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Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) Viscosity Model: Revisions for Processing High TiO 2 Containing Glasses

Radioactive high-level waste (HLW) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has successfully been vitrified into borosilicate glass in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) since 1996. Vitrification requires stringent product/process (P/P) constraints since the glass cannot be reworked once it is poured into ten foot tall by two foot diameter canisters. A unique “feed forward” statistical process control (SPC) was developed for this control rather than statistical quality control (SQC). In SPC, the feed composition to the DWPF melter is controlled prior to vitrification. In SQC, the glass product would be sampled after it is vitrified. Individual glass property-composition models form the basis for the “feed forward” SPC. The models transform constraints on the melt and glass properties into constraints on the feed composition going to the melter in order to guarantee, at the 95% confidence level, that the feed will be processable and that the durability of the resulting waste form will be acceptable to a geologic repository. The DWPF SPC system is known as the Product Composition Control System (PCCS). The DWPF will soon be receiving wastes from the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) containing increased concentrations of TiO 2 , Na 2 O, and Cs 2 O . The SWPF is being built to pretreat the high-curie fraction of the salt waste to be removed from the HLW tanks in the F- and H-Area Tank Farms at the SRS. In order to process TiO 2 concentrations >2.0 wt% in the DWPF, new viscosity data were developed over the range of 1.90 to 6.09 wt% TiO 2 and evaluated against the 2005 viscosity model. An alternate viscosity model is also derived for potential future use, should the DWPF ever need to process other titanate-containing ion exchange materials. The ultimate limit on the amount of TiO 2 that can be accommodated from SWPF will be determined by the three PCCS models, the waste composition of a given sludge batch, the waste loading of the sludge batch, and the frit used for vitrification.

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RELAP5-3D Pre-test Prediction for High Temperature Test Facility Test PG-26

The RELAP5-3D computer code has been used to perform a pre-test prediction for Test PG-26 in the High Temperature Test Facility at Oregon State University. Test PG-26 will simulate a pressurized conduction cooldown transient following a trip of the primary coolant system gas circulator. The facility is initialized with a steady-state power of 700 kW and prototypic core inlet and outlet helium coolant temperatures of 259 and 687°C, respectively. Sensitivity calculations addressed the flow coastdown time, the reactor cavity cooling system flow rate and temperature, and decay power.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Selection of glasses in support of the Sludge Batch 9 variability study for coupled operation with the Salt Waste Processing Facility

Prior to the processing of Sludge Batch 9 (SB9) with Frit 803 at the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF), assessments and experimental glass work were completed to support the qualification of SB9 coupled processing with streams from the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) and Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU). This previous work did not address coupled processing with streams from the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) because the Product Composition Control System (PCCS) models limited the TiO 2 concentration in glass to 2 weight percent (wt.%). These high activity streams from SWPF include monosodium titanate (MST) and sludge solids from the Sludge Solids Receipt Tank as well as Cs-containing strip effluent. The incorporation of these SWPF streams is expected to reach TiO2 concentrations in glass greater than 2 wt.% based on an MST addition of 0.4 g MST/L of salt solution. If double strike operation is required, then the MST addition is increased to 0.8 g MST/L of salt solution. Therefore, revisions to the models contained in PCCS were completed to allow the evaluation of glasses containing greater than 2 wt.% TiO 2 , but less than 6 wt.%. To support the implementation of the revised PCCS for SB9 – Frit 803 processing at DWPF prior to SWPF startup, the applicability of the new durability models for the SB9 variability study glasses was verified. Since the initial SB9 qualification for ARP-MCU coupled operation, additional Tank 40 analyses have been completed, which served as the basis for an updated projection of the SB9 blend composition in Tank 40. To identify a frit optimized for SB9 coupled operation with SWPF, the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) performed a paper-study by utilizing Measurement Acceptance Region (MAR) assessments with DWPF PCCS. Based on these MAR assessment results, Frit 625 was recommended for processing both single and double MST strike scenarios. Savannah River Remediation (SRR) requested that SRNL perform a variability study with both Frit 803 and Frit 625 for SB9 coupled operation with SWPF. The objective of the variability study is to demonstrate that the Product Consistency Test (PCT) responses of the glasses are acceptable relative to the chemical durability of the Environmental Assessment (EA) reference glass and predictable by the current DWPF PCCS models for durability. This report documents the development of a test matrix that will support the variability study. To provide operational flexibility prior to SWPF startup, the predictability of glasses within the glass region for Frit 625-SB9 coupled operation with ARP-MCU was also confirmed.

