid-thermal network code, such as SINDA/FLUINT (SF). The advantage of using a fluid-thermal network code like SF lies in its extensive ability to model the external environment of the storage tank through the graphical user interface, Thermal Desktop (TD). The total heat load into the tank may be a function of heaters and a complex radiative environment as well. Thermal Desktop may be used to address the detailed radiative environment of the tank as well as building a geometrically accurate depiction of the storage tank itself.

Thermal Desktop↗

SINDA/FLUINT and Thermal Desktop Multi-Node Settled and Unsettled Propellant Tank Modeling of Zero Boil Off Test

Cryogenic propellant storage tank self-pressurization involves complex physical phenomena which are usually analytically modelled via complex multidimensional CFD codes. Unfortunately these codes, even when modelling axisymmetric domains, may takes weeks or longer to obtain transient pressure and temperature information for relatively short periods of time (several seconds to several hours). Propellant tank storage end-to-end mission simulations can last a duration of days to weeks to months. Multi-node modelling of propellant tanks is a viable alternative to traditional CFD modelling and presents the advantage of greatly reduced run times on the order of hours and days compared to the weeks or longer for CFD codes. A multi-node model represents the fluid within the storage tank, as well as the storage tank itself, as a fluid-thermal network. This type of setup is not necessarily geometrically based. This can be accomplished using a commercial generalized fluid-thermal network code, such as SINDA/FLUINT (SF). The advantage of using a fluid-thermal network code like SF lies in its extensive ability to model the external environment of the storage tank through the graphical user interface, Thermal Desktop (TD). The total heat load into the tank may be a function of heaters and a complex radiative environment as well. Thermal Desktop may be used to address the detailed radiative environment of the tank as well as building a geometrically accurate depiction of the storage tank itself.

Sakowski, Barbara↗

Single and Multi-Node Modeling of Direct, Submerged, and Self-Pressurization of A Cryogenic Propellant Tank Using Nodal Tools

The pressurization of cryogenic propellant tanks will always be an important process so long as cryogenic liquids are being considered as fuel sources or used for other in-space applications. Pressure control of the tank ullage is necessary for managing propellant flowrates to an engine or a receiver tank, and modeling of the process is used to predict the pressurant requirements and the amount of propellant boiloff. Direct ullage pressurization is the more traditional approach to tank pressurization, as the physics are straight-forward, and ample test (flight) data have been collected and analyzed over the past several decades. Submerged injection pressurization is an alternate method for tank pressurization and has been shown to reduce pressurant requirements, subcool the propellant, and reduce the risk of ullage collapse. Additionally, the pressurant gas entering the ullage is usually much colder when using the submerged pressurization approach, resulting in reduced propellant boiloff. These benefits are at the expense of vaporizing a small percentage of the propellent. Both tank pressurization methods are viable options for current and future space missions, and it is important to have the capability of analyzing the tank ullage conditions for both approaches. Our previous work has demonstrated the development of a Generalized Fluid System Simulation Program (GFSSP) model, which contains a thermodynamic equilibrium heat and mass transfer subroutine capable of effectively analyzing both direct and submerged pressurization systems [1-2]. This subroutine has most recently been enhanced to include the non-equilibrium effect of pressurant dissolution into the propellant. To date the ullage has always been represented as a single node, and although the simulated single-node temperatures have good comparison with the volume-averaged ullage temperatures computed from test data, the physics of the thermal stratification in the ullage were never captured, and adjustment factors in the model were required. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the development of a multi-node ullage model using GFSSP and to discuss the improvements of the simulated ullage temperature distribution and its resulting effects on ullage heat transfer processes. Test data from the Cryogenic Propellant Storage and Transfer Engineering Developmental Unit (CPST EDU) was used for model validation. For additional comparison, a Thermal Desktop (TD) model was also developed to analyze the CPST EDU direct ullage pressurization tests using both a single node and multi-node approach. The model includes the direct pressurant line, vent line, fill/drain line, and a TD FloCAD Compartment. The TD FloCAD Compartment is employed to represent the liquid and ullage as single volumes inside the tank, to include a liquid/vapor interface, and to generate network level objects such as lumps (analogous to nodes in GFSSP), paths, and ties between the fluid and thermal elements. An established heat load on the model tank was leveraged from a pre-existing higher-fidelity model correlated to CPST EDU test data.

pressurization↗

Pore Water Extraction Test Near 241-SX Tank Farm at the Hanford Site, Washington, USA

A proof-of-principle test is underway near the Hanford Site 241-SX Tank Farm. The test will evaluate a potential remediation technology that will use tank farm-deployable equipment to remove contaminated pore water from vadose zone soils. The test system was designed and built to address the constraints of working within a tank farm. Due to radioactive soil contamination and limitations in drilling near tanks, small-diameter direct push drilling techniques applicable to tank farms are being utilized for well placement. To address space and weight limitations in working around tanks and obstacles within tank farms, the above ground portions of the test system have been constructed to allow deployment flexibility. The test system utilizes low vacuum over a sealed well screen to establish flow into an extraction well. Extracted pore water is collected in a well sump,and then pumped to the surface using a small-diameter bladder pump.If pore water extraction using this system can be successfully demonstrated, it may be possible to target local contamination in the vadose zone around underground storage tanks. It is anticipated that the results of this proof-of-principle test will support future decision making regarding interim and final actions for soil contamination within the tank farms.

