Waste Encapsulation and

Storage Facility Capsules

Jon Peschong

May 10, 2016

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Agenda

• Introductions

• Cesium and Strontium Capsule History

• DOE/RL Planning for Extended Capsule Dry Storage

• Integration with the DOE-HQ Deep Borehole Initiative

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Capsule History

• In the 1970’s radioactive cesium and strontium were removed from underground waste tanks

– Reduced the amount of heat generated in waste tanks

– Provided cesium and strontium for commercial applications

• Between 1974 and 1985 the WESF encapsulated cesium and strontium

– Double-walled, stainless steel capsules

– Capsules were welded and leak tested

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Capsule History (2)

• During WESF operations, hot cells allowed workers to safely handle the cesium and strontium

– Provided shielding, manipulators and processing equipment

• WESF was placed into surveillance mode in 1985

• Hot Cells A-F are highly contaminated, out of service, and will be grouted to immobilize radioactivity

• Hot Cell G is not highly contaminated and will remain in service

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Capsule History (3)

• 1,936 capsules are currently at WESF,

managed as high level, mixed waste

• Capsules are located in Pool Cells

• 1,335 cesium capsules

• 601 strontium capsules

• Contain approximately 94 million

curies and 255 kilowatts1 (August 2015

data)

• About one-third of the total cesium

and strontium activity at Hanford is

contained in the capsules stored at

WESF

1A typical household heat pump uses10-15 kw

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Capsule History (4)

• Capsules are double-contained

• Length 20.775 inches

• Outside diameter 2.625 inches

• Capsules typically weigh ~25 lb

• Heat in a cesium capsule ~15 to 181 watts

• Heat in a strontium capsule ~20 to 462 watts

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Capsule History (5)

Type W Overpack

• 16 swollen/failed WESF Capsules are overpacked

• 9 overpacks contain debris or other materials

• Length 21.225 inches

• Outside diameter 3.25 inches

Ref: HNF-7100, Rev 1, Capsule System Design Description Document

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Current Activities

WESF Stabilization and Ventilation Project

• Replace an existing exhaust ventilation system

• Stabilize legacy contamination to prevent a release to the environment

• Project is essential for the continued safe and compliant operation of the WESF

• Project is compatible with future activities, including capsule dry storage

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Plans for Extended (Dry) Storage

• DOE/RL received approval of the Mission Need on November 5, 2015 in order to request a capital asset project

• The capital asset project will replace wet storage with passive dry storage

• This reduces operations and maintenance costs, reduces risk, and provides a long-term storage capability

• The anticipated approach is to use storage casks similar to those used for commercial used nuclear fuel

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Plans for Extended (Dry) Storage (2)

Fuel Storage at the Columbia Generating Station

Example Fuel Dry Storage from the Nuclear Energy Institute

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Plans for Extended (Dry) Storage (3)

• A Request for Proposals for the design and construction of the cask storage system was issued in March 2016

• Dry storage is an interim step that does not preclude any final disposal path/decision

• The projected start date of capsule transfer is in 2022

• The formal baseline schedule will be prepared after the conceptual design phase

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Deep Borehole Disposition of Capsules

• DOE/RL is coordinating with the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy's Deep Borehole Feasibility Study

• The feasibility study is exploring the concept that boreholes may provide a technically feasible and cost-effective alternative for safe disposal of some smaller DOE-managed radioactive waste forms

• Cesium and strontium capsules are the primary waste stream being considered for the borehole program

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Deep Borehole Disposition of Capsules (2)

The deep borehole program is at the pre-conceptual phase. Other locations for the non-radioactive deep bore hole field tests are being considered, since the initial location (Rugby, North Dakota) was opposed by the local county commission.

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Questions?