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129 I and 99 Tc Distribution Coefficients of Subsurface Sediments Collected from the Proposed Site of the Environmental Manage Disposal Facility

Performance Assessment calculations are presently underway to evaluate the Environmental Management Disposal Facility (EMDF), a proposed new low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facility on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). Among the large number of input parameters needed for such calculations, are distribution coefficients (K d values; radionuclide concentration solid:liquid ratio) that provide a measure of the tendency of radionuclides to bind to sediments. The objective of this study was to measure K d values of two radionuclides that may pose a disproportionately large amount of risk, 129 I and 99 Tc. The average I K d value for the 10 geological materials recovered from the proposed EMDF site was 52.3 mL/g and ranged from 2.7 to 140.9 mL/g. These values were consistent, but somewhat larger than previous measurements made with ORR sediments and were about an order of magnitude greater than those used in previous EMDF PA calculations. The median Tc K d value was 807.2 mL/g, much greater than previously reported using ORR geological materials. Five of the ten tested geological materials sorbed large quantities of Tc, suggesting that the weakly sorbing Tc(VII) species had been reduced to the very strongly binding and sparingly soluble Tc(IV) species. The five strongly sorbing sediment had apparent solubility values of approximately <10 -8 mol/L. Based on sediment properties and general ORR geological considerations, it was proposed that much of the I and Tc sorption could be attributed to the low pH (average pH = 4.94), low redox status, and/or the elevated levels of iron oxides, manganese oxides, and natural organic matter. An implication of this study is that the areas of the EMDF subsurface environment may have natural properties for attenuating I and Tc movement, thereby potentially reducing risk posed by burial of LLW at this site.

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129 I, 99 Tc, And U Distribution Coefficients of Subsurface Sediments Collected from the Proposed Site of the Environmental Management Disposal Facility

Performance Assessment calculations were completed in 2020 to evaluate the Environmental Management Disposal Facility (EMDF), a proposed new low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facility on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). Among the large number of input parameters needed for such calculations, are distribution coefficients (K d values; radionuclide concentration solid:liquid ratio) that provide a measure of the tendency of radionuclides to bind to sediments. The objective of this study was to measure K d values of three radionuclides that may pose a disproportionately large amount of risk, U, 129 I and 99 Tc. The average I K d value for the 14 geological materials recovered from the proposed EMDF site was 37.8 mL/g and ranged from -1.8 to 140.9 mL/g. These values were consistent, but somewhat larger than previous measurements made with ORR sediments and were about an order of magnitude greater than those used in previous EMDF PA calculations. The median Tc K d value was 365.7 mL/g, much greater than previously reported using ORR geological materials. Five of the 14 tested geological materials sorbed large quantities of Tc, suggesting that the weakly sorbing Tc(VII) species had been reduced to the sparingly soluble Tc(IV) species. The five strongly sorbing sediments had apparent Tc solubility values of approximately <10 -8 mol/L. The median U K d value was 5,726 mL/g. All of the tested geological materials had large K d values, ranging from 625 to >10,208 mL/g. Among the sediment samples that exhibited strong U binding, the apparent solubility value was approximately <10 -9 mol/L. Based on sediment properties and general ORR geological considerations, it was proposed that much of the I and Tc retention could be attributed to the site materials exhibiting low pH (average pH = 4.94), low redox status, and/or the elevated levels of iron oxides, manganese oxides, and natural organic matter. Similarly, the extremely high U binding measured in these sediments may also be attributed to the low conditions of carbonates, which can complex and therefore solubilize uranyl in these tests due to the low pH, and also the relatively high concentrations of iron and organic coatings on these samples. An implication of this study is that the areas of the EMDF subsurface environment may have natural properties for attenuating I, Tc, and U movement, and potentially other radionuclides, thereby possibly reducing risk posed by burial of LLW at this site. This document is a revision of SRNL-STI-2021-00404, Revision 0 that includes new data describing U K d values and new I and Tc K d values for four Nolichucky sediments. These new results were integrated into the data presented in the original document.

