Qualification of Three On-line Slurry Monitoring Devices for Application during Waste Retrieval Operations at DOE Sites

Abstract

Millions of gallons of radioactive liquid and sludge wastes must be retrieved from underground storage tanks at the U.S. Department of Energy sites to be staged and transferred to treatment facilities and processed into final waste forms. Retrieval operations involve mixing solid and liquid wastes to create slurries that can be transported via underground pipelines to specified locations for treatment or disposal. A major concern during the transfer operations is plugging of the transfer lines. Blocked transfer lines could significantly escalate the remediation costs both in terms of pipeline replacement costs and costs of maintenance of inactive facilities and operating personnel.