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Rapid fill compressed gas storage tank

A method for rapidly filling a compressed gas storage tank with a moderated temperature rise using a Coanda nozzle to inject the feed gas into the tank and using the Coanda nozzle to direct the feed gas along the inner surface of the storage tank; entraining the stored gas with the feed gas that is flowing under the influence of the Coanda effect to flow along the inner surface of the gas storage tank; and transferring heat from the flowing gas to the external walls of the tank. Also, a compressed gas storage tank for rapid filling with a moderated temperature rise comprising: a gas storage tank and a Coanda nozzle capable of directing feed gas that is injected into the gas storage tank along the inner surface of the gas storage tank.

Jayaraman, Ambalavanan↗

Thermal Stress Modeling and Analysis of Packed-bed Thermocline Energy Storage Tank for INL Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS)

The Thermal Energy Distribution System (TEDS) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is a thermal-hydraulic flow loop to support the integration of co-located multiple experimental systems, where a packed-bed thermal energy storage (TES) is installed as a thermal buffer and storage unit for TEDS. The packed-bed TES is adopted in TEDS because of its benefit as a low-cost single-tank storage option compared to the traditional two-tank storage. However, thermal ratcheting is one potential design concern which is caused by the rearrangement of granular filler inside a packed-bed tank during continuous thermal cycling operation of the packed-bed TES tank. If the thermally induced stress exceeds yield strength of the tank wall, it may cause catastrophic consequences like rupture of the thermal storage tank. Thus, it is crucial to understand the phenomenon to ensure the robust operation. Based on the temperature boundary conditions given by transient thermal analyses with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the thermal ratcheting analysis is then conducted to evaluate the hoop stress and resultant thermal ratcheting potential of the TES tanks with two different modeling approaches: (1) infinite rigidity model and (2) Drucker-Prager (DP) model. The validity of each modeling method was examined by comparing the numerical simulation with the experimental data obtained from the packed-bed TES tank for Solar One Plant and evaluate the thermal ratcheting potential of the TEDS TES tank.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Inspection and Mapping of Savannah River Site (SRS) Waste Tanks via Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) – 25351

The CSTF at SRS contain 51 waste tanks with 8 closed waste tanks between FTF and HTF. SRMC is the LW contractor. The LW mission includes removing legacy nuclear waste from these tanks and treating it for final disposition. Once the bulk of the waste has been removed from a tank, it will undergo inspection and sampling to characterize the remaining waste in the tank prior to it being operationally closed. There are multiple points in the tank closure process where an inspection is performed, and there are multiple parts of a tank that get inspected. Waste tanks have a primary containment vessel (referred to as the “Primary”) and a secondary containment vessel (referred to as the “Annulus”) that surrounds the primary. Both of these sections of a tank receive multiple inspections throughout the closure process.

Murphy, Lucas D. [Savannah River Mission Completio↗

Control Selection for the Neutralization Tank in the Aqueous Recovery System at the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility

The Aqueous Recovery System (ARS) at the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) recovers and purifies plutonium (Pu) using aqueous chemistry techniques. The neutralization tanks in the ARS collect waste streams with various impurities and greatly reduced concentrations of Pu than are produced during aqueous processing. Criticality safety is primarily achieved in the ARS by using geometrically favorable process vessels. However, due to the geometry of neutralization tanks, each tank is administratively limited to no more than 450 g Pu, thus representing the transition from geometry to mass control. To ensure that this mass limit is not exceeded, an administrative control requires taking two samples of any solution to be sent to a neutralization tank. Normal operations are expected to result in less than 50 g Pu in a neutralization tank filled to its capacity of 250 L. Process upsets may cause an inadvertent transfer of up to 1000 g Pu to a neutralization tank, producing a system that is potentially not subcritical for all possible configurations of the tank. To ensure that a neutralization tank remains safety subcritical, passive engineered controls (e.g. changing tank geometry or adding fixed poisons), active engineered controls (e.g. interlocks), and administrative controls (e.g. soluble poisons and valve isolation) were considered and their viability evaluated. Ultimately, the team chose an administrative, dual-valve isolation strategy. This paper will thoroughly discuss the various control strategy options and why many of the options were not feasible for maintaining criticality safety.