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129 I, 99 Tc, and U Distribution Coefficients of Subsurface Sediments Collected from the Proposed Site of the Environmental Management Disposal Facility

Performance Assessment calculations were completed in 2020 to evaluate the Environmental Management Disposal Facility (EMDF), a proposed new low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facility on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR). Among the large number of input parameters needed for such calculations, are distribution coefficients (K d values; radionuclide concentration solid: liquid ratio) that provide a measure of the tendency of radionuclides to bind to sediments. The objective of this study was to measure K d values of three radionuclides that may pose a disproportionately large amount of risk, U, iodine-129 ( 129 I) and technetium-99 ( 99 Tc). The average 129 I K d value for the 14 geological materials recovered from the proposed EMDF site was 37.8 mL/g and ranged from 0.45 to 140.9 mL/g. These values were consistent, but somewhat larger than previous measurements made with ORR sediments and were about an order of magnitude greater than those used in previous EMDF PA calculations. The median 99 Tc K d value was 365.7 mL/g, much greater than previously reported using ORR geological materials. Five of the 14 tested geological materials sorbed large quantities of 99 Tc, suggesting that the weakly sorbing 99 Tc(VII) species had been reduced to the sparingly soluble 99 Tc(IV) species. The five strongly sorbing sediments had apparent 99 Tc solubility values of approximately <10 -8 mol/L. The median U K d value was 5,726 mL/g. All of the tested geological materials had large K d values, ranging from 625 to >10,208 mL/g. Among the sediment samples that exhibited strong U binding, the apparent solubility value was approximately <10 -9 mol/L. Based on sediment properties and general ORR geological considerations, it was proposed that much of the 129 I and 99 Tc retention could be attributed to the site materials exhibiting low pH (average pH = 4.94), and/or the elevated levels of iron oxides, manganese oxides, and natural organic matter. Similarly, the extremely high U binding measured in these sediments may also be attributed to the low conditions of carbonates, which can complex and therefore solubilize uranyl in these tests due to the low pH, and also the relatively high concentrations of iron and organic coatings on these samples. An implication of this study is that the areas of the EMDF subsurface environment may have natural properties for attenuating 129 I, 99 Tc, and U movement, and potentially other radionuclides, thereby possibly reducing risk posed by burial of LLW at this site.

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Virtual Walk: The Construction of the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility

This 2-minute animation shows a virtual walk through the large caverns of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility, which will house the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. To create the caverns for the huge DUNE particle detectors, construction crews will excavate more than 800,000 tons of rock a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota. Scientists and dignitaries broke ground for this project on July 21, 2017. When construction is complete, DUNE scientists will send an intense neutrino beam through 1,300 kilometers of rock from the Department of Energy’s Fermilab to the DUNE particle detectors to understand the role that neutrinos – the most abundant matter particles in the universe – play in our cosmos. About 1,000 scientists from more than 160 institutions in 30 countries work on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.

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ESIF User Guide: Energy Systems Integration Facility

The ESIF User Guide provides information NREL's campus, safety, and ESIF user responsibilities while performing research at NREL's Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF). The ESIF is a U.S. Department of Energy user facility, available to the research community and open to qualified individuals from institutions around the world.

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Implementation of Glycolic Acid Flowsheet in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) - 17348

The disposition of high level waste (HLW) into canistered waste forms began at Savannah River Site (SRS) in 1996. For its entire processing history, DWPF has added formic acid as a pretreatment step in producing acceptable melter feed from incoming waste sludges sent from the HLW Tank Farms. While this process has been used to successfully produce more than 4,000 radioactive canisters, the addition of formic acid and its tendency to catalytically decompose in the presence of trace quantities of noble metals adds substantial process complexity in order to safely accommodate hydrogen generation and pH shifting during batch operations. Research efforts have been in progress for several years to identify a chemical surrogate for formic acid which performs the essential process functions without the associated negative consequences. The final analytical work to demonstrate the effectiveness of glycolic acid in the DWPF is nearly complete and a project team has been created to safely integrate the new acid into the chemical process. The project team is currently executing an implementation schedule which addresses safety basis development, revision to operations procedures and training, facility modifications, chemical procurement, and updated process monitoring. Introduction of glycolic acid into DWPF is currently scheduled to take place in early 2017, beginning with a blended flowsheet of glycolic and formic acid and ultimately transitioning to glycolic-only processing. This paper provides an overview of planned glycolic acid flowsheet implementation in the DWPF. This paper discusses several issues related to implementing such a significant change to the chemical process including: 1) Process chemistry differences between the two flowsheets with quantitative comparison for several properties of interest; 2) Technical approach to hazards analysis and safety basis development strategy; 3) Status of project execution for major deliverables; and 4) Path forward for facility modifications related to legacy formic acid support equipment. (authors)

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Fixatives Used for Decommissioning and Maintenance of Radiological Facilities - 17537

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the United Kingdom (UK) National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) have been collaborating for several years on materials and methods for the fogged/misted introduction of fixatives into radiologically contaminated facilities. The objective of the project is to deliver a process for reducing airborne radiological and/or mercury contamination and affixing loose contamination in place, thereby reducing contamination risk to employees and decreasing D and D cost and schedule. The developed process provides a reliable, unmanned method of introducing a coating that captures and fixes contamination in place within facilities. The INL coating, termed FX2, has undergone extensive non-radiological testing, including determination that it is non-flammable, affixes contamination and flows well through unusual geometries (testing at Florida International University). A series of non-active fogging trials for activity knock/tie-down application have been completed at NNL Workington on behalf of Idaho National Laboratory (INL). These trials performed by the NNL employed commercially available agricultural fogging equipment and the INL's knock/tie-down latex formulation (FX-2). This testing successfully demonstrated the ability of the fogging devices to successfully spray the FX-2 formulation within various scenarios, and prepared the project for a radioactive trial. The INL has also developed a mercury vapor reducing form of the coating termed FX-Hg, which has shown great promise in laboratory studies. (authors)

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Decommissioning concepts for the norwegian nuclear research facilities Halden and Kjeller - 15022

The Norwegian nuclear research facilities Halden and Kjeller are near the end of their current operational licenses. Thus, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries have decided that a concept evaluation study shall be made on the decommissioning alternatives for these facilities. This task was given to Ndcon (Westinghouse and Studsvik) with their broad experience in decommissioning planning and decades of nuclear expertise, together with DNV GL, that is certified in Norway for concept evaluation studies. The decommissioning alternatives that have been evaluated are strategy, end-state and waste management options. The decommissioning strategies are the IAEA defined immediate dismantling, deferred dismantling and entombment. The different end-states that have been evaluated are unrestricted use (green field), light industry (brown field) and other nuclear activity, in which the site will continue to have a nuclear license even after the decommissioning. The waste management options are direct disposal of materials, recycling of materials off-site and recycling on-site. The result of the cost estimation is that it is possible to identify viable alternatives for a chosen decommissioning strategy, end state and waste management options. The expected duration of the decommissioning program is 10 years for both sites, the dismantling and demolition period is expected to be able to perform within 4 years. (authors)

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Strategic considerations for developing future underground research facilities - 15114