Dressman, Phillip M. [Savannah River Nuclear Solut↗

Control Selection for the Neutralization Tank in the Aqueous Recovery System at the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility

The Aqueous Recovery System (ARS) at the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) recovers and purifies plutonium (Pu) using aqueous chemistry techniques. The neutralization tanks in the ARS collect the waste streams, containing various impurities and greatly reduced concentrations of Pu, that are produced during aqueous processing. Criticality safety is primarily achieved in the ARS by using geometrically favorable process vessels. However, due to the geometry of neutralization tanks, each tank is administratively limited to no more than 450 g Pu, thus representing the transition from geometry to mass control. To ensure that this mass limit is not exceeded, an administrative control requires taking two samples of any solution to be sent to a neutralization tank. Normal operations are expected to result in less than 50 g Pu in a neutralization tank filled to its capacity of 250 L. Process upsets may cause an inadvertent transfer of up to 1000 g Pu to a neutralization tank, producing a system that is potentially not subcritical for all possible configurations of the tank. To ensure that a neutralization tank remains safety subcritical, passive engineered controls (e.g.changing tank geometry or adding fixed poisons), active engineered controls (e.g. interlocks), and administrative controls (e.g. soluble poisons and valve isolation) were considered and their viability evaluated. Ultimately, the team chose an administrative, dual-valve isolation strategy. This paper will thoroughly discuss the various control strategy options and why many of the options were not feasible for maintaining criticality safety.

Dressman, Phillip M. [Savannah River Nuclear Solut↗

DEPOSITION TANK CORROSION TESTING FOR ENHANCED CHEMICAL CLEANING POST OXALIC ACID DESTRUCTION

An Enhanced Chemical Cleaning (ECC) process is being developed to aid in the high level waste tank closure at the Savannah River Site. The ECC process uses an advanced oxidation process (AOP) to destroy the oxalic acid that is used to remove residual sludge from a waste tank prior to closure. The AOP process treats the dissolved sludge with ozone to decompose the oxalic acid through reactions with hydroxyl radicals. The effluent from this oxalic acid decomposition is to be sent to a Type III waste tank and may be corrosive to these tanks. As part of the hazardous simulant testing that was conducted at the ECC vendor location, corrosion testing was conducted to determine the general corrosion rate for the deposition tank and to assess the susceptibility to localized corrosion, especially pitting. Both of these factors impact the calculation of hydrogen gas generation and the structural integrity of the tanks, which are considered safety class functions. The testing consisted of immersion and electrochemical testing of A537 carbon steel, the material of construction of Type III tanks, and 304L stainless steel, the material of construction for transfer piping. Tests were conducted in solutions removed from the destruction loop of the prototype ECC set up. Hazardous simulants, which were manufactured at SRNL, were used as representative sludges for F-area and H-area waste tanks. Oxalic acid concentrations of 1 and 2.5% were used to dissolve the sludge as a feed to the ECC process. Test solutions included the uninhibited effluent, as well as the effluent treated for corrosion control. The corrosion control options included mixing with an inhibited supernate and the addition of hydroxide. Evaporation of the uninhibited effluent was also tested since it may have a positive impact on reducing corrosion. All corrosion testing was conducted at 50 C. The uninhibited effluent was found to increase the corrosion rate by an order of magnitude from less than 1 mil per year (mpy) for an inhibited waste to a range of 5 to 23.4 mpy, depending on sludge chemistry. F-area-based effluents were, in general, more corrosive. Effective corrosion control measures included evaporation, hydroxide additions and mixing with supernates containing a representative supernate chemistry (5 M hydroxide and 1.5 M nitrite). Corrosion rates with these measures were generally 0.2 mpy. The A537 carbon steel was found to be susceptible to pitting when the corrosion control measure involved mixing the ECC effluent with a supernate chemistry having minimal inhibitor concentrations (0.5 M hydroxide and 0.3 M nitrite). Corrosion rates in this case were near 1 mpy.

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Analysis of the Salt Feed Tank Core Sample

The Saltstone Production Facility (SPF) immobilizes and disposes of low-level radioactive and hazardous liquid waste (salt solution) remaining from the processing of radioactive material at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Low-level waste (LLW) streams from processes at SRS are stored in Tank 50 until the LLW can be transferred to the SPF for treatment and disposal. The Salt Feed Tank (SFT) at the Saltstone Production Facility (SPF) holds approximately 6500 gallons of low level waste from Tank 50 as well as drain water returned from the Saltstone Disposal Facility (SDF) vaults. Over the past several years, Saltstone Engineering has noted the accumulation of solids in the SFT. The solids are causing issues with pump performance, agitator performance, density/level monitoring, as well as taking up volume in the tank. The tank has been sounded at the same location multiple times to determine the level of the solids. The readings have been 12, 25 and 15 inches. The SFT is 8.5 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, therefore the solids account for approximately 10 % of the tank volume. Saltstone Engineering has unsuccessfully attempted to obtain scrape samples of the solids for analysis. As a result, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) was tasked with developing a soft core sampler to obtain a sample of the solids and to analyze the core sample to aid in determining a path forward for removing the solids from the SFT. The source of the material in the SFT is the drain water return system where excess liquid from the Saltstone disposal vaults is pumped back to the SFT for reprocessing. It has been shown that fresh grout from the vault enter the drain water system piping. Once these grout solids return to the SFT, they settle in the tank, set up, and can't be reprocessed, causing buildup in the tank over time. The composition of the material indicates that it is potentially toxic for chromium and mercury and the primary radionuclide is cesium-137. Qualitative measurements show that the material is not cohesive and will break apart with some force.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