The suite of existing underground research facilities (URFs) and their various operational histories and contexts provides useful insights to consider when deciding a particular URF location and approach (generic or site-specific) for new disposal facility research programmes. Even the smallest URF represents a large capital investment and a significant ongoing operational mortgage when recognizing the typically decades-long site characterization and data collection thought necessary to support a defensible safety case or safety assessment. Thus making such investments should be approached with an understanding of the short- and long-term implications for such factors as cost, location, data quality, public acceptance, operational risk, opportunity for design optimization, etc. and with an understanding of the potential risk management issues to help ensure the URF programme achieves the intended objectives. (authors)

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High-level waste relocation requires use of new technology in aging nuclear facility - 15269

The West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) is preparing to relocate 278 canisters of vitrified high-level waste (HLW) from their current location inside the Main Plant Process Building (MPPB) to an outdoor pad for long-term, on-site storage. The waste was produced at the WVDP between 1996 and 2002 and was originally placed in interim storage inside the MPPB in anticipation of off-site shipment for disposal. Relocation of the canisters to a new on-site location is now necessary as part of WVDP Phase 1 Site Decommissioning work to enable pre-demolition activities inside the MPPB to proceed. The logistics of packaging and moving the HLW canisters within an aging facility to another on-site location has provided numerous technical challenges with subsequent innovations. Significant preparations have taken place to resolve structural inadequacies, including sub-surface soil subsidence issues, antiquated equipment, and facility reconfigurations to support up to 134 metric ton (148 ton) loads. To perform the transfer and storage of the HLW canisters, new equipment and fabrications were required including a robust storage system consisting of stainless steel canister overpacks within steel-reinforced concrete storage casks, three specialty cask transporters, a remotely operated welding system and construction of an outdoor engineered storage pad to store the 56 casks containing the relocated HLW canisters. Packaging and relocation of vitrified canisters is scheduled to begin in 2015. (authors)

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Developing generic design alternatives for dry storage of used nuclear fuel at an interim storage facility - 15480

The Department of Energy (DOE) is beginning to lay the groundwork for implementing interim storage of used nuclear fuel (UNF) as recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future in their report to the Secretary of Energy published on January 26, 2012. These plans include activities to 1) establish one or more Interim Storage Facilities (ISF) using consent-based siting, and 2) prepare for large-scale transport of UNF. The Administration released its Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Used Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste (Strategy) on January 11, 2013. The Strategy includes a phased, adaptive, and consent-based approach to siting and implementing a comprehensive management and disposal system. The Strategy calls for an operational Pilot ISF by 2021, a Larger ISF by 2025, and a geological repository by 2048. The DOE Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation Planning Project (NFST) prepared a report in April 2013 titled, -A Project Concept for Nuclear Fuels Storage and Transportation.- This report developed the functions and requirements necessary for development of a Pilot and Larger ISF to meet the framework outlined in the Strategy as follows: - The UNF inventory is limited for the Pilot and Larger ISF as described in the Strategy. - It is assumed that bare fuel will be received in reusable transportation casks in significant quantities for the larger ISF and will not be solely limited to the receipt of fuel in dry storage canister (DSC) as is the Pilot ISF. This assumption was made because the method for accepting UNF from the utilities once the larger ISF begins operating has not yet been decided. - UNF storage alternative concepts identified in previous reports must be more fully developed to support alternative analysis. The purpose of this topic is to report on the development of the generic design alternatives that have been evaluated for the receipt and storage of the UNF at the initial Pilot ISF and Larger ISF. The generic design alternatives have been developed over the past few months by collaboration between the DOE and industry experts experienced in UNF facilities. The design alternatives will enable volunteer host communities to investigate generic design alternatives that could be fully developed for a site-specific location based on their unique design requirements. The design alternatives provide flexibility for additional capabilities to be developed and executed in a modular fashion such that expansion from a Pilot ISF to a Larger ISF could be achieved in an orderly manner. (authors)

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Waste minimization efforts at the H-Canyon nuclear materials processing facility located at the Savannah River Site - 15535

During the last decade, the H-Canyon at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has employed various means to minimize liquid waste generation and/or to segregate liquid waste that favors generation of low level vs high level wastes. The primary drivers were cost reduction and support of SRS liquid waste tank farm feed to the SRS's Defense Waste Processing Facility. Recent High Level Waste (HLW) volume restrictions (transfers of liquid waste from the H-Canyon to the SRS's Liquid Waste System) imposed on H-Canyon have renewed waste minimization efforts. For the next several years, H-Canyon is faced with a HLW transfer reduction of approximately 65% (reduced from approximately 300,000 gallons to 100,000 gallons). This comes at a time when H-Canyon (and a companion facility named HB-Line) are about to begin executing two high profile missions. (authors)

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The Bukov underground research facility as part of the Czech Republic's DGR development programme - 15644

The Czech Republic's deep geological repository (DGR) policy sets out a number of important milestones including the selection of candidate sites by 2018 and the selection of a final site by 2025. The final commissioning of the Czech DGR is planned for 2065. In 2010 a screening process was completed employing geological and other criteria that resulted in the identification of 7 potentially suitable sites, all situated in crystalline - granite host rock environments. The next step of the process will result in a reduction both in the number of sites and the surface area of remaining sites based on preliminary safety evaluations and socioeconomic, political and environmental criteria. In order to better understand the behaviour of crystalline host rock environments for DGR safety case purposes, the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (RAWRA) made decided to enhance the extent of in-situ measurements and research at a depth corresponding to that of the future DGR. In the second half of 2013, RAWRA commenced the construction of the Bukov Underground Research Facility (Bukov URF) in the southern section of the Rozna uranium mine at a depth of 600 m below the earth's surface in a geologically well-mapped area of a Moldanubic crystalline rock formation which is composed principally of migmatised gneisses, migmatites and granulites. The Bukov URF will be, first and foremost, a research facility at which work will be conducted focusing on the taking of geophysical measurements, petrographic, mineralogic, geochemical research and the in-situ determination of the physical - mechanical, geochemical and hydrogeological properties of the host rock massif. The research results will form input data which will be used to both support and improve the safety of the future DGR. (authors)

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ATALANTE research facility-implementation of a rule of fractions for the management of reflecting materials in mass-limited units

ATALANTE, a research unit located in Marcoule, is one of the main Nuclear Facilities of the French CEA. As concerns criticality risk prevention, this facility is divided into work units mostly managed through a mass control mode. The authorized limit is 350 g of fissile material with {sup 239}Pu-H{sub 2}O as reference fissile medium. This mass limit was determined considering a reflection by 20 cm of water. Under these conditions, some neutronic reflectors which are more efficient than water can only be authorized in limited quantities. In ATALANTE the reflecting materials identified as requiring a specific form of management are lead, uranium ({sup 235}U/U{sub total} = 1%), graphite, heavy water and beryllium. Initially a maximum permissible mass was determined for each of these materials taken separately. However, this method requires that when different reflectors are present simultaneously, the sum of the masses of all these reflectors must be less than the limit specified for the most penalizing of them. This rule has proved to be too restrictive for the operators. A new rule has therefore been implemented: the rule of fractions. Criticality calculations were performed to demonstrate that this rule is acceptable. The geometric configurations studied involved a sphere of 350 g of {sup 239}Pu moderated by water and reflected by various masses of 2 to 6 reflectors (successions of concentric shells), followed by 20 cm of water. It was concluded that compliance with the new rule makes it possible to ensure criticality safety in the simultaneous presence of different reflectors. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Savannah River Site Defense Waste Processing Facility Melt Cell Remote Cleanup - 18037

This paper documents experiences at Savannah River Site (SRS) related to both the modification and use of a commercial remote vehicle to remove years of process-related litter (glass and various objects) from a hot cell floor during a production outage. The outage was necessary to replace a Department of Energy Environmental Management (DOE-EM) remotely-operated glass melter that had vitrified waste for 14 years at the Defense Waste Processing Facility. Both chunks of waste glass and numerous items littered the floor of the cell all associated with the long production run. The presence of litter become problematic as it could eventually impede movement or placement of items necessary to continue facility operation. The cleanup also reduces radiation rates within the hot cell which is beneficial. (authors)